button for trailer brakes

[D6Diesel]

Is it possible to rig a button on the sterring wheel that could function as a manual activation of the trailers brakes? In a sudden loss of control situation it may be easier to use such a button rather than trying to reach for the slide bar (Techonsha Sentinel). ie. sudden activation of trailer brakes without using the brakes on the tow vehicle.

 

[Goddard]

in a emergency situation you would want all the brake you can get so actually you could simply splice in a switched hot wire to your brake wire, this would put 12 volts to the trailer brakes bringing you to an abrupt stop. don't know if this would be the best idea but it would work. your brake lights activate your controller through a wire going to the box, splice a switched hot into this wire and this should activate your brakes as you have them set with the controller.



i have seen a wireless remote advertised to mount on the wheel, it will controll up to three items. looks semi-factory and i believe available at genos.

 

[RustyJC]

Just a note of caution: Applying +12VDC directly to the trailer brake output wire from the controller is like pulling the trailer's breakaway switch. SOME brake controller manufacturers warn that "back EMFing" their controllers like this can fry the electronics.



Of course, if the situation is serious enough to require these drastic measures, replacing a brake controller might be an acceptable price to pay.



Rusty

 

['956Wheel]

You can put a switch on the wheel but it would have to be a variable resistor so you can get the braking you need rather than a out of control lockup.



Mike

 

[D6Diesel]

I'll ask Techonsha about remote activation and get back to you. Thanks for the replys.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I use the Kelsey "Micro Control HD plus" brake controller. One of its features is a hand operated control button that plugs into the controller. It has a coiled cord attached like a telephone cord. It can be left on your seat and at times when you may need it, can be held in your hand. It modulates the brake force, applying more brakes as you press harder on the button. I bought it because it's not unusual to run into icy roads during my annual trek to AZ after Christmas. Once you experience your trailer trying to go faster than the truck, the value of being able to apply the trailer brakes by themselves becomes apparent rather quickly. This is the only controller I found that has the remote control but there may be others.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by Goddard

simply splice in a switched hot wire to your brake wire, this would put 12 volts to the trailer brakes bringing you to an abrupt stop.

Lets think about this, you are asking the tiny brakelight switch (which is in the ground side ) to handle the current used by the electric brakes. That switch is designed for small amounts of current. I've never measured the current used by the brakes but my brake controller has a 30amp fuse, waaaaay more than the brake light wsitch could possibly handle. Plus applying 12volts to your brakes could very easily cause the brakes to lock up causing complete loss of control.

 

[Goddard]

you guys are correct on all accounts but he said "in a sudden loss of control". this would mean that you are already in a bad situation. anybody that has drove trucks for any amount of time has grabbed the hand brake, gouged the throttle and hoped!

 

[PRout]

Why not wire a switch to activate your brake lights which would activate the controller??



I guess its still not going to activate the brakes until the unit senses a deceleration. Hmmm... This is a good idea though. .



Even thought of adding a diode inline w/ the controller output so that you could eliminate a back feed from a direct "switched" emergency hot applied to the brake ckt. . But it would be unsafe to add a diode in your braking ckt. It could open up and render the brakes usless. . hmmm still thinking about this one...