Maxbrake experience

[crispyboy]

Wanted to tell you guys about a recent experience with our Maxbrake brake controller.



The wife, daughter and myself were out on vacation towing our travel trailer. We were going through a construction area in Columbus, OH early last week and we had to make a sudden panic stop. I thought for certain either we were going to hit the vehicle in front or get hit in the back from other traffic. The truck anti-lock brakes were chattering but everything stopped perfectly straight - I was thankful and impressed. I wouldn't have had a chance with the old brake controller.

After the stop I tried to go forward and the truck was struggling - what the heck the brake controller still had the brakes heavily engaged. I jumped out and pulled the umbilical cord but the controller still showed the brakes engaged. I pulled the connections out of the rear of the controller, plugged them back in but it still showed the brakes engaged. Luckily I had the manual in the truck console so I recalibrated the brake controller and all was fine. I was pretty rattled by the events because of the fast flow of traffic and no where to go with the truck/trailer.

The next day - Monday I tried to call Maxbrake but apparently the number was incorrect on the manual. I ended up calling Dutch & Di and Diana was kind enough to contact Maxbrake for me and ask them about this issue. Maxbrake said that when I hit the brakes with such force I must have shocked the transducer. They had not heard of this issue before.

The controller worked flawlessly the remainder of the trip. Except for the hiccup I am still impressed by this controller.

 

[K5IP]

Good info,
I just installed a maxbrake on my truck and it seems to work well. I have established three different gain settings for my trailer, all just below the point of wheel lock up.
Towing a very light Nash 21. 5
Highway surface: Gain 33.
Gravel surface: Gain 25
Mud/wet surface: Gain 15
I like the unit but do have a problem with RF noise that is apparent while braking (pulsating noise) while listening to weak AM radio stations. The noise is far worse listening to ham radio signals
on40 and 20M.
I assume there is a ferrite core , which placed on the power line, would reduce this, but so far, I have not found the right one.
Dutch&Di, feel free to chime in here if you can offer any help.
Rog

 

[JR]

The roads around Columbus are in poor condition and all the construction really bottle necks that place up especially during rush hour. I was just down through there hauling a truck for my cousin. I had stopped about 20 miles north of Columbus for fuel and checked my chains while we were stopped to make sure they were all good and tight and nothing had shifted. Rolling through a section of construction shortly after we stopped where we were pinched clear over against the wall and straddling the rumble strips we encountered a monster crater of a pot hole. My trailer is wider than my truck and the lanes were so narrow I didn't dare swerve so we kissed it head on. The trailer hit so hard I swear I watched the driverside go airborne, and it was bad enough the rear chain came loose and the rear of the truck shifted sideways on the trailer. We got off on the next exit to look everything over, luckily it didn't do any damage but it was one heck of a teeth rattler.

Glad you all are ok Crispy.

 

[TLane]

Good info,
I just installed a maxbrake on my truck and it seems to work well. I have established three different gain settings for my trailer, all just below the point of wheel lock up.
Towing a very light Nash 21. 5
Highway surface: Gain 33.
Gravel surface: Gain 25
Mud/wet surface: Gain 15
I like the unit but do have a problem with RF noise that is apparent while braking (pulsating noise) while listening to weak AM radio stations. The noise is far worse listening to ham radio signals
on40 and 20M.
I assume there is a ferrite core , which placed on the power line, would reduce this, but so far, I have not found the right one.
Dutch&Di, feel free to chime in here if you can offer any help.
Rog

The MaxBrake uses a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) on the electric brake wire to vary the voltage/current. I suspect that's where your RFI is coming from. You might try a small bypass capacitor (1uF?) or a ferrite bead on the brake wire.

 

[K5IP]

TLTrane,
Yes, it is definitely a PWM signal.
I have tried several capacitor sizes ranging from . 01 to 1 MFD. These have been installed on both the brake line and the power line. They do help. (the . 01mfd on the power lead was the most helpful, but the right ferrite would completely fix the problem. I just thought someone might have done this before me. I have ordered several clamp on ferrite chokes which will attenuate RF in the . 5 to 30 MHZ range and this should do it. I was just looking for an easy out!
Thanks
Rog

 

[BIGNASTY]

:--) WHAT A THOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smith System
Of
Defensive Driving

5 - Keys

1. Aim High in Steering
Look 15 seconds into your future. (Don't just look at the vehicle in front of you) ///20 to 30 seconds if you are an EX tanker-yanker

2. Get the Big Picture
Look for Hazards. (Other Motorists, Pedestrians, Vehicle doors opening)

3. Keep Your Eyes Moving
Don't stare. (Use your peripheral vision)(Stop the fixed habit stare)

4. Leave Yourself an Out
Monitor the space cushion around you.

5. Make sure They See You
Use your signals- (Directionals, 4-Way Flashers, Head Lights, Brake Lights, Horn, Hand Signals) Make Eye Contact.


Pretty simple!

 

[Dutch & Di]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you but things have been super hectic & busy.

Dutch & I understand what you are talking about but not very up to date on a fix. I'll be happy to do some research and get back to you hopefully by early next week.



Re: your 3 gain settings. Not really necessary as the Max Brake will adjust itself. Dutch would like to talk to you about that to keep you from having to continually adjust. Our phone number is 941-416-0918 10 am to 10 pm 7 days a week. Diana

Good info,

I just installed a maxbrake on my truck and it seems to work well. I have established three different gain settings for my trailer, all just below the point of wheel lock up.

Towing a very light Nash 21. 5

Highway surface: Gain 33.

Gravel surface: Gain 25

Mud/wet surface: Gain 15

I like the unit but do have a problem with RF noise that is apparent while braking (pulsating noise) while listening to weak AM radio stations. The noise is far worse listening to ham radio signals

on40 and 20M.

I assume there is a ferrite core , which placed on the power line, would reduce this, but so far, I have not found the right one.

Dutch&Di, feel free to chime in here if you can offer any help.

Rog

 

[CBALLA]

I have owned a Maxbrake for several yrs. I think it is the best brake controller on the market. A friend of mine seen mine and wants to purchase one. Unforumately Plug-it-right no longer handles them. Does anyone know where he might purchase one?

 

[TLane]

I guess I got the last one...

 

[RVTRKN]

I think I bought the last Brakesmart in 08

 

[seafish]

The contact number to call MaxBrake directly is on plugitright.coms website, right after they say they are not going to be retailers anymore.


The phone number for Max Brake is 337-328-2264 e-mail:info@maxbrake.com​

 

[FCrowder]

is maxbrake still in business? i read on some other sites that they have went out of business.

 

[Dutch & Di]

It was my understanding that Max Brake was going to continue selling direct once we were no longer the online retailers. The most current information I have is 337-328-2294

-- email address removed --



Diana

 

[DaveHess]

While we are talking some MaxBrake issues... I had one recently where I used a common firewall pass-through for my aux driving lights 12V wire and it was right next to my MaxBrake cable. That is apparently a bad thing. Everytime I would turn my driving lights OFF, it would reset my MaxBrake. I got no help from PIAA on this one and finally just moved the 12V wire two inches away and have no problems since. So, in my experience, the Max Brake does not play well with other wires being too close to it. I also had a problem one day during a panic stop without the trailer where the controller reset itself. This was never repeated. Go figure...