Brake Controller on TV draining battery

[jami20]

I've got a new-to-me 2007 Suburban 2500. I pulled the TrueControl Silver brake controller out of my old tv and installed it in the new Burb. But since I did this the battery has been quickly draining and I've. The dealership says the culprit is that the brake controller that is drawing 50 milliamps.

I never had this issue when I had the controller on my old tv (sequoia). I'm curious why this is now a problem with the Chevy. I'm having the dealership check the Body Control Module today to make sure that it's up-to-date and not part of the problem.

So, I'm thinking that if this is the problem then I should be able to just install an on/off toggle switch in the 12v line before it reaches the controller. Then I could just turn that off when it's not in use.

Thoughts on this? And if this is a viable solution then any suggestion on what type and amp size toggle switch I should get?

(I'm not sure if I should post here or in the electrical forum, but figured I would try here first.)

[Al and Missy]

50 milliamps will take over 400 hours to drain a group 24 battery to 50%. I don't think this is your problem. Does this occur with the trailer detached? What about with the brake controller disconnected? My F150 would only send current to the trailer batteries when the engine was on, my 2013 Ram does it all the time. This could be 7 amps or more.

If you decide to add the switch, get one with over 15 amp rating, preferably 20 or 30. My manual says that 4 12" brakes draw a total of 12 amps.

Al

[jami20]

Yeah, I'm not 100% sold that this is the problem. That's a pretty small draw. But I figured that I could put a 30 amp switch on the 12v line for around $10 and know for sure if that's the issue.

[jami20]

I forgot to mention, that's with the trailer detached.

[Al and Missy]

Does the brake controller work? I looked at the web site and it says it has reverse polarity protection. In some cases that is a diode across the power line and depends on blowing a fuse. If it is wired wrong and somehow cant get enough current to blow the fuse, that could be it. But you should have seen it when the dealer measured the current. Was he measuring in the 12V power line or the brake light line?

Al

[Seecue]

I'm going to jump on this thread. We have a brand new Tacoma, and the battery would not keep a charge overnight (unhooked from trailer). We had some after market lights installed (although they were not on) and moved our brake controller over from our old vehicle. The Toyota dealer replaced the battery but warned us that they wouldn't do it again due to the after-market add-ons which they suspect caused the problem.

So far so good with the new battery, but will be curious what you find. Could have simply been a bad battery but we'll see.

Caroline

[GMarugg]

I just placed a Dexter break controller on a 2007 Tahoe and left the Tahoe sitting for about a week. When I went to start the truck I had to charge the battery. The trailer was not connected and I checked to see if anything was left turned on - nothing was. I checked the wiring and all appeared correct. The battery has been in the truck for some time but this is the first problem I've had with it. I am still wondering if it was just a coincidence or if it was the controller?

[jami20]

My experience is similar to yours. I installed a 30 amp on/off switch on the 12v line to the controller yesterday. Doing that makes me a little more comfortable for the times when we are going to be in remote areas. And I'm considering adding a second battery with a bypass since I've got the room under the hood.

[jami20]

Al, the controller works. And I'm not sure about what line he was measuring as I wasn't back there when he tested and didn't ask him.

But you've got some good points that I want to check on now.

[GMarugg]

When I connected the controller the instruction was to connect wires to two post adjacent to the fuse box under the hood. The Tahoe came prewired but the wires were not connected. It only makes sense that one power would go to the controller, so installing a switch on the power to the controller would only isolate one of the two power feeds.

[mycloud9]

50 mAmps is a small draw. Check with controller manufacturer most electronic device have an "idle" draw. The controller should get power from a run/accessory circuit in the vehicle. If wired "hot" then it would be a constant drain on the TV battery. TV alternators are not the best charging devices for deep cycles nor your TV battery designed for deep cycle. A low milliamperes draw over a period of days or weeks would put the battery in a state of charge which would challenge battery and TV charging system.

[Seecue]

I had posted previously that I thought perhaps we simply had a bad battery in our new 2015 Tacoma. Well today the new battery was dead. I unplugged the brake controller and we'll see how it goes. I should mention that the truck was not used for about a week. Not sure how to diagnose what is draining the battery, but hoping that unplugging the brake controller is a first diagnostic step...

Caroline

[GMarugg]

I replaced my 3 year old battery and have not had any additional problems

[garry]

I have a 2004 Chevrolet 1500 and had the problem of battery going down if not driven in about 7 to 10 days. I finally found the problem the fuse to the On Star and entertainment center was pulling 3 amps continuously. I had to pull fuses one at a time and check the current draw until I found the problem.

Since I don't have On Star or an entertainment center I just pulled the fuse.

I also wonder if you have the controller wired to a hot +12V all the time instead of a switched 12V source. That would not show up at the hitch connection.

[GMarugg]

The 2007 Tahoe came with the wiring for the controller tied up under the dash and instruction to connect two existing wires to existing terminals on the side of the fuse box under the hood. Wiring this wrong would be very hard to do.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Our 06 Burb is a Toe'r....it does sit between toes, it will go dead in 15 daze.

I drive it a couple times a week in Summer and it's on a Battery Minder plugged into a power port in Winter.

Your vehicle's computers never sleep. Ever see a AAA truck in Airport Long Term Parking?.....that's why.

Bob

[Seecue]

Update to my last post: We now unplug our brake controller whenever we are not using the trailer. So far, no dead battery with truck sitting idle for 8 or so days -- haven't been able to test it for a longer period. Will continue to monitor.

Caroline

[carl2591]

that what i was thinking just unplug the power monster.

Originally Posted by Seecue

Update to my last post: We now unplug our brake controller whenever we are not using the trailer. So far, no dead battery with truck sitting idle for 8 or so days -- haven't been able to test it for a longer period. Will continue to monitor.

Caroline