Brakesmart Controller Says Elec Brake Short

[ctdodgeram]

Bought a Brakesmart Controller for 03 this fall. Still have the 98 with another controller, and last year I had surging intermittent electric brakes on triple axle 5'er.



Anyway, It took about 10 minutes towing with new 03 & Brakesmart, hitting brakes where I got the warning of a short.



Pulled drums. checked wires, and don't see anything obvious.



My question, Visually or electrically, how can I tell if 1 or more magnets is bad or shorting?



Granted, it is @ $20. 00 a wheel for kit, but hate to just guess.



Thanks in advance.

 

[EB]

You might try jacking up one side and have someone step on the brake and spin the tires. If one spins and the others don't, that should be your shorted wheel. I've used that method before, it's easier than poking holes in wires to find a short.

 

[jnelson]

a short does not mean its at the brake. it could be the hot wire for the brakes grounding out on the frame of the trailer. been there, doe that.

 

[ctdodgeram]

I trace the wires back from plug, and did not see any grounding or wear.



Regarding the brakes working/stopping, can it short and still actually brake, or will it not brake at all?

 

[WestTN]

If the crossover brake wires to the right side of the trailer go through the axle they are probably shorting to the axle tube internally. If this is your situation, just cut them loose and cable tie news wires to the top of the axle. I had this problem in my trailer and three shops could not find it. I finally stumbled on a retired trailer service technician and he tipped me to this. They will not usually blow a fuse because the brake controller is a current limiter.

 

[ctdodgeram]

Yes, all 3 axles run the wires internally in each axle to other side.



Guess that will only cost me wire, which is abundant.



Is this short measurable?



By your story, I suspect the trailer tech did not know?

 

[sarj]

All shorts are measurable with a decent meter, and I've given elementary electrical lessons to trailer techs when I've talked with them. Not that there might be a decent one out there... maybe.

 

[WestTN]

The first symtom I had waas occasional trailer brake lockup when brakes were NOT pressed hard. This grew more frequent as time went on. It eventually got so bad the trailer was almost unusable. a change of brake controller didn't help. When I pulled the old wire out it took very close inspection to find the shorts. They appeared as small copper colored spots on a slightly flattened area of the wire insulation. These spots were similar in size to a speck of black pepper or a grain of salt. There were three spots on mine.



The axle tubes are rough inside and the axles are obviously unsuspended weight, so it doesn't take too many miles to wear through the insulation.



Since it took a bump to make the short circuit, no short was detectable when the trailer was at rest.

 

[sarj]

That would be a fun one. I'm re-doing my boat trailer right now using a good jacketed multi-conductor.