Tow Rite Modulite HD/ Tipm Protection?

[deeselfitter]

Does anyone have any experience with the Tow Rite HD Modulite from Red Trailers. There was a great thread on here a while ago that showed how to build a TIPM protector for hauling trailers that may have wiring problems. Apparentely my 06 Mega is equipped with a Totally Integrated Power Module that is doomed to fail if I plug into a trailer or camper with a less that ideal wiring harness. This TIPM can only be reset by the dealer (if they know how to do it )and after just a few resets you would have to replace this unit to the tune of about 800 bucks where i live.
Is the Tow Rite Modulite HD designed to protect the TIPM and has anyone used one?
Wayne

 

[JHumphries]

No experience, but I am an electrician. It looks like it will function as TIPM saver.
Here is their site:
http://www.towready.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=2&parentid=1500&catID=1535&part=0
They have one called a short circuit protector, that would also work.
Looking at the instructions for these items, the installer would need a pretty decent understanding of electricity, as well as a decent wiring diagram for the vehicle being wired.

Any circuit that takes it's power from the battery, and only connects to bulb lines to get a signal, i.e. is the bulb on or off, should protect the TIPM from shorted trailer wiring. The only problem then is how the wires are connected to the factory wiring. I'm assuming you already have the stock 4 flat connector. It could probably be used as the signal point to drive this box, without the need to cut, splice or tap into any wire.

 

[deeselfitter]

No experience, but I am an electrician. It looks like it will function as TIPM saver.
Here is their site:
http://www.towready.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=2&parentid=1500&catID=1535&part=0
They have one called a short circuit protector, that would also work.
Looking at the instructions for these items, the installer would need a pretty decent understanding of electricity, as well as a decent wiring diagram for the vehicle being wired.

Any circuit that takes it's power from the battery, and only connects to bulb lines to get a signal, i.e. is the bulb on or off, should protect the TIPM from shorted trailer wiring. The only problem then is how the wires are connected to the factory wiring. I'm assuming you already have the stock 4 flat connector. It could probably be used as the signal point to drive this box, without the need to cut, splice or tap into any wire.

I already have the unit from Tow Rite that plugs into the factory harness to add a flat connector. I bought that so i could splice into it with the modulite HD and be able to just unplug and store it when i am not using the truck for trailer towing

 

[JHumphries]

That should work. Wire it using the 2-wire instructions, by grounding the stop wire on the input to the Modulite HD.
Do you have a factory 4-flat connector? If so, you can put a 4-flat connector on the Modulite and just connect it to the factory connector, bypassing the need for the 't' connector.

 

[deeselfitter]

I don't have a factory flat 4 connector on the truck now,I seldom tow anything with a flat connector. By"grounding the stop wire",do u mean attaching the wire for the trailer brakes and brake lights to the wire that comes directly from the battery that powers the modulite?

 

[JHumphries]

Look at the "Installation Instructions" here:
http://www.towready.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=3&parentid=1500&catID=1535&part=119147
There are four wires going into the module: Tail Light (Brown), Left Turn (Yellow), Right Turn (Green) and Stop (Red).
Install the 'T' connector that you bought. It should have a 4-flat on it.
Connect the Left turn wire to the Yellow wire, Right turn to the Green wire, Tail Light to the Brown wire, the white wire from the module and the Stop wire to ground, i.e. the frame of the truck. The white wire from the 4-flat is also a ground.
The colors on the module should match the 4-flat colors.
I'm going to assume you're using a 7 pin blade connector.
Connect a fused line from the battery to the HD Module, and another fused line the the red (maybe black) on the 7 pin trailer connector.
Connect the trailer brake output the the blue wire on the 7 pin trailer connector.
The last connection on the trailer plug should be purple and usally connects to the back-up lights, at least according to the wiring diagrams I can find.

Test all of thise with a tester or a multimeter (get someone who knows how if you don't) BEFORE you connect a trailer.

 

[Kry226]

I installed this several years ago after losing right side travel trailer tail lights on a trip several hundred miles from home. Traced the no power back to the fuse box...all fuses good. I don't wonder about my trailer lights much anymore. Well worth it.

 

[deeselfitter]

Look at the "Installation Instructions" here:
http://www.towready.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=3&parentid=1500&catID=1535&part=119147
There are four wires going into the module: Tail Light (Brown), Left Turn (Yellow), Right Turn (Green) and Stop (Red).
Install the 'T' connector that you bought. It should have a 4-flat on it.
Connect the Left turn wire to the Yellow wire, Right turn to the Green wire, Tail Light to the Brown wire, the white wire from the module and the Stop wire to ground, i.e. the frame of the truck. The white wire from the 4-flat is also a ground.
The colors on the module should match the 4-flat colors.
I'm going to assume you're using a 7 pin blade connector.
Connect a fused line from the battery to the HD Module, and another fused line the the red (maybe black) on the 7 pin trailer connector.
Connect the trailer brake output the the blue wire on the 7 pin trailer connector.
The last connection on the trailer plug should be purple and usally connects to the back-up lights, at least according to the wiring diagrams I can find.

Test all of thise with a tester or a multimeter (get someone who knows how if you don't) BEFORE you connect a trailer.

OK J
Thanks for taking the time to explain the whole proceedure to me, but i wanted to be sure before i blow up that TIPM.I will not use the back up light circuit anyhow.....the rest looks fairly straightforward
Wayne