Thread: Electric Brake Controller Install

Looks good.
I believe the rules say brake controllers are supposed to be installed on the driver's side so it can easily be operated by the driver.
However our Tekonsha is different to the Redarc in that it has a display showing the amount of pressure the brakes are making, and I wanted to see that, but it would have been difficult to see while driving if mounted next to the steering column. So ours is mounted on the passenger side to see at a glance.
Unlike the Redarc, the Tekonsha does not need adjusting on the move as it just shows a scale of 0-5 for the pressure.
If towing, I recommend setting the controller so it brakes the trailer harder than the vehicle. This means if there is any sway a tap on the brakes can pull the trailer in behind the vehicle. You don't want the trailer to push the vehicle.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Looks good.
I believe the rules say brake controllers are supposed to be installed on the driver's side so it can easily be operated by the driver.
However our Tekonsha is different to the Redarc in that it has a display showing the amount of pressure the brakes are making, and I wanted to see that, but it would have been difficult to see while driving if mounted next to the steering column. So ours is mounted on the passenger side to see at a glance.
Unlike the Redarc, the Tekonsha does not need adjusting on the move as it just shows a scale of 0-5 for the pressure.
If towing, I recommend setting the controller so it brakes the trailer harder than the vehicle. This means if there is any sway a tap on the brakes can pull the trailer in behind the vehicle. You don't want the trailer to push the vehicle.

The Redarc has a remote dial so can be fitted anywhere in the vehicle.

Yes, but I'm told the Redarc control unit is supposed to be installed within reach of the driver, so it can be adjusted on the move, which makes sense with the Redarc unit.
However it is unnecessary with the Tekonsha unit as it displays a preset scale of brake pressure as the brake pedal is pushed harder.
The important thing is to be able to see the readout on the front, which is set to a 0-5 scale on ours, to confirm the brakes are working.
So the Redarc and Tekonsha units work differently.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

The Redarc has a remote dial so can be fitted anywhere in the vehicle.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Yes, but I'm told the Redarc control unit is supposed to be installed within reach of the driver, so it can be adjusted on the move, which makes sense with the Redarc unit.
However it is unnecessary with the Tekonsha unit as it displays a preset scale of brake pressure as the brake pedal is pushed harder.
The important thing is to be able to see the readout on the front, which is set to a 0-5 scale on ours, to confirm the brakes are working.
So the Redarc and Tekonsha units work differently.

Thats why the dial is remote so can you mount the base anywhere and fit the dial in reach, they even sell an extension cable that is 5m long.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Yes, but I'm told the Redarc control unit is supposed to be installed within reach of the driver, so it can be adjusted on the move, which makes sense with the Redarc unit.
However it is unnecessary with the Tekonsha unit as it displays a preset scale of brake pressure as the brake pedal is pushed harder.
The important thing is to be able to see the readout on the front, which is set to a 0-5 scale on ours, to confirm the brakes are working.
So the Redarc and Tekonsha units work differently.

You’ve misinterpreted that completely.

Even the Tekonsha should be within reach of the driver.

Both for emergency application, and for fine adjustment that may be necessary as load changes (for whatever reason)

The Redarc is also inertial sensing and both units behave similarly.

Originally Posted by Tombie

You’ve misinterpreted that completely.

Even the Tekonsha should be within reach of the driver.

Both for emergency application, and for fine adjustment that may be necessary as load changes (for whatever reason)

The Redarc is also inertial sensing and both units behave similarly.

And i meant to add that the Redarc has no controls on the unit so the dial is used for all adjustments.

I can still reach the Tekonsha where it is mounted, but if it was mounted next to the steering wheel I wouldn't be able to see the display showing how much brake pressure is being applied progressively as I push the brake pedal, so it would be useless.
I have had the Redarc unit in the past and agree it needs to be mounted in easy reach so the dial can be turned to increase or decrease braking pressure, but there is no display to monitor, as on the Tekonsha.
The Tekonsha is not adjusted by hand once the scale is initially set. The pressure is adjusted by altering how hard the brake pedal is pushed.
So they work differently.

No it’s not… there is NO variable output from the brake pedal at all. So how hard you push has NO variable input to the unit.

You are mistaken.