Electric Brakes on a tractor?

[GYRO9401]

I have a hilly piece of property & I have been throwing this idea around for quite a while. I need to build a wood trailer for my tractor. This trailer will use a mobile home axle with electric brakes. If the trailer had electric brakes, it would help my descent down the hill to my house.

I am planning on welding two small washers on my brake pedals. Attached to the washers, I was thinking of a couple of long springs that go to a switch. This would activate my brake controller. I was wondering if anyone else has had this need & what they have done with theirs.

I will mount a 7-pin RV coupler on my tractor, complete with brake, signal, & parking lights, plus brakes. Any ideas?

 

[firemanpat2910]

Instead of using a normaly open switch the you are considering, a normaly closed switch would work better. Adjust its position so when brakes are not pressed trailer brakes are not engaged,and when you press brake pedal the switch opens and power goes to controller. A stand alone toggle switch might also work, flip the toggle, adjust braking power by using the controller. My controller has a "thumb squeeze" (my words not theirs) that you dont even have to use the brake pedal for. But with a toggle you could use it as a 'parking' brake.

 

[Bedlam]

I did that once. I used a headlight dimmer switch so I could vary the electric to the trailer brakes. It worked well.
I had to apply it by hand though.
I'm not sure if a brake control would be sensitive enough to sense the slowdown in speed like a truck could. If you were to use a brake controller. you could use one and just use the thumb switch.

When you said electric brakes on tractor, I thought you meant on the tractor itself. I have often wanted a quick way to lock the brakes when I get off the tractor. When its off and on so much its a pain to have to set the regular brake.
wish I could help more. But Id say either the brake sensor and use the manual setting on it, or Maybe a variable switch from radio shack. I will definitely like to know if anyone has used the controller and had it work.
On one hand it seems it should but on the other it doesn't.
Lets hope some has done it. .
Allan

 

[GYRO9401]

I'll just have to try it out & do a full report for everone. My tractor has a little "cubby" in front of the gearshifter that is sheltered quite well. I am thinking that this will be the perfect place for a controller. I have two "working" controllers at my disposal. One has a sesitivity control on it. I think I can make it work for this application.

It's Time to buy a multi-fuse block & some auto-resetting circuit breakers. I do like elctrical work.

 

[Bedlam]

We look forward to your results. Glad you have the controlers to try. Id hate to spend ..whatever they cost... Im subscribed to this post. as they say pics...
Allan

 

[GYRO9401]

We look forward to your results. Glad you have the controlers to try. Id hate to spend ..whatever they cost... Im subscribed to this post. as they say pics...
Allan

Having several motorcycles over the years, I am thinking that the brake light switch on the rear brake of an older bike would be the perfect type. It is normally open & when you hit the brake pedal, it pulls a small diameter, long spring that closes the circuit & activates the light.

 

[AndyMA]

Instead of using a normaly open switch the you are considering, a normaly closed switch would work better. Adjust its position so when brakes are not pressed trailer brakes are not engaged,and when you press brake pedal the switch opens and power goes to controller. .

This sounds backwards to me. How is the power applied when the switch opens? It seems like a normally open is the correct type.

Andy

 

[neverenough]

Electric brakes have been used for years on larger silage boxes, and grain trailers. Contact any dealer that sells larger (120+hp) tractors and maybe someone in the parts or service department may help you.

 

[GYRO9401]

This sounds backwards to me. How is the power applied when the switch opens? It seems like a normally open is the correct type.

Andy

I may have said that backwards! I'll make this thing work for sure. Of course pictures will follow.

 

[jwstewar]

I just bought a 15 gallon sprayer that needed power to run the pump. I decided to just use an RV 7 pin plug and went ahead and wired in the aux power port, turn signals, taillights, and a back-up light wire (wired to the rear worklight). Haven't wired in the trailer brakes yet, but if I ever get the trailer I want, I probably will. Obviously there won't be enough inertia change to activate them automatically, but I could apply them manually to keep the trailer from pushing my little NH TC24 around. The sprayer works real well and so do the trailer lights on my little 5x8 trailer. I thought it was one of my more clever ideas.

 

[firemanpat2910]

Andy, let me reword that.

a micro switch has 3 terminals NO NC COM .
when the actuator is not pressed there is continuity between NC+COM.
when the actuator is pressed there is continuity between NO+COM

so if the brake pedal is not pushed and the switch is mounted so that the actuator is depressed,when you step on brake pedal you stop pressing in the actuator there fore allowing the current to flow thru the NC+COM terminals to the brake controller. The way I understood that he was going to wire it was when he pushed on the brakes he was going to rig up somthing that made contact and since the brake pedal has such a long stroke hes was going to have springs going to a switch. IMHO my idea has less moving parts,allows the switch and associated wires to be mounted high dry and secure,and would not have to be adjusted for brake wear.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I liked Bedlam's solution with the dimmer switch controlling the brakes manually.
I fear that a regular controller would go nuts on a tractor. I know my tractors, especially the smaller 3720 bounces around quite a bit as I mismodulate the throttle pedal over rough field "roads". But if you have one handy might as well give it a try...

 

[GYRO9401]

I liked Bedlam's solution with the dimmer switch controlling the brakes manually.
I fear that a regular controller would go nuts on a tractor. I know my tractors, especially the smaller 3720 bounces around quite a bit as I mismodulate the throttle pedal over rough field "roads". But if you have one handy might as well give it a try...

I have used BOTH controllers that I have on hand, and I don't believe that they will activate unless they see +12v from the brake lights of the vehicle, so bouncing won't be an issue.. In THEORY! Thinking back, i have hit several potholes, expansion joints, had to drive up on curbs that "jolted" the truck & the controller didn't activate all unless it saw the brake light.

 

[slaveToHorses]

That makes sense, that the controller has to see a brake signal also. Plus heavy trailers tend to stabilize the tractor too. Also tractors don't have suspension dive under heavy braking (what suspension?). So it all may just work out.

 

[Soundguy]

I'd just get a cheapy brake controller with a thumb or pull switch and slap it on the tractor. i did this and hardwired it when i pulled a hayride one year. Used a cheapy TSC 35$ no frills brake controller.. had leds and a switch.. All that was needed.

If you did want it pedal activated.. I know of 2 easy ways right off the bat.. either use a feeler switch that is depressed at the end of the brake pedal travel.. perhaps have a fin piece of material ( with some give to it ) be connected tot he pedal and that material then contact the trip switch.

Alternately you coul mount a window/ door 'security sensor' magnet on a brake pedal, and then use a NO (reed) magnetic security switch.. etc.. then just play with the air gap and adjustments.. and use that as the brake sense wire on either unit.. etc..

Soundguy