Thread: Where have you put your brake controller

Hi Slater,
Perhaps if you post a pic of your Defender dash, you might get more responses.

Best Wishes,
Peter

Thanks Bushwanderer, I would have thought all 300 Tdi Defender dashboards, minus any additions, would all be the same? Have had the unit fitted today, under the air outlet, between and above the gear stick & hand brake.

Perhaps, but not all of us have 300tDi dashes.

Glad you got it sorted.

some detailed info i found

brake_controllers

Brake Controller Comparison, Recommendation, Evaluation and History Charts

Originally Posted by Grumndriva

Lou,


Someone mentioned a separate brake battery in the van. This only applies to tandem (or tri-axle) vans and trailers which would become projectiles in the event of a complete breakaway of the towing connection (tow bar or A-frame hitch and safety chains). Hence the name, breakaway brakes. In that unlikely event, a lanyard removes a plug from the breakaway switch on the A frame, which applies full braking to the trailer brakes to bring the van to a stop. It has nothing to do with normal braking. With these systems, it is now compulsory to have a caravan/trailer battery charge monitor in the tow vehicle, and for that you need another pair of wires. Consequently you run out of pins with a 7 pin plug, so the standard plug now for larger (multi-axle) vans is a 12 pin flat plug, A 7 pin plug will still fit a 12 pin receptacle, as the hole sizes and locations are the same. However the 12 pin plug also has 5 larger pins in parallel. You do not need breakaway brakes with your CT.

Both my brother and my son bought Redarc controllers about 12 months ago, and both binned them in favour of a Tekonsha Prodigy, due to their inablity to get true proportional braking from them, which meant that if they were set with enough power at speed, they would apply excessive braking at slow speed. There may be a better model out now, but if you find the braking at slow speed uncomfortably harsh when set properly for other speeds, replace it with a Prodigy ior Prodigy P3. These are what most of the caravan fraternity use, because they are easy to set up and work. The Tekonsha Voyager works well when set up properly, but is difficult to set up properly, which is why I binned ours and replaced it with a Prodigy.

Hope this has been useful Enjoy the camper.
Cheers,
Terry

I full agree with what you said but I got confused with the breakaway part:

In NSW you need a breakaway for any trailer over 2ton. Could you please expalin the two wire system needed in the veihcle, I have never heard of this, I am interested!!

Originally Posted by Banjo_pluker

I full agree with what you said but I got confused with the breakaway part:

In NSW you need a breakaway for any trailer over 2ton. Could you please expalin the two wire system needed in the veihcle, I have never heard of this, I am interested!!

It’s a requirement to provide the Breakaway Battery with a charge circuit.
* Some manufacturers use the 12 pin flat plug as mentioned.
* Some use the standard 7 pin plug with a + feed on pin #2 (designated Aux or Reverse Light) returning through the light's earth on #3. This is the example that will cause the rear fog lights on D3 or later to ignite)
* Some will use a separate two pin line like an Andersen plug
Either way there should be a charge source for the trailer mounted battery – the standard is that the battery must be able to run the brakes continuously for 15 minutes after leaving the tow vehicle.

Originally Posted by harlie

It’s a requirement to provide the Breakaway Battery with a charge circuit.
* Some manufacturers use the 12 pin flat plug as mentioned.
* Some use the standard 7 pin plug with a + feed on pin #2 (designated Aux or Reverse Light) returning through the light's earth on #3. This is the example that will cause the rear fog lights on D3 or later to ignite)
* Some will use a separate two pin line like an Andersen plug
Either way there should be a charge source for the trailer mounted battery – the standard is that the battery must be able to run the brakes continuously for 15 minutes after leaving the tow vehicle.

That make sense now thanks,

except I have been towing my van illegally without it

Guess what I am doing when I get free time next?