Should a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Be Wired to Constant Power?
Updated 08/13/2026 | Published 08/08/2026
Question:
My wife and I just bought a new to us Excursion that has a Tekonsha P3 brake controller installed. I’ve noticed that the screen stays on all the time. My question is, should the positive lead be connected to ignition power, or stay on constant power. My concern is the backlight draining the batteries. Thanks for any insight!
asked by: Matt M
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Expert Reply:
Hey Matt, thanks for reaching out. The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195 is designed to be connected to constant 12V battery power, not an ignition-switched circuit. That's normal and exactly how Tekonsha intends it to be wired.
The screen should stay on for about 15 minutes after the last activity, then it go into power-saving mode and the display turns off. The power draw during that time is extremely small and isn't enough to drain a healthy battery under normal use.
If your P3 never goes to sleep and the display stays lit indefinitely, then something isn't right. The most common causes are corrosion or a short in the 7-way connector that's backfeeding power to the controller. In that case, I'd start by inspecting and cleaning the trailer connector before looking deeper into the wiring.
What do you and your wife plan to tow with the Excursion?
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Installation Kits
- etrailer
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Matt M.
8/12/2026
Thanks so much for the reply Jesse! This is our second Excursion, and we pull a 30’ travel trailer. I’ll have to keep an eye on the brake controller to see if it goes to sleep after 15 minutes. It may, I just have not noticed. Thanks again for the help!