Brake Controller - Shows 0.04 volts for Stoplights without trailer???

[River-Runner]

Hi Folks,



Just got my first TDR magazine after I renewed. I have missed this knowledge base!



I'm getting ready to start playing with a 21 foot Desert Fox toy hauler we bought and got the Prodigy P-3 brake controller wired in this PM.



I don't have access to hook up the trailer today, but started playing with the controller unit. Within the troubleshooting menu, it shows battery voltage and among other things stoplight voltage.



My stoplight voltage shows 0. 04 volts with no trailer hooked up to the truck. If I move the manual brake control lever as if I was increasing braking power, the reading for the stoplights goes to 0. 0?



Do you think there is a parasitic drain or what's up? Anything to worry about?



2008 Ram 2500. Never had a problem with batteries going dead, even weak, even over say two weeks - so the power drain shown is coming from this new equipment. I used the Prodigy pigtail so it was just plug and play.



Thanks -



RiverRunner

 

[jelag]

I can't speak for your controller but the one I run shows battery voltage all the time when its awake up to the point that you touch the brake... than it reads voltage applied to the brakes on the trailer... It has no way to read stop light voltage...

My controller goes to sleep after 15 min and no events... . (brake pedal action) with no events it goes to sleep and will stay that way until you press the brake pedal again...

 

[Road Dog]

Everything in your truck runs through the TIPM (total integrated power module). The brake pedal switch sends a signal to the TIPM which powers the brake lights. The TIPM also tests the lights so it can indicate a burnt out or shorted bulb. The trailer circuits are independent too -- they're not tapped off of the tail lights. So I have no idea if the voltages you're seeing are normal or not.

 

[georgej]

Just noticed this thread on the P3. The . 04volt reading appears to be normal as this is the reading on my 5 year old P3 without hooking up. Truck sits for weeks at a time with no battery problem during the winter. Always starts up unlike my neighbors Ford:-laf

 

[River-Runner]

Thought I would circle back. I sent an email to the manufacturer and they said this is normal.



I guess I was scared as I had another of my cars with a short that I had a real hard time tracking down... ...



Thanks for all who responded.



RiverRunner