Trailer brakes

Started by peternap, May 05, 2009, 12:43:03 PM

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peternap

May 05, 2009, 12:43:03 PM
I'm new to electric brakes (I usually don't hook them up :-[)

Can I test them by just connecting 12 volts to them 1 at a time?
These here is God's finest scupturings! And there ain't no laws for the brave ones! And there ain't no asylums for the crazy ones! And there ain't no churches, except for this right here!

MountainDon

#1
May 05, 2009, 01:16:43 PM
That'll do for a test of the magnets/coils
.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

NM_Shooter

#2
May 05, 2009, 05:09:36 PM
Yes.. but they will certainly lock up.  All of the brakes are tied together in parallel, so they all see the same voltage at the wiring connector.

Trailer brakes use this thing called PWM, or pulse width modulation.

This basically is a way to control energy delivery to something in a binary way.  What that means is that you are either delivering 12V to something or 0V.  This is switched on or off very quickly.. maybe 1000 times a second or more.  The more braking power you need, means that it is at 12V longer than at 0V.  PWM is frequently expressed in % which provides the % of on time vs the amount of off time. 

Bottom line is that you can hook 12V directly up to the brakes.  I would not leave it on for a long time, as the electromagnets will get hot. 

I just rebuilt all my brakes on my trailer... I am glad that is over.

-f-
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