Brake controller wiring?

[CoastyAV8R]

I am in the midst of hooking up a Tekonsha Sentinel brake controller on my 2001 ETH which is equipped with the tow package. I am using the adapter harness that came with the truck and have a few questions regarding the connections between the brake controller and the adapter harness.

The controller has 4 wires labeled as follows:

Blue- brake output to trailer

Black- Positive Battery

White- Negative Battery

Red- Cold side of stoplight switch



To refresh your memories, the adapter harness is labeled as follows:

Blue- trailer brakes

White- Vehicle brake sense imput

Black- Ground

Red- +12 volts



I'm planning on hooking it up this way:

Brake Controller Adapter harness

Blue to Blue

Black to Red

White to Black

Red to White?



I guess it is the last connection, the red to white one that doesn't seem correct. Am I missing something or just paranoid about cookin' something? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as it will help prevent a trip to the rubber room.



Thanks,

Pat

2001 ETH, Tow, camper packages, 4x4, QC.

 

[DarrellB]

Hook it up

Go ahead and hook that bad boy up you have all the conections right. Just make sure to tuck those wires up out of the way of the pedels.



Hope the controler works good, because its easy to pull the big loads with mother cummins in the truck but its hard to stop without those trailer brakes. Been there done that, don't want to do it again.



Happy Bombing

Big D

 

[QRTRHRS]

I had a dealer install my Sentinel so I can't help with the wiriing. I can tell you that I like the controller. Easy to adjust especially when you pull different trailers. Only been up to 22k gross so far but no problem stopping.

 

[RKelly]

Your wiring is correct. I installed mine the same way about two years ago, and no problems.

You question the cold side of the trucks' brakes (which means its hot only when you tap the brakes, and turn on the brake lights), being connected to the 'brake sensor' of the control unit.

The brake sensor of the control unit just wants to know when you hit the brakes, so basically, it's looking to see when your brake lights come on (cold side of the brakes). As soon as the control unit sees 12 volts showing up, it knows it can begin to apply the trailer brakes.

Good luck.

Ray

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Thanks for the replies, I got her all wired up. Got to go pick up the trailer tomorrow so hopefully there is no big fire, if ya hear of one I probably crossed one of the wires.



Thanks again,

Pat

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by CoastyAV8R

Thanks for the replies, I got her all wired up. Got to go pick up the trailer tomorrow so hopefully there is no big fire, if ya hear of one I probably crossed one of the wires.



Thanks again,

Pat

Take the adjustment card with you to pick up trailer saves time and go step by step you get green light if hooked up correct with plug in to trailer caution do not pull the wire to plug to test brake a way switch with plug in to trailer will fry the controler in less than a second LOL you got it right . Ron in Louisville KY

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Just wanted to let you know that I got it hooked up and it works great. I didn't have time to mount it before I picked up the trailer which was a big pain in the turbo, but now a few choice words later, it's mounted and doin' its thing. It came unplugged once because I didn't have it plugged in all the way, lesson learned there. The guy who hauled it over to Reno for me was driving a Ford Powerstroke and I swear we were going 45 mph up some of the hills. When I was pulling it back, I never dropped below 55 and that was only because I didn't want to run over 2200 in 5th gear. The truck pulls like a banshee compared to the Ford.



Thanks for the help,

Pat

2001 ETH QC 4x4

 

[Ninearrow]

The instructions say to put a circuit breaker inline. Do we not need that if we use the harness?

 

[CoastyAV8R]

In my search for info on the subject I found that it said you don't need an additional circuit breaker unless the trailer has more than 2 braking axles. The stock fuse can handle up to 2 axles, more than that, you may need one.



Pat