What Ohms Should Trailer Brake Magnets Be?

Question

Question:

When I have my brake controller connected and I apply my brakes, the trailer brakes grab regardless of the gain setting. I checked the ground and its good. I checked the resistance at each brake and one reads 2.0 ohms and the other reads 2.8 ohms. Single axle.

asked by: Patrick F

0

Expert Reply:

Assuming that when you tested the resistance of the brakes you were testing the two wires on each magnet and getting 2.0 and 2.8 ohms the magnets on your trailer are not working correctly and will need to be replaced.

For 7" brakes you should get 3.8-4.0 ohms, and for 10-12" brakes you should have 3.0-3.8 ohms.

If the brake shoes themselves are good you can replace just the magnet using 7" # AKBRKR-M7, 10" # AKBRKR-M10, or 12" # AKBRKR-M12.

If the shoes are needing replacement as well you will need to go with 7" braking assembly # AKEBRK-2, 10" # AKEBRK-35-SA, or 12" # AKEBRK-7-SA.

I included videos for the products mentioned for you to take a look at.

expert reply by: Samuel C

0

Mike

7/6/2024

I tested resistance at the 7 pin connector: between brake terminal and ground. I got 1.7ohms which I think means it would pull about 7 amps (between the 2 brakes) if I understand correctly. Sound right? Thanks.

Reply

Samuel C.

7/6/2024

@Mike You're going to need to test at the magnet, as testing at the 7-way adds in a lot of additional wiring leading to weird results. You should have more resistance than 1.7ohms, that is almost half of normal readings, though you may be getting a weird reading based on where you're testing (at the 7-way and not directly to the magnet)

Reply

Answer 1

Your brake controller should be getting 12 volts of power going into the brake controller. The wire that feeds power to the brake controller is the Black wire. You can test this wire by using a multimeter part #PT89ZR. The amount of power coming…

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Answer 2

Since you just installed the #AKEBRK-35-SA on your trailer and are experiencing this issue, the most likely cause is just a weak ground wire on the right side. I recommend checking the wiring on the side that is providing weak braking (the right…

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Answer 3

It sounds like you may be having some wiring issues; but first, start by checking your connectors to see if there is any corrosion that may be hampering their functionality and keeping your brakes engaged. To disengage your brakes, cut the power…

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Answer 4

This would all depend on where the bend is located. If the torsion bar that connects the frame brackets together is bent, then you would need to buy a new axle. However, if the spindle on the torsion axle is bent, you can replace it. To prevent…

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Answer 5

If the brake magnet is worn to the point that the windings are visible then you know it&#39;s time to replace the magnet. However, magnets can also fail without the visible signs of wear. Check out the FAQ article I attached on testing…

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Answer 6

There are a number of reasons why the brakes on your trailer may not be working. Lets start with the easiest things to check. First, check the vehicle and trailer connectors for corrosion. This can cause a short inside the connector and the brake…

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Answer 7

I can tell you how to determine the correct electric brakes for your boat trailer, though we don't have a way of knowing precisely what a 2006 Karavan boat trailer needs. It's pretty simple to figure out though, as you need to know…

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Answer 8

For your Dexter 12x2" Brakes, you can use the Electric Trailer Brake Kit #AKEBRK-7-SA for the right side, and #AKEBRK-7L-SA for the left side, as a replacement.

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Answer 9

There are a couple of things that may cause what you are stating. If you have checked the power draw with a multimeter like #PT89ZR and see the brake power isn't fully disengaging, then I recommend cleaning the ground connection to the magnet…

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Answer 10

When it comes to installing The Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty #RED52VR if there is no trailer connected, the active calibration may occur as normal without any indication from the LED., provided your brake light trigger point is active when there is no…

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Answer 11

There are many things that can affect the voltage on the brake output wire from your brake controller to your trailer brakes such as the power setting on your brake controller, how you are testing the wire and if you are testing it with the brakes…

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Answer 12

For testing this I recommend a Multimeter #PT29ZR to check the different components of the braking system. You can test the continuity of your wiring from the 7-Way to each individual brake magnet. It can help you identify if there is damage…

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What Ohms Should Trailer Brake Magnets Be?

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