Pulse Buster not needed for D4

[SteveL]

After reading these pages I decided that I should buy the pulse buster and have it fitted to use with th new Redarc electric brakes on our Ultimate camper.
The pulse buster chap sounded like he knew what he was talking about, another bloke here who is a service manager at another dealership but appears to be the "go to guy" for LandRover also recommended it as did my sparky. So I bought one and they are not cheap.
Two days later my sparky rings me to say that the car (MY2010 D4 HSE 3 litre) is ready but he didn't fit the pulse buster as the car doesn't seem to need it.
The Redarc brake indicator pulses when I open the drivers door and the light comes on when I use the brakes without the trilaer hooked up but don't know if that is even related.
It's a sort of "none problem" really isn't it! Maybe I shouldn't look a gift horse etc etc....
He (the sparky) has tested all of the lights under various loads (Electric) and no pulsing and the dash hasn't cacked itself and all seems hunky dory!!

Any thoughts about what has happened anyone?

I know nothing about electricity and am, franly a bit concerned that I may be looking at a problem later on as these things sem to be critical.
The Ultimate has Hella LED taillights and indicators fitted apparently.
Regards
Steve.

[Graeme]

The D4 does not pulse the blinker circuit, whereas the D3 does.
The Redarc pulsing when the door is opened doesn't sound good.

[outasight]

I have the Redarc remote head brake controller on a D4 SE with no "pulsing" of the LED with operation of the door - just checked in a dark garage to be sure!

Yes, the LED(and controller)will operate at all times when you touch the brake pedal - van/trailer or none!


Something is not quite right there - I wonder where the Auto-Elec picked up the +12V from for the controller, or where it's earthed to ????

Regards,

Les.

[roamer]

Does the trailer indicater come on when you use the blinkers

[Weird Al]

SteveL, I have the same setup as yourself. D4, Redarc, and Ultimate camper.

My Redarc is connected directly to 12V via a cct breaker, and is on all the time. However the light on the Redarc only comes on red when you apply the brakes or green if the trailer is connected.

I installed 2 resistors (Narva brand from Autobarn) on the camper on the indicator circuits and that is enough for the D4 to know that the camper is there.

The little trailer icon on the dash flashes when the indicators do, and the reversing beepers dont beep when reversing.

The only odd thing is the lights on the trailer flash when you shut any door on the car including the tailgate.

Has your auto elec fitted a diode on the brake light input to the redarc?

for more info see here.

http://http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97935-d4-electric-trailer-brakes-14.html (http://http//www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97935-d4-electric-trailer-brakes-14.html)

[outasight]

I reckon the diode should stop this behaviour totally. Did you wire your's yourself Weird Al? Sounds like your's also is not quite right somewhere. If the diode is in the right place(somewhere in the red supply wire to the controller & nothing between the diode & the controller), then there should be no reason for the LED to come on/do anything with doors etc. opening/closing.

Here's the exact page where the diode is mentioned ...

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97935-d4-electric-trailer-brakes-11.html

Regards,

Les.

[discotwinturbo]

I have the Redarc remote head brake controller on a D4 SE with no "pulsing" of the LED with operation of the door - just checked in a dark garage to be sure!

Yes, the LED(and controller)will operate at all times when you touch the brake pedal - van/trailer or none!

Something is not quite right there - I wonder where the Auto-Elec picked up the +12V from for the controller, or where it's earthed to ????

Regards,

Les.

My redarc works like outasight's. My power comes directly from the battery with a circuit breaker.

[discotwinturbo]

The only odd thing is the lights on the trailer flash when you shut any door on the car including the tailgate.

I have the linear electronics box wired into the back of the car, and my trailer lights will blink when the door is shut too.

[Graeme]

I have the linear electronics box wired into the back of the car, and my trailer lights will blink when the door is shut too.
It sounds as though the D4 pulses the lights checking for the presence of trailer incandescent globes when a door is closed instead of the D3's pulsing/checking blinkers all the time.

[outasight]

It sounds as though the D4 pulses the lights checking for the presence of trailer incandescent globes when a door is closed instead of the D3's pulsing/checking blinkers all the time.

Ok - so I went out in the garage & measured the following from the 7 pin car socket with the motor running, but NO loads(trailer/van) connected ...

The tail light output hovered around 4.5V(but remember zero load, so may mean nothing practically exists). It did average around 2.2V using the "average hold" multimeter feature. Then it jumped to a maximum 10.5V each time the door was closed(I used the tailgate).

The indicator outputs were zero & average zero, suggesting they are not being "pulsed". The thing is, they jumped to 14.4V each time the tailgate was shut!

Based on this and what you guys have seen as posted here, I suspect the D4 pulses only as a door is shut to check for a van/trailer. I suspect the lower peak voltage on the tail light output is purely due to the amount of loads on that circuit in the car compared to the indicators.

Make of that what you will!

Regards,

Les.

[Weird Al]

No it's only the LEDs on the trailer that flash when I close the doors....not the one on the Redarc, so I'm confident all is good with my install. ;)



I reckon the diode should stop this behaviour totally. Did you wire your's yourself Weird Al? Sounds like your's also is not quite right somewhere. If the diode is in the right place(somewhere in the red supply wire to the controller & nothing between the diode & the controller), then there should be no reason for the LED to come on/do anything with doors etc. opening/closing.

Here's the exact page where the diode is mentioned ...

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97935-d4-electric-trailer-brakes-11.html

Regards,

Les.

[SteveL]

Now I'm really confused!
I might just go back and have a little chat to my sparky with a print off of these comments.
The fellow who sold me the pulse buster was great to deal with and gave me a full refund on return without any drama.
Thanks to all who considered my issue.
Regards
Steve L.

[wcody01]

Hi guys,
intersting to read... here is my observations

1. My redarc break controler also flashes when closing doors trailer conected or not.

2. connect box trailer (7 pin) with normal light globes and reverse sensor disables and i get the green trailer light on the dash.

3. connect my caravan (12 pin) with electric breaks fitted and LED lights and the blinkers on it do not flash when closing doors (at least not that i have noticed). my reverse sensors are also deactivated however i do not get the green trailer symbol flashing on my dash when indicating. also, 3 times whilst driving along the electric breaks have failed to operate on the pedal but still work on the overide button. at the same time the break lights on the caravan stop working but the car break lights are still fine.

4. Connect the boat trailer (7 pin) with LED lights but no electric or aux power draw and i get no trailer symbol on dash, flashing blinkers when clsoing doors and according to my dad following me the lights ont he trailer cant decide what they want to do either (flashing break lights half way around the corner then back to the blinker lights)

So now i have ordered a pulse busta. It may ntobe needed for light operation but i am suspecting it will enahance the operations of the vehilce to what they should be.

just my story.... interested in anyones thoughts

Cheers
Wiil