Any pointers on hooking up brake controller?

[newbury]

Vehicle - E350 7.3L diesel
Trailer in sig
I bought an elCheopo Northern Tools Reliance BC.
Directions say to use #12 wire to hook it up.
Everyplace sells #16 wire - any danger in using #16?

Also - because of my crammed engine compartment I was planning on just running the wire thru the doghouse -does this seem ok?

 

[kennyd]

No way would I use #16 wire...Follow the directions...

 

[Willl]

Maybe a patch cord is available for your truck ?, then it would be just a plug in type installation.

What brand controller ? (ah, never mind. I see it know. Sorry.)

 

[MarkLeininger]

I bought something like this when I did mine. It has #10 wire and all the little doodads you'll likely need, there's even an intallation video. If you search that website you might find a better option.http://www.etrailer.com/pc-BC~ETBC7.htm

 

[skipmarcy]

I use 10 ga. wire on all my controllers (for the main power). I start right at the battery with it, put an inline fuse holder right there, run the 10 ga. to the controller and then on out back to the trailer connector - wire secured all the way. Your van/truck should have the wiring harness where you only have to buy the pigtail to install but if not be sure and use looming and grommets where necessary. The fuse right at the battery will at least protect the complete run if you do get a short.

 

[wingbone]

I'm in the process of hooking mine up now. I went to Home Depot and bought outdoor lighting wire at about fifty cents a foot, which is obviously two stranded. It says 'underground' on the wire so I'm sure it should stand up to weather.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Use proper sized wire, it carries a lot of current to activate those brakes. Most Fords are pre wired if you have the big 7 pin at the rear of the truck from the factory. If not you will have to do it yourself. Like others mentioned there are kits for doing this.

Chris

 

[newbury]

Thanks guys
That's what I figured. It just boggles my mind that the stores sell the controllers and right next to them the 16 gauge wire, when all BC's seem to require 12 gauge.

And my van did not have a factory type hookup.

 

[archerm3]

Vehicle - E350 7.3L diesel
Trailer in sig
I bought an elCheopo Northern Tools Reliance BC.
Directions say to use #12 wire to hook it up.
Everyplace sells #16 wire - any danger in using #16?

Also - because of my crammed engine compartment I was planning on just running the wire thru the doghouse -does this seem ok?

Pointer? Follow the directions

5 bucks extra for wire vs. burning hulk once worth $40K...Easy decision for me.

As far as parts stores selling the weak wire next to a BC on the shelf...take into consideration the education and maturity level of those that stock dem dare shelves.

Edit: another pointer which was already stated...and I want to emphasize, if it goes through a sheet metal hole or rides up against a sheet metal edge, it needs a grommet. Took me darn near six months, second brake controller, and a complete rewire of my truck to find the slight rub on the brake power wire caused by the wire going outside through the door sill...There was three layers of metal inside only two grommets, only I didnt see the inside layer that rubbed and gapped too big to place a grommet.

 

[aczlan]

And my van did not have a factory type hookup.

What year is it? I would be surprised if it did not have the wires pre-run and just needed a pigtail on each end. My parents '99 E-350 (15 passenger van w/7.3L engine) was setup that way from the factory

Aaron Z

 

[tractorsanmore]

On my older truck without the factory towing package i used a inline auto reset circuit breaker instead of a normal fuse , just in case ..........

 

[wvpolekat]

Use a circuit breaker on the power lead instead of a fuse. It will still protect you, but you at least have a chance of getting brakes back if it trips.

 

[RobertN]

Get the kit. I wired my last truck, an '89 F250. It was not hard, and I had wire, loom, grommets.

My wifes last truck, an '04 Dodge 1500, was not wired. I got the kit for it; it was not real expensive, all the wire was there, zip ties, loom, instructions for that specific truck. Sure, it cost more than just wire, but it sure was simple.

I was at a trailer supply house looking thru thier catalog yesterday. There are a couple of places that make complete wire harnesses for all kinds of vehicles.

 

[Soundguy]

What year is it? I would be surprised if it did not have the wires pre-run and just needed a pigtail on each end. My parents '99 E-350 (15 passenger van w/7.3L engine) was setup that way from the factory

Aaron Z

I agree.. my 98 dodge ram 1500, 2000 yukon, and 04 ford f250 all were prewired 'plug in' jobs at the dashboard.

soundguy

 

[shakin]

hopkins products the company that sells plugs adaptors and such sell the kits that are brand/model specific search their site you should find the proper pigtail and then splice it to you northern tool controller. by the way which controller did you get they do sell some better ones even though they are cheap?

 

[newbury]

It's an '88, no one makes a a wiring harness, just before (the morning of) I picked up the trailer/tractor I had a qualified trailer place (about 100 miles away) wire the brakes.
But there is basically no place nearby that anyone could recommend to do a quality job.

 

[Soundguy]

Still.. no big deal... the controlers have a power wire, ground wire, brake sense wire, and power wire out to traielr.. 3 of those wires are all handles right under the dash.. the last wire can just be routed to the back, any way you want.. then joined in with the plug, turn and stop/ilumination lamps.. plus aux power wire ( fused or breaker protected ).

soundguy