Driving along, minding my own busness and there is an audible POP (heard over Peter Dawsons rendition of Waltzing Matilda) and clouds of acrid smoke fill the cabin. SWMBO starts screaming, I managed to pull over....
After things had calmed down I discovered the source of this drama to be the Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller. Blown apart.
Anyone else heard of this?
Replacement? Prodigy P3 seems to be the way to go from Ebay, local retailer wants $357 for one; Ebay for $189
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TEKONSHA-P3-PRODIGY-ELECTRIC-TRAILER-BRAKE-CONTROLLER_W0QQitemZ200345262921QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCaravan_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2ea5821b49&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A975%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Now I should support my local man but in this case I won't bother simply because the RRP on these is $249.

Hi Basil that's a worry. were you towing at the time? ie had you used your brakes when it went. Johnw

Nup not towing....no warning at all.

Hi Basil, I just had the falcon fitted out (complete installation) I think the rule is price around , My first quote was from an auto electrician for a Tekonsha unit $460 installed. I ended up having a towbar specialist firm fit a Hayman-Reece one for $350 total install cost Looks a nice tidy job too. unit cost was $130 for Hayman -Reece which they recomended for my size van or $150 for a pedulum type unit. Have since towed with it and it works great and is easily controlled. They talked me in to the non pendulum one as they said with lighter vans it gave you more control over your braking. Mike

Hello,
Can you please explain the differance in non pendulum and the others.
Thanks.
Barb........

Xtrail51 wrote:

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Hello,
Can you please explain the differance in non pendulum and the others.
Thanks.
Barb........

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Ok I'll try.... some are solid state ie in a little electronic component that senses movement, the pendulum ones are exatly that a little pendulum ie weight on a stick swings with the movement and as you brake it swings and activates the van brakes.
We can debate the pros/cons of either untill the cows come home. personally I was a fan of the solid state ones untill this one blew up.....

 

Hi Basil, that was a scary experience with your brake controller, I have never heard of it happening before. What you have suggested is the way to go, the Tekonsha P3 Prodigy, seems to be the choice of most users from what I have read. I did read somewhere that a company that does a lot of outback offroad trailer hauling preferred the Hayman Reece which they said was more stable in rugged terrain, but can't find the article. I have a Hayman Reece and have had for about 10 years, and it is ok by me, but a lot of people don't like them. If I update I am not sure what I may get at this stage, HR have proved the test of time for me, but not everybody's choice. Vic

Vic41 wrote:

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Hi Basil, that was a scary experience with your brake controller, I have never heard of it happening before.

What you have suggested is the way to go, the Tekonsha P3 Prodigy, seems to be the choice of most users from what I have read.

I did read somewhere that a company that does a lot of outback offroad trailer hauling preferred the Hayman Reece which they said was more stable in rugged terrain, but can't find the article. I have a Hayman Reece and have had for about 10 years, and it is ok by me, but a lot of people don't like them. If I update I am not sure what I may get at this stage, HR have proved the test of time for me, but not everybody's choice.

Vic

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The P3 has interesting readout options, but I have doubts as to the neccesity of those, the diagnostics may be handy but do you really need to know if the van has come adrift from the car - the last thing you would want is a "Loud Alarm" considering the panic that would ensue should this ever happen.....
Maybe a case of technology looking for a problem to solve...
I did like the flexibility and "control" Prodigy provided plus the set and forget feature but the proprtional braking in reverse was a bit of an overkill unless you back your van from town to town..... The Hill Holding mode is very handy, acts like a parking brake on the van untill you move forward. 

 

Sounds like it has all the bells and whistles. What was the model that you had that exploded, was it the Prodigy Voyager? I have read some not so good reports on those, yet others have had no problems with them. Vic

It was the 90185 ( predecessor to the P3) the Voyager was the one that turned the brake lights on and off at random along with other probs.

Sounds like another good reason for inserting an appropriate fuse or circuit breaker into all accessories circuits.

Basil Faulty wrote:

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It was the 90185 ( predecessor to the P3) the Voyager was the one that turned the brake lights on and off at random along with other probs.

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Thanks for the feedback Basil, hope you have better luck with the next one.

Good advice Rolly, could save a few heartaches,

Vic