Brake delay on new 31' Classic

[thecatsandi]

I set the prodigy on a gain of about 2.5 and the first boost setting. The trailer brakes activate as soon as I step on the truck pedal.
The tow command in the new truck is still getting fine tuned. Fortunately the truck brakes are very good and can stop both the truck and trialer if necessary (it has at slow speed). If I get all the bugs worked out I will have an extra prodigy, crash tested if you are interested.

[trvler]

Thanks for the offer (and the information) - I will try rebleeding the brakes (perhaps I'll get a professional to do it this time - vacuum assisted?), and will let you know how that works out.
thanks again to all who've given me some advice,
trvler

[ljmiii]

Originally Posted by trvler

Thanks for the offer (and the information) - I will try rebleeding the brakes (perhaps I'll get a professional to do it this time - vacuum assisted?), and will let you know how that works out.

So how did it work out...did bleeding the brakes fix the problem?

I had a similar problem with my system and reinitializing the Actibrake reduced (though not eliminated) the delay. As others noted, to do this you need to disconnect the Actibrake from the battery for a couple of minutes then reconnect the power, reconnect your tow vehicle, set the gain on your brake controller to max then push the manual brake control on full for 10 seconds. (I am not 100% certain, but I think you need to do this every time your Actibrake is disconnected to power).

Also, I did notice that you have a Masterbrake and that Actibrake only 'supports' Prodigy and Hayes controllers. This may also be your problem.

[sequoiacoast]

I can't find this information in the manual. I see the calibration part, but do you really have to disconnect the AB from power? Do you mean to the brake-away or TV-or both? And do you mean every time you take a trip? Your AB is disconnected from power every time you un-hitch, no?


What does this do? I'm wondering if this could help my situation, if I ever get close to figuring out what's wrong....

[ljmiii]

Originally Posted by sequoiacoast

I can't find this information in the manual. I see the calibration part, but do you really have to disconnect the AB from power?

What the manual says is...

....Actibrake Wiring Installation
Step 6: When the installation is complete, with the towing vehicle ignition switch on, operate the unit from the tow vehicle using the MANUAL OVERRIDE on the in-cab brake controller. The ActiBrake's operation should follow that of the controller's manual override.

thecatsandi put



Do you mean to the brake-away or TV-or both? And do you mean every time you take a trip? Your AB is disconnected from power every time you un-hitch, no?[/quote]


What does this do? I'm wondering if this could help my situation, if I ever get close to figuring out what's wrong....[/quote]

[ljmiii]

Originally Posted by sequoiacoast

I can't find this information in the manual. I see the calibration part, but do you really have to disconnect the AB from power?

What the manual says is...

Actibrake Wiring Installation
Step 6: When the installation is complete, with the towing vehicle ignition switch on, operate the unit from the tow vehicle using the MANUAL OVERRIDE on the in-cab brake controller. The ActiBrake's operation should follow that of the controller's manual override.

It doesn't say why you have to do this or explain anything else really. Thecatsandi put me onto this as a possible solution to my delay problem and told me about the '10 sec' rule. I think disconnecting the power either wipes out the old setting or tells the actibrake to expect a calibration signal to be coming - I don't know for certain.

Originally Posted by sequoiacoast

Do you mean to the brake-away or TV-or both? And do you mean every time you take a trip? Your AB is disconnected from power every time you un-hitch, no?

The Actibrake draws its power straight from the trailer's battery. It only uses the signal coming from the TV (the blue wire) as a braking signal - not as a source of power to activate the disc brakes. On my trailer the Actibrake draws its 12 volts even with the trailer main power switch in 'store' position. So I have to reinitialize the Actibrake only if my battery goes dead - your mileage may vary

Originally Posted by sequoiacoast

What does this do? I'm wondering if this could help my situation, if I ever get close to figuring out what's wrong....

It tells the Actibrake the range of possible voltages coming down the blue wire from the brake controller so it knows how strongly to interpret the brake signal - and thus how firmly to send fluid to the disc brakes. I haven't been able to figure out any of the hows or whys...but it does seem to be important.

I certainly hope this will help your situation.