CB vs Brake Controller

[Airstream01]

Does anyone know what the deal is about my Prodigy brake controller saying not to mount it less than 12" from the brake controller? If I key the CB will it blow up my brake controller or activate the brakes or what?

I know I should probably just try it out, but I figured I'd ask first. The previous owner installed both, and they are only 6" apart. Thanks

[moosetags]

Brian, I'm having a little trouble following your question.

"Does anyone know what the deal is about my Prodigy brake controller saying not to mount it less than 12" from the brake controller?"

I assume you are referring to mounting the Prodigy near you CB radio. I guess one could interfere with the other, but I don't see it activating the trailer brakes.

Also, if your CB radio has an external antenna, the rf signal actually comes in and goes out at the antenna which is probably more than 12" from the Prodigy.

Brian

[Ganglin]

I moved my brake mount over with the Prodigy install. Figured why take the chance on whatever the interference may be. Also routed the antenna wire to the opposite side of the console to get it away from the Prodigy as far as possible....

[SteveH]

In my previous truck I had the CB mounted about a foot from the Prodigy, and experienced no troubles.

[Airstream01]

Yeah I'm an idiot. The prodigy instructions say not to mount a CB within 12" of the brake controller. I'm just wondering what the side effects are if, as in my case, the brake controller is about 6" from the CB. Sorry for the confusion.

[Aage]

Why not ask them at www.tekonsha.com ?

[Jammer]

The brake controller is more likely to interfere with the CB than the other way around. You might find that the CB breaks squelch and makes obnoxious noises when you hit the brakes. Or not. Or only on certain channels. It depends on the quality of the CB, the quality of antenna line, and a bunch of other stuff.

[Finch]

it might be the magnetic field created by the CB causeing the momentum switch to miss-read, this activating the brakes full bore.

[Jammer]

I wasn't aware that CBs created strong magnetic fields.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I wasn't aware that CBs created strong magnetic fields.

The speaker in the CB radio has a big magnet on it.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Airstream01

Does anyone know what the deal is about my Prodigy brake controller saying not to mount it less than 12" from the brake controller? If I key the CB will it blow up my brake controller or activate the brakes or what?

I know I should probably just try it out, but I figured I'd ask first. The previous owner installed both, and they are only 6" apart. Thanks

Any radio transmitter has the ability to induce stay currents in electronic devices. How strong these currents will be and what effect they will have involves too many variables to allow prediction of the effects. There are a lot of ways to lessen the chance of it causing any problem, but that is a whole course in itself. My advice:
Always follow the manufacturer's advice:
After your installation, hook up the trailer and tow at a slow speed. Then make a short transmission on each of the channels on the CB. At least test the ones that you can ever envision using. If you want to be extra cautious, before you tow, but with trailer hooked up. transmit on each channel and watch for strange readings on the brake controller readout.
By the way, It is much more likely for the interference to originate from the antenna than from the radio itself, if the radio installation is sound. However a lot of do it yourself radio installations are not sound.
Regards,
Ken
PS I two ham radios mounted 4 and 8 inches from my prodigy. They are both 50 watts output on VHF and UHF.
I have never experienced any interaction. However I could open my neighbor's garage door until I filtered his Garage door opener for him.

[Airstream01]

Yeah, I tested yesterday in the driveway, both on, off, transmitting, etc. I could see no difference. Its a pretty sound install, and the coax cable to the antenna runs the opposite direction from the brake controller. Thanks for all the comments, I may email Tekonsha and see what they say.

Brian