Thread: Bluetooth trailer brakes

Yep, all our large trailers with GTM greater than 2,000Kg have the same now (A rival Hire company) 😉

They work great, there’s a controller that plugs into the power socket in your car that allows you to operate the brakes on the trailer like you would with a normal hard wired brake controller.

Most are approved and legal and I would assume theirs are but some of the app based units that require your phone to operate the brakes aren’t, but I doubt they would be using them.

Just out of curiosity, what brand are these controllers?

Originally Posted by jayray377

Just out of curiosity, what brand are these controllers?

Don’t collect till Sunday afternoon so don’t know yet. :-)

Hi Simon, this might be an interesting read for you.

It is part of an E-mail reply I received just yesterday from the of the Compliance & Regulatory Services RMS. NSW

To be honest, the whole e-mail does not make much sense?


For trailers up 2 tonnes GTM, an efficient braking system is considered to have brakes operating on the wheels of at least one axle. Over-run brakes may only be used on trailers that do not exceed 2 tonnes GTM.
Every trailer over 2 tonnes GTM must have brakes operating on all wheels. The brake system must cause immediate application of the trailer brakes in the event of the trailer becoming detached from the towing vehicle. Under these circumstances, the brakes must remain applied for at least 15 minutes.
All flexible hydraulic brake hoses, air or vacuum brake tubing and air and vacuum flexible hoses must conform to SAA, SAE, BS, JIS, DIN, ISO or ECE Standards and be fitted to the vehicle in a way that will prevent chafing, kinking or other mechanical damage under normal motion of the parts to which they are attached.

(For further information, refer to ADR 38) https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L00692

As per Road Transport (Vehicle Regulation) Regulation 2017 Schedule 2 Light Vehicle Standards Rules:
Division 3 Trailer braking systems

126 What brakes a trailer must have


(1) A trailer with a GTM over 750 kilograms must have brakes that operate on at least 1 wheel at each end of 1 or more axles of the trailer.
(2) A semi-trailer or converter dolly with a GTM over 2 tonnes must have brakes that operate on all its wheels.
127 Operation of brakes on trailers
(cf ALVSR 2015 r 127; 2007 reg Sch 2 cl 141)

(1) The braking system of a trailer with a GTM over 2 tonnes must allow the driver of a motor vehicle towing the trailer to operate the brakes from a normal driving position.

(2) The brakes on a trailer with a GTM over 2 tonnes must:
(a) operate automatically and quickly if the trailer breaks away from the towing vehicle, and
(b) remain in operation for at least 15 minutes after a break-away, and
(c) be able to hold the trailer on a 12% gradient while in operation after a break-away.

128 Air or vacuum brakes on trailers
(cf ALVSR 2015 r 128; 2007 reg Sch 2 cl 142)
(1) If a trailer has air brakes, its braking system must include at least 1 air storage tank.
(2) If a trailer has vacuum brakes, its braking system must include at least 1 vacuum storage tank.
(3) An air or vacuum storage system must:
(a) be built to give a visible or audible warning to the driver of the towing vehicle, while in a normal driving position, of a lack of air or vacuum that would prevent the brakes from meeting the performance standards of rule 122, and
(b) be safeguarded by a check valve or other device against loss of air or vacuum if the supply fails or leaks.

(4) Subrules (1), (2) and (3) do not apply to a trailer with a GTM of 2 tonnes or less.
Links:
NSW Legislation

NSW Legislation

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 38/05 – Trailer Brake Systems) 2018

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/ve...N2009_V5.1.pdf

Our Club trailer uses the Elecbrakes app. How Does An Electric Brake Controller Work? | Elecbrakes

Braking is triggered by positive voltage being applied to the brake light circuit. Once braking is triggered Elecbrakes uses Microprocessors and Accelerometers to calculate and provide precise brake response.

So basically uses the deccelerometer in the phone to communicate via bluetooth the amount of braking required on the trailer.

Garry

Wow, what a huge potential for failure and other issues.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

It is part of an E-mail reply I received just yesterday from the of the Compliance & Regulatory Services RMS. NSW

To be honest, the whole e-mail does not make much sense?

Thanks Drivesafe. Yes confusing stuff as usual from the RMS. I’m not sure that clarifies anything ;-)

I should have mentioned that the old horse float I towed years ago had electric brakes.

Cheers - Simon

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Wow, what a huge potential for failure and other issues.

Yes I must agree..