Hazards & Trailer brake controller

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Hazards & Trailer brake controller

BigBrother-84
This post was updated on .
Hi Gentlemen,

Just for fun, am I the only one who have the Hazards sending an intermittent "brake pulse" to the trailer brake controller?

I realized that couple of years ago, coming back home, truck loaded, pulling a heavy horse trailer and climbing a steep hill on a highway.

Losing speed, I turned on the Hazards.  The trailer brakes were applied with each Hazard's pulsation.


A mechanic told me it's normal for these Ol'Trucks, but I am wondering if he was correct.
Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.
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Re: Hazard & Trailer brake controller

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Interesting!  Yes, if your trailer brake controller is triggered from the brake lights then the hazards would trigger it as well.  Hadn't thought of that.

You could fix that with a diode in the brake wiring just downstream from the brake switch, and then tie the brake controller in between the switch and the diode.  But your lights would be slightly dimmer due to the .7V drop across the diode.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Hazard & Trailer brake controller

85lebaront2
Administrator
In reply to this post by BigBrother-84
This is exactly why I kept this controller for Darth:

It is a Kelsey-Hayes hydraulic actuated controller, unfortunately, no longer available.
Here is where it connects to my late master cylinder:

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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Re: Hazards & Trailer brake controller

BigBrother-84
This post was updated on .
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
Happy to see that it's not a Big Brother's only problem.

Gary Lewis wrote
You could fix that with a diode in the brake wiring just downstream from the brake switch, and then tie the brake controller in between the switch and the diode
Smart idea, as usual Gary!


85lebaront2 wrote
This is exactly why I kept this controller for Darth
Bill, these controllers had hydraulic only for activation (the rest being electrical to the trailer), or was there a complete hydraulic system going to the trailer's brakes?
Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.
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Re: Hazards & Trailer brake controller

FuzzFace2
BigBrother-84 wrote
Bill, these controllers had hydraulic only for activation (the rest being electrical to the trailer), or was there a complete hydraulic system going to the trailer's brakes?
Only for activation.
There was a slave cly type thing inside that moved the knob that moved across a resister that then sent power to the trailer brakes.

I am sure that type controller went away when ABS brakes came out on cars & trucks.
Dave ----
Dave G.
81 F100 flare side 300 six / AA OD / NP435 / 2.75 gear
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1980-Ford-F100?page=1
81 F100 style side 300 six/SROD parts truck -RIP
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1981-Ford-F100
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Re: Hazards & Trailer brake controller

85lebaront2
Administrator
Dave, you are correct on both counts. I have had that one since I had my 1977 F150 and needed to use a friend's car trailer. The electronic ones were just becoming more common then.

When I bought Darth, he had an electronic one with a pendulum in it to determine how much power was needed for the brakes. I was taking our 30 ft. 5th wheel back to the dealer for some warranty work not long after buying Darth, I was on US 17 in York County VA, at an area where the pavement is a little rough and had to stop for a light. Until that point the system worked pretty well, rough pavement + brakes + pendulum rheostat = pulsing trailer brakes to the point I was worried about damaging the brakes.

I went back to my trailer specialist in Hampton VA and asked about a different controller. At that time (1994) the all electronic ones that were close to what a $60 hydraulic one in performance, were well over $300, they're less expensive now, but as long as this one (a) doesn't leak and (b) still works, I do not plan on replacing it.
Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413