freewilley
AZ in winter, ON in summer
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Joined: 11/11/2003
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I am moving to a Prodigy P3 as my Jordan is a goner...
but reading the threads made me wonder about the Prodigy technology and how it works with engine/transmission/turbo braking....
am I right that the controller will apply the trailer brakes when it senses decelleration EVEN if I am NOT applying the brakes?
I ask this because I have descended some pretty steep grades with hard turns while towing (slowly) without toughing my brakes. The Duramax and turbo braking was very impressive and I was happy to know that I was not wearing either truck or trailer brakes.
But with the prodigy I assume that it would apply the trailer brakes and this would wear those brakes....not an advantage in this situation in my book..
advice?
FreeWilley
2007 Classic Silverado Duramax
1999 Holiday Rambler Alumalite 33FKS Travel Trailer
Hensley hitch, inflatable kayak, Burgman 400 scooter
Yamaha 3000 iSEB generator
Prodigy P3 brake controller
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dhamblet
Olympia, WA
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Joined: 01/13/2005
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freewilley wrote:I am moving to a Prodigy P3 as my Jordan is a goner...
Q: ut reading the threads made me wonder about the Prodigy technology and how it works with engine/transmission/turbo braking....
_____________
A: It doesn't.
Q: am I right that the controller will apply the trailer brakes when it senses decelleration EVEN if I am NOT applying the brakes?
___________
A: You are incorrect.
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Only puts on trailer brakes when brake light on TV comes on.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
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freewilley
AZ in winter, ON in summer
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thanks for the quick response.
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Terryallan
NC
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ditto the above. It won't do anything, untill you tell it to. And even then. Set right. You won't feel it.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
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LadyRVer
Florida
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I have the Progidy brake controller and cannot figure out how to set it. I did read the instructions, and I thought I did everything it said to do. Seems I have to set it everytime I start out with it and it works smoothly for that day. Next morning, reset. What am I doing wrong? When hooked up, it reads
.c. then as I stop and apply pressure to the truck brake, it starts going up, i.e. 1.3, 1.4, may jump to 2.4 if I press harder on the brake. Kind of makes me wonder about the safety issue. I used the manual control to stop at a slow speed and that worked! Any suggestions. Not trying to hijack this post, just
dont' know what to do.
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jay2003
San Joaquin Valley, California
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LadyRVer wrote:I have the Progidy brake controller and cannot figure out how to set it. I did read the instructions, and I thought I did everything it said to do. Seems I have to set it everytime I start out with it and it works smoothly for that day. Next morning, reset. What am I doing wrong? When hooked up, it reads
.c. then as I stop and apply pressure to the truck brake, it starts going up, i.e. 1.3, 1.4, may jump to 2.4 if I press harder on the brake. Kind of makes me wonder about the safety issue. I used the manual control to stop at a slow speed and that worked! Any suggestions. Not trying to hijack this post, just
dont' know what to do.
It's doing exactly what it's supposed to do. The numbers counting up is the voltage that it's applying to the trailer brakes. The harder you stop the faster those numbers will climb. If you feel yourself being pushed by the trailer then hit the little blue button to set it to B1, B2 or B3 which is the amount of "boost" applied to the brakes. Boost is basically how agressively it puts on the rear brakes when it senses a stop. So with say no boost and hitting the brakes it may start off at 1.x volts being applied. With B1 set in the same stopping conditions it may start off at 2.x volts instead causing the trailer to stop more quickly. Heading down a large grade where you might only be lightly using the brakes and using engine braking you may want to use B2 or B3 to cause the trailer brakes to be applied harder and not allow the trailer to push you down the hill. That's the solution to the origional poster as well. The Prodigy has no clue how hard you're pressing the brake pedal. Once it's pressed the Prodigy instead senses the amount of deceleration the TV is experiencing and applies the trailer brakes accordingly. So if you're using engine braking and you want to apply the trailer brakes (other than using the manual lever) then just lightly press the brakes to tell the Prodigy you're in a braking situation and then it figure things out from there.
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Terryallan
NC
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You may also notice, as you come to a stop, and slowly let off the braking pressure. The numbers will begin to come down, untill when stopped. It may read only 1.0.
If you have an emergency stopping event, and are stopping as hard as possible. You will see the power setting number you set the Prodigy to. Which means, It is applying as much power as you have told it to. Less braking, less power is being sent, lower numbers on the front.
As for boost. Set that according to the trailers weight compared to the TV weight. Trailer weighes less than TV. Boost off, or B1, Which ever is more comfortable to you. Trailer weighes the same as TV. The range is no boost, to B2. Trailer 25% more that TV. B1 to B3, and 40% more, B2 to B3
With boost off. Power starts at 0% of max set. . b.1 Power starts at 13% of max, and b.2, and b.3. Power starts at 25% of max.
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92DakotaHD
Indiana
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You can also fine tune the Prodigy with the wheel for the perfect feel.
1992 Dakota 2WD 5.9L V8 (NOT Stock)
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LadyRVer
Florida
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Thanks to all 3 of you, appreciate the info. Will try the suggestions. I was worried that maybe I wasn't have much (any?) braking power at all. Again, thanks!
Barb
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