No Power On Blue Wire to Trailer Brakes from Brake Controller

Question

Question:

I have no power to trailer brakes. I have the brake controller wired but still nothing to trailer. We have a good ground and have power at black wire. But blue wite coming out of controller doesnt have much amperage.

asked by: Dalton K

0

Expert Reply:

To cover the easiest things first, make sure that the brake controller output or gain is turned up. If the power is low then the voltage on the blue wire will be low. When testing for voltage make sure to use the manual override and not the brake pedal. On many proportional brake controllers the vehicle has to be moving for the brake controller to send back the proper voltage via the brake pedal.

Also make sure the controller is mounted within its range specified in the instructions and not tilted or turned to the side.

You can also test to see if the brake controller is the problem. In the truck cab you will need to sever the blue wire several inches from the back of the controller. Then use a circuit tester such as # PTW2993 to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power when you apply the manual override. If it shows power at idle then there is something wrong with the controller and it will need to be replaced.

If it tests fine then reconnect the blue wire. Then move on to the truck side trailer connector. Many times, dirt or corrosion can cause a short in a trailer connector. Make sure the truck and the trailer side connectors are clean and free of corrosion inside and out.

You can test the brake output pin and it should only show power with the manual override. If it shows power any other time then there is a short somewhere between the connector and the brake controller you will need to track down.

If the truck side checks out fine then it could be the wiring to the brake magnets or the magnets themselves. Inspect the power wires to the magnets and look for pinched, frayed, or damaged wires and fix as needed. Make sure the ground wires are attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces.

You can visually inspect the magnets and if you can see the copper windings coming through the magnets will need to be replaced. To further test the magnets you can follow the help article I have linked. I have also included some help articles on testing and troubleshooting brake controllers for you.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Answer 1

To determine why you do not have any power on the blue brake output wire, I recommend starting at your brake controller. First, make sure the brake controller is on and receiving power. Most brake controllers have 4 wires, blue (brake output to…

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Answer 2

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 3

You are correct, you should only be getting output when the brake is applied, or the override switch is activated. It sounds like the controller might be bad, but to make sure, you should probably bench test it before tossing it. Use a circuit…

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Answer 4

It is normal to have continuity between the brake(blue) wire and ground(white) wire. The electric trailer brake is an electromagnet when it has power it attracts to the steel inside the hub/drum. If you are having issues with your trailer brakes…

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Answer 5

There are a few troubleshooting steps to help you figure out why you have no power. I would start by making sure that there is not any corrosion or debris blocking your connection points. If they are clean or still no power after cleaning, I would…

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Answer 6

On the Pilot Brake Controller, item #80550, the wiring is as follows. White = ground, White on Chevy Blue = trailer brake feed, Dark blue on Chevy Red = stop light, light blue on Chevy Black = 12 volt power, red with black stripe on Chevy The orange…

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Answer 7

There are a couple things you can check to find the problem you are having with the brake controller showing no trailer is connected. It can mean there is a short on the brake signal wire on the vehicle or trailer side. Or there could be corrosion on…

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Answer 8

For your RV built on the 2003 Ford E-450 chassis, I recommend looking at the Curt Adjustable Width Trailer Hitch Receiver #C13702. This is a universal, adjustable trailer hitch designed specifically for use on RVs. It can be bolted to the vehicle…

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Answer 9

I do have a solution for you, however we do not currently have a custom-fit trailer hitch that is confirmed to work with the Ford E450 chassis on your motorhome. I recommend looking at the Adjustable Width Trailer Hitch Receiver #13703. This is an…

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Answer 10

First of all did this problem just start happening? If the trailer has always worked fine before on the same truck then it's likely a short on the trailer's brake wiring. I would start by cleaning the connector and make sure it's free of…

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Answer 11

For the 2 wires coming off the brake magnet, either wire can be used for either ground or power. You will just want to make sure that the ground wire has a good connection to a clean, corrosion and paint-free location on the trailer frame. A bad…

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Answer 12

When replacing a grease seal, the metal part of the seal will face towards the inside of the trailer and the rubber part of the seal will face toward the back side of the wheel. The air side of the seal is the flat side of the seal and faces out when…

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No Power On Blue Wire to Trailer Brakes from Brake Controller

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