Discovery brake controller - any good?

Hi -

I have the Discovery Brake Controller (#51120) Reading things about these things and brakes, I am wondering if my brake controller is any good or just a cheap one. I have to keep adjusting it on trips. It came from the dealer when we bought the TM as a gift on the sale of the TM. They installed it...

Dave

[Barb&Tim]

$43-$50 on Amazon. Only three reviews there, 2 bad 1 good. I have no experience with it.

Tim

[ShrimpBurrito]

ScottieDogs -

According to the Amazon page for that controller you have, it is a time-based controller. That means that the current going to the brakes increases the longer you hold down the brake pedal. That's very bad. If you're trying to do a 60 to 0 panic stop, you probably won't have your pedal on the brake very long -- you'll either crash, or the urgency will pass. That also means you'll get very little braking out of your TM brakes in such a situation, which is when you need them the most.

You at least want one with an accelerometer in it, like the Prodigy P3 - it is about $130 at Amazon, and is easy to install, especially since you can probably use all your existing wiring. It delivers current to the TM brakes proportional to the rate of deceleration of your TV. The faster you are decelerating, like in a panic stop, the more power the TM brakes get.

RockyMtnRay, who used to be quite active here, was a towing expert, and he wrote an excellent brake controller primer:

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ead.php?t=2830

Feel free to post any questions after reading.

Dave

Originally Posted by ShrimpBurrito

ScottieDogs -

According to the Amazon page for that controller you have, it is a time-based controller. That means that the current going to the brakes increases the longer you hold down the brake pedal. That's very bad. If you're trying to do a 60 to 0 panic stop, you probably won't have your pedal on the brake very long -- you'll either crash, or the urgency will pass. That also means you'll get very little braking out of your TM brakes in such a situation, which is when you need them the most.

You at least want one with an accelerometer in it, like the Prodigy P3 - it is about $130 at Amazon, and is easy to install, especially since you can probably use all your existing wiring. It delivers current to the TM brakes proportional to the rate of deceleration of your TV. The faster you are decelerating, like in a panic stop, the more power the TM brakes get.

RockyMtnRay, who used to be quite active here, was a towing expert, and he wrote an excellent brake controller primer:

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ead.php?t=2830

Feel free to post any questions after reading.

Dave

Thank you for this good information. I had a feeling it was not a good one. I am getting a new one for sure, thanks again.

Dave

ShrimpBurrito -

I got my new Brake Controller today I hope this is a good one. It was $130.43 free shipping and no tax. Now I have to install it, I have a Discovery Controller now (which the dealer put in my 2010 Ford Explorer when we got the TM) The Manufacture is Curt. I looked it up on the internet and it goes for $44.00... It has been acting up on me and I get very nervous. I think this one I got is very good.

Before I start making the switch is there any tips? and thanks for the help

Dave

[Bill]

Dave and Angie -

Ya done good! The Tekonsha P3 is a great controller. It can mount in the same place as the old one if you liked that location. And it requires the same four electrical connections that the old one used (+12 volt from the battery, ground, brake light, and output to the trailer brakes). You're going to feel a lot better with this controller.

Bill