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Old 11-07-2003, 10:06 AM   #2
RockyMtnRay
TrailManor Master
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 816
Default Re:Voyager to Prodigy Brake Control

I started with a Prodigy so don't have the switchover experience. However, I did a lot of research first on which to buy so can help you understand the difference between the Prodigy and the Voyager.

Both are inertia style controllers...the voltage they send to the trailer brakes is proportional to the rate of decelleration they sense in the tow vehicle.

On flat terrain, the rate of decelleraton they sense is totally caused by application of the tow vehicles brakes. However, if the brakes are applied while descending a hill, the sensed rate of decelleration is a combination of the force of gravity and the force of the braking.

Where these controllers differ is how they handle braking on grades (especially on descents).

The Voyager uses a simple pendulum (which is why its sensor must be "leveled&quot...and it will apply greater braking on descents because the pendulum is affected by both gravity and the tow vehicle's braking action. On very steep descents, that can produce way too much application of the trailer brakes...even to the point of lockup. (The reverse also holds...braking while going up a grade produces less trailer brake application).

The Prodigy has a sophisticated solid state sensor that constantly keeps track of where "down" is so it can subtract out the force of gravity from the force of the tow vehicle's brakes when descending (or ascending). The net is a Prodigy always applies the right amount of braking regardless of the grade of the road.

Because Florida is pretty flat, you won't see much difference between the two in your home region. However, if you tow through the Appalachians or especially the Rockies or Sierras, you would see a large difference in performance between the two.

I chose the Prodigy simply because most of my towing is on steep mountain roads.

If you go to Tekonsha's web site FAQ (http://www.tekonsha.com/faq.html#voyager), you can compare the wiring diagrams of the two.
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