US Gear Exhaust Brake ??????

[RHARVEY]

I just installed the US Gear remote exhaust brake on my 97. It came with a micro push button switch that you can stick with in reach. But I would like to connect it to my 2 speed push pull switch that I have already have mounted on the shifter(5 speed). According to US Gear, the small switch has a delay built in it...

Anyone using a different switch on the shifter?????



Rick

 

[Turbo Thom]

Naw, The push/pull on the shifter is the overdrive. If it were on the shifter I think it would get in the way.



. . Preston. .

 

[willyslover]

Rick. . my BD 4" remote is mounted on the gear shift lever like you are asking about... very handy [with push pull lever]

and I doubt there is a delay in the switch portion of it, but read the instruction about the delay adjustment and see where it comes into the set up

 

[Loren]

Rick,



The delay is built into the processor that mounts under your dash (or similar location). The small push button is just a transmitter to that processor.



You can't control the exhaust brake directly through a push-pull switch. The way it works is this (assuming you have already turned the brake ON, and that the self-test is completed):



When you push the button, the processor is commanded to close. The processor waits about two seconds and then commands the pull relay and the hold relay to energize their respective coils at the brake. After about one or two seconds, the pull coil is commanded to de-energize, leaving the hold coil to keep the brake closed.



When you push the button a second time, the processor again waits a second or two and then commands the hold relay to de-energize. This turns off all power to the coils at the brake and the spring opens the brake.



The pull coil draws about 40 amps and must not be energized for longer than the one or two seconds that the processor is set up for or it will overheat. This current draw is more than even 10 gauge wire is rated for, so the wire will also overheat. Eventually, if the pull relay (and coil) remains on with its 40 amp draw, the automatic-reset circuit breaker in the system will trip, saving you from setting your truck on fire. This will de-energize the exhaust brake, causing it to open and removing any engine braking that you were depending on at the time.



If you don't select the brake to OFF, the circuit breaker will automatically reset after a delay for cooling and the exhaust brake will close again. Then it will trip the breaker and open, etc.



This is a confusing problem to diagnose, but if your U. S. Gear brake is cycling on and off by itself, that is probably what is happening.



The bottom line is that you must use the processor (controller) that is provided with the system for it to work properly. There may be a way to signal the processor with a push-pull switch rather than the push button, but U. S. Gear doesn't publish how to do that with their instructions.



One last thing: If you use the push button, tape it in place where you want it before you mount it permanently. This will allow you to check for a good signal to the processor before you permanently install it. Some locations on your truck may not provide a reliable signal to the processor.



Good luck with it.



Loren

 

[Sticks]

Plan B:



I have the same unit that you do.

#ad




Description: At 2 o'clock off the steering wheel is the switch for the exhaust brake that changes it from normal operation (foot off the throttle and clutch) to on command using the thumb switch on the shifter. At three o'clock off the steering wheel is the standby/off button for the exhaust brake controller (little wireless remote control).



I wired in a relay that when the thumb switch is selected (buy flipping the toggle switch at 2 o'clock), and the throttle and clutch switches are closed (my feet are not on them) I can depress the thumb switch to activate the brake. . 5 second to activate the system (close coil for 1 second, hold coil stays as long as I hold the shifter switch - or do not touch the throttle or clutch). This way I can coast when I want without having to keep slight pressure on the throttle or clutch.



Clear as mud?

 

[willyslover]

Loren, Sticks... good job 'Splan'in it to us BD guys

while reading Lorens and before reading Sticks I was thinking about a remote wireless switch set up on the stearing wheel to control the other set-up

 

[krs]

Boy! I'm glad to find out about this mess. I have a pacbrake switched manually using one of the switches provided in BobVs 2wd low shifter kit and am probably going to an HX40 soon. So I've been knowing that the pacbrake must go and am considering which brake to use after that.

Is it possible to activate the BD brake with a single manual switch to let me continue to have brake when I want it without having delays or having to worry about where my throttle or clutch feet are? I'm on a campaign to free myself from the dubious marvel of electrowizardry and return to nature.

 

[Ram4Sam]

KRS, yes it is!

K, When I installed my BD, I didn't use the pedal switch. It is wired direct to my two speed switch on the stick, using the cig lighter circuit for power(which is key on power) I have driven my brother in laws truck with the pedal switch and prefer the simple way, with no delays or pedal position issues.



Sam

 

[Sticks]

The only reason that I wired in a switch on the cluth is that I did not want the brake on while I was shifting gears (either up or down). Granted the short delay that it has would be enough time to shift, but on the off chance that it was not, I did not want to be releasing the clutch and hitting the throttle while the brake was still on.



In other words, it is a homebrew add on feature that is not included with ANY of the e-brakes available.

 

[Turbo Thom]

I don't think any of you understand the delay. All it's for is so after you push the button with one hand and the other is on the wheel, it allows you time to get the other hand back on the wheel, where I know it stays anyway. Really it's just a safety issue. Now ain't it?



. . Preston. .

 

[krs]

Oh good!

Thanks for lettng me know. Sticks, I had a feeling that yours was your own innovation because I'd never heard of it before.



I used the delay when the brake was in my '01 with the ECM activation and it worked well and didn't make any problem for me, but when I took that brake to my '98 with BobV's setup I just wired it direct and have come to prefer turning on the brake when I want it only while having it completely turned off when

i don't. Also it's a kick to activate the brake just to make noises change when there's someone who looks like they need to be mystified by something.

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by KRS

Also it's a kick to activate the brake just to make noises change when there's someone who looks like they need to be mystified by something.

Or drown out thier loud thumping music, or entice them to hang up the phone while driving...