Thread: Brake Controllers???

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

Thanks Tony,
I'm used to towing 2 LARGE horses in the uk with an Ifor Williams braked trailer.

The lady who owns the float currently tows it behind her Range Rover, so I was assuming I could simply drop a brake controller onto the 110 and away we go, so to speak!

I am assuming the float is currently road legal as it has a current rego??

Are the brake away systems and other requirements you speak of functions of / equipment on the trailer or the towing vehicle? In short could I need more than simply a brake controller?

Thx
Jon

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G'day Jon,

You, as the driver are ultimately responsible for the safe and legal vehicle / trailer combination. I am certainly NOT suggesting the trailer is illegal, only that you need to satisfy your own conscience that the combination you are in control of, meets current regulations.

I am in SA, so I don't know the specifics of now the NSW trailer rego system works. But here there are no annual inspections of small trailers so it is entirely possible to have a trailer with current rego that is not technically roadworthy.

Breakaway systems are matched to the type of braking system. For electric brakes there is usually a lead acid battery mounted somewhere on the trailer that is kept charged through the Aux circuit. The system has a 'normally closed' switch that is held open by a safety lanyard attached to the towing vehicle. If the trailer should part company with the vehicle, the lanyard is pulled out of the breakaway controller, connecting the battery directly to the electric brakes. The brakes come on full and stay on until the battery is discharged or the lanyard is reconnected.

Overall GTM will dictate whether or not the trailer needs a breakaway controller to be legal (and safe).

To answer your last question, if the trailer is currently setup for electric brakes then you just need an electric brake controller that is capable of delivering sufficient amps. Most controllers should be more than capable, but it is a question that ought to be in the back of your mind if the float is a 3 axle, with brakes on all axles. From (dim) memory, each brake solenoid can draw upwards of 15 amps, so 30 amps per axle for heavy braking.

If the float has a breakaway controller, then you should also ensure your vehicle delivers whatever charge current the breakaway unit is expecting.

Regards,
Pete

Old NSW light trailer regulations
Post 1990 NSW light trailer regulations

Thanks Pete. I'll have a read of the links you provided and do a bit more searching on current regs and I think see about getting the trailer inspected, just to be on the safe side - I'm happy it's road worthy from a horse & structural perspective, but not a legal one.

Thx again.
Jon

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Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

Im watching this with interest... Im from the UK so know nothing of these types of controllers!

However, I think I will shortly be looking for a unit that could tow/stop a camper trailer (in the future) but more importantly needs to be suited to a loaded 4 horse float.....

Float is say 1000kg + 4 horses x say 600kg = 3,400kg? Have you thought about a getting horse truck or goose neck trailer (5th wheeler)? Or make 2 trips with a smaller float?

(I now have the same problem. The SWMBO has 2 horses + a pony and we only have a 2 horse float. Can't afford to upgrade to anything at the moment.)

You can buy trailer plug adapters from Supercheap or BCF, or make your own adapter. We used to use an adapter on the Stage 1 V8 Landrover we had on loan when towing the horse float or box trailer.

Originally Posted by Beckford

Float is say 1000kg + 4 horses x say 600kg = 3,400kg? Have you thought about a getting horse truck or goose neck trailer (5th wheeler)? Or make 2 trips with a smaller float?

(I now have the same problem. The SWMBO has 2 horses + a pony and we only have a 2 horse float. Can't afford to upgrade to anything at the moment.)

You can buy trailer plug adapters from Supercheap or BCF, or make your own adapter. We used to use an adapter on the Stage 1 V8 Landrover we had on loan when towing the horse float or box trailer.

5th wheeler etc is out of the question - need to use what we have. Fortunately none of the horses over here are over 16.2, so none are massive and thus weight I dont think is a big problem (appart from finding out the legalities of brake-aways etc etc). The weekend comp's that mrs Yorkshire_Jon does often involve 7 or 8 horses (friends as well), so we do multiple trips already - fortunately though its not often we need to go far with more than 3.

Has anyone used one of REDArc brake controllers? If so any thoughts / comments?

EB Series Trailer Brake Controller | Redarc Electronics

I like the idea that the unit could be burried in the dash of the TD5 out of sight and the switch and dial be cut into 2 of the spare dashboard switch blanks.

On the other hand, i dont know if this would be suitable for a horse float, or just a light camper trailer (as shown on the website)?

Thx
Jon

Originally Posted by Beckford

You can buy trailer plug adapters from Supercheap or BCF, or make your own adapter. We used to use an adapter on the Stage 1 V8 Landrover we had on loan when towing the horse float or box trailer.

I personally wouldn't run your brakes through adaptors, more voltage drop and more failure points on something as critical brakes, particularly on something as heavy as a four horse float.

Tony

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

Has anyone used one of REDArc brake controllers? If so any thoughts / comments?

EB Series Trailer Brake Controller | Redarc Electronics

These are non proportional - in that when you apply the brakes the braking effort on the trailer is the same no matter how hard or soft you apply the brakes. You can of course adjust braking from the cabin or hit the emergency button and get full braking.

So if you are happy with that then they are OK.

Garry

Hi Jon and you better have a look at the link below, it only applies to NSW registered vehicles.

Take particular notice of the last sentence in the 3rd paragraph.

This is about the requirement to have an indicator in the tow vehicle that shows that the breakaway battery is in a good state of charger and not having this indicator while towing a trailer in NSW, could get you a defect notice.


http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...s_nov_2007.pdf