Redarc remote trailer brake controller

[nedflanders]

Hi, before I send this back can anyone whose fitted one confirm mine is ferked-
I'm getting 4.8v constant on the blue wire and 9.8v when the brakes are applied, adjusting the control knob makes no difference. Just fitted it and can't see how you could get anything wrong as it's only a simple 4 wire setup :(

[Drover]

Unusual for anything RedArc to be faulty, I would ring their assistance line for advice before sending it back.

[superquag]

Something tells me that you need to connect a suitable load to the controller... From my fading memory, you can get away with a 50W headlight globe, though some only work with an inductive load, - the trailer electromagnets.

James in Gosnells

EDIT: - Found this on another forum, a reply from REDARC. http://www.offroad80s.com/redarc-brake-controller-problems-help-t10189.html

"The green LED on the Redarc EB electric brake controller should only come on when there is a complete circuit to ground on the EB blue wire. This should normally be via a correctly wired trailer with electric brakes is plugged into the vehicle but it is also possible to get a green light if the blue wire from the EB is connected to the wrong place, E.g. directly to vehicle ground or to some other circuit such as trailer lights.

The green light is a safety feature that warns you if there is not a complete electric brake circuit. If the green light does not come on, it could indicate, for example, that there could be a broken wire somewhere in the vehicle or the trailer or that the electric brakes may not be wired to the correct pin on the trailer socket or that the trailer does not have a good earth or even that the trailer plug has fallen out. In any case, if the green light does not come on, your electric brakes will not work properly and should be checked by a suitably qualified Automotive Electrician.

When the vehicle brakes are applied, (with a trailer plugged in) if the knob is set to minimum (fully anti-clockwise), the light should stay green, if set to half way, it should go yellow or orange and if turned up to full (fully clockwise), it should go red.

If you measure the output of the EB on the trailer socket brake pin, with no electric brakes connected (I.e. with no load), you should expect to see around 4-5V. This is caused by the green LED in the EB “looking for” a circuit to ground. If you measure it with the brake circuit complete, it should read 0V. The brake circuit can be completed by plugging in a trailer with correctly wired electric brakes.

Alternatively (if the trailer is not available) you could connect a test lamp (filament type, not LED) to the trailer socket brake pin and you should measure 0V."

[nedflanders]

Thanks, looks like the constant 4-5v is normal after all, will give i another go tomorrow and see what happens.