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Last changes 12/10/2007 |
We originally purchased a Prodigy brake controller as it had
a very good rating. A friend who has a Volvo 610 to pull his
trailer was using a Prodigy controller. He did not feel he
was getting good braking action from the Prodigy. He then
tried a Genesis controller feeling that perhaps it would work better
with his Electric over Hydraulic brakes. Again, he feel he
was not getting good braking action.
A lot of analysis decided that the mass of the Volvo in a braking
situation did not generate enough deceleration movement to cause the Prodigy
or the Genesis controller to function as expected.
My friend tried a Hayes Air Brake Controller that has a servo
that moves with the application of braking applying trailer braking
in proportion to the pressure of the truck brakes rather than the
deceleration of the truck. My friend now felt he was getting
adequate braking.
Acting on my friends experience, we originally choose the BrakeSmart
controller. The BrakeSmart controller sensing braking air
pressure electronically rather than using a mechanical servo and
applies a proportional braking voltage to the trailer. I felt
the extra cost of the BrakeSmart controller was justified by the
more technical approach to trailer brake control.
The current source for the BrakeSmart controller is
Dr Performance.
The current site is pretty lean on information but I have seen a
preview of the new site and it will be highly informative.
Another source for BrakeSmart controllers is
Trans-West, ask to
speak with Joe or Todd in the parts department |
MaxBrake |
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MaxBrake is a new player
in the brake controller marketplace. The MaxBrake works a
lot like the BrakeSmart unit sensing air or hydraulic pressure
of brake application to send braking voltage to the trailer
brakes.
We had the occasion to buy a MaxBrake controller also. The
installation of the MaxBrake follows the BrakeSmart installation. |
MaxBrake Controller Installation |
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We mounted the MaxBrake sensor using the same tee we had
placed in the Volvo brake light switch air line. In the
Volvo, the is a 1/4" OD air line.
We ordered a 1/4" OD x 1/4" OD x 1/4" ID Branch Tee with push-in
connectors for the 1/4" OD brake hose line. |
click on images to enlarge |
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I used a bracket that had held the VORAD head unit as a mount
for the MaxBrake controller on the top edge of the dash.
Since the MaxBrake brake is designed for installation under a
dash, I had to add a piece of 3/4" square tubing as a spacer so
the Manual Override Knob was accessible under the controller. |
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It is close enough to operate the brakes manually and the view
of the controller is good. |
click on images to enlarge |
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Another view of the controller placement |
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The setup of the MaxBrake is a lot simpler than the BrakeSmart.
The only concern we have with the MaxBrake is the brightness of the display.
It is almost impossible to see in the daylight when located on top the dash..
The photo above showing the display was with a blackout panel blocking the
sunlight, This doesn't affect how the MaxBrake works, it is just would be
an advantage to have the visual indication of the brake controller is operational. |
click on images to enlarge |
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We decided to place a cover over the MaxBrake controller for two reasons.
One was to cut the glare from the aluminum colored cas on the LCD monitor behind
the controller. |
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The other reason for the cover over the MaxBrake was to cut glare on the LCD
display.
The cover is tilted upwards to cut the glare that comes from the
driver's shirt and arms. |
click on images to enlarge |
BrakeSmart Controller Installation |
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Behind the instrument cluster on a Volvo you will find two air
lines with switches on the end. The orange house senses the
parking brake. The black hose is the stop light sensor.
The advantage of using this hose for the BrakeSmart sensor is
that it is inside the firewall so the harness does not need to be
fed through the firewall. |
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I ordered a 1/4" OD x 1/4" OD x 1/4" ID Branch Tee with push-in
connectors for the 1/4" OD brake hose line. I originally intended
to just replace the 1/4" OD x 1/4" OD Connector that is on the end
of the black hose with the Brake Light Switch plugged into the other end.
The brake light switch did not seat well in the Branch Tee so
I inserted the Branch Tee in the line before the Brake Light Switch. |
click on images to enlarge |
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I used a bracket that had held the VORAD head unit as a mount for the BrakeSmart
controller on the top edge of the dash. |
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It is close enough to operate the brakes manually and the view
of the controller is good. |
click on images to enlarge |
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This is the BrakeSmart controller in normal idle mode. |
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Here I applied the brakes to show how the BrakeSmart indicates
the amount of braking pressure it is sensing to apply the trailer
brakes voltage. |
click on images to enlarge |
