I have a Tekonsha P3 about 3 years old. I havent used it for some time and setting up my caravan I discovered that adjusting the power settings doesnt change the amount of braking on the caravan when the slider is operated. I put volt meter across the terminal plug on the car feeding the van and my meter readings correspond to the P3 power settings until I set the power above 11. After that although the P3 indicates 12 or 13 my meter still only reads 11 from the plug. Would this be why I am unable to get the caravan brakes to lock up when trying to set it up as described in the directions. The caravan brakes have been checked and work perfectly. If its the P3 giving problems I will simply get a new one but I would hate it if the new one turned out to do the same. Any advice will help. Kind regards Dave P.
macka17 said
01:26 PM Feb 28, 2017
Could be faulty.
I had one from when they came out (updating)
10 yrs or so later. Still worked fine on a 6.5mtr 3 ton van.
I set brakes so they'd lock wheels then backed off a tad.
Sliding ain't slowing.
My lever would lock 'em up.
Now. new Tug smaller van. (Tandem 18ft 2 ton)
I'm using Tekinsha 2. earlier model not so many fruits on it.
Still works the same. (dealer didn't have 3 in stock)
I always check brakes every timeI roll the van.
Daily on trips. Only takes a second.
As long as they pull you up hard. they don't need to slide tyres.
That's when the brakes are NOT working. (sliding)
It's more important to have the VAN brakes coming on a fraction bEFORE to car.
Coupla reasons.
1 you can control any starting to swing with the van .
without affecting road speed of car. Hopefully.
and it always helps to stabilise any braking when stopping in a hurry.
I never set mine much more than 5.5 to 7v from memory with big van.
DaveP said
02:20 PM Feb 28, 2017
Yeh thanks for that. I'm almost resigned to getting a new one but wanted someone to confirm that they do work as described in the directions. Theres no way my brakes will lock up on the van with the slider as they should when setting it up. D.
Jenko1 said
03:07 PM Feb 28, 2017
If your going to buy a new unit, look at the Redarc Pro Elite. THese monitor momentum and the harder you press the brake the more the van brakes go on.... I don't like the old style controllers..they are either on or off, not like the Elite. www.redarc.com.au/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller
-- Edited by Jenko1 on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 03:09:09 PM
DaveP said
03:18 PM Feb 28, 2017
Thanks for your response. The Tekonsha is also proportional. D.
hako said
05:49 PM Feb 28, 2017
Could also be bad or too light a gauge cables from the controller to the plug, also maybe bad earth from van to tug or bad plug at trailer/tug. Try and measure voltage at back of controller by breaking into cable. Not much point buying a new controller if it ain't bad and the fault lies elsewhere.
Good Luck
Mike196 said
06:24 PM Feb 28, 2017
Can't say I've ever had the Van brakes lock on, but it sure as hell stops when you want it to with the controller wound up.(using a Tekonsha 2)
macka17 said
06:55 PM Feb 28, 2017
Ditto on the 2.
It's all you need for normal reliable towing and stopping..
All the rest in the others are just sugar to suck in the mugs
and empty their back pockets more.
I'd rather put the extra lollies towards a Torque Converter Lockup for hills and slippage,
if running an auto.
I Did. and VERY impressed with van on.
Cupie said
08:04 PM Feb 28, 2017
Jenko1 wrote:
If your going to buy a new unit, look at the Redarc Pro Elite. THese monitor momentum and the harder you press the brake the more the van brakes go on.... I don't like the old style controllers..they are either on or off, not like the Elite. www.redarc.com.au/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller
-- Edited by Jenko1 on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 03:09:09 PM
I just had a trailer specialist adjust my newly installed van brakes (but that's another story) & he advised against the Redarc product. He suggested that he had experienced several that had 'burnt out' the wheel magnets.
He also poo pooed my practice of winding up the wheel adjuster to max & then backing off till the wheel turned freely with a sight 'ching ching'. He advocated backing off for 13 clicks. It certainly did the trick with my brakes, improving their operation out of sight.
Back to thread .. My new P3 is set on B2 & works well with my 2.4T van. I haven't yet adjusted the "power" setting since the professional wheel adjustment. I'll wait till I am fully loaded for the next trip. The Boost increases the sensitivity of the motion sensor to set how soon the van brakes operate in relation to the tug's. The P3 is proportional system too.
-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 08:17:08 PM
Can anyone help.
I have a Tekonsha P3 about 3 years old. I havent used it for some time and setting up my caravan I discovered that adjusting the power settings doesnt change the amount of braking on the caravan when the slider is operated. I put volt meter across the terminal plug on the car feeding the van and my meter readings correspond to the P3 power settings until I set the power above 11. After that although the P3 indicates 12 or 13 my meter still only reads 11 from the plug. Would this be why I am unable to get the caravan brakes to lock up when trying to set it up as described in the directions. The caravan brakes have been checked and work perfectly. If its the P3 giving problems I will simply get a new one but I would hate it if the new one turned out to do the same. Any advice will help. Kind regards Dave P.
I had one from when they came out (updating)
10 yrs or so later. Still worked fine on a 6.5mtr 3 ton van.
I set brakes so they'd lock wheels then backed off a tad.
Sliding ain't slowing.
My lever would lock 'em up.
Now. new Tug smaller van. (Tandem 18ft 2 ton)
I'm using Tekinsha 2. earlier model not so many fruits on it.
Still works the same. (dealer didn't have 3 in stock)
I always check brakes every timeI roll the van.
Daily on trips. Only takes a second.
As long as they pull you up hard. they don't need to slide tyres.
That's when the brakes are NOT working. (sliding)
It's more important to have the VAN brakes coming on a fraction bEFORE to car.
Coupla reasons.
1 you can control any starting to swing with the van .
without affecting road speed of car. Hopefully.
and it always helps to stabilise any braking when stopping in a hurry.
I never set mine much more than 5.5 to 7v from memory with big van.
Yeh thanks for that. I'm almost resigned to getting a new one but wanted someone to confirm that they do work as described in the directions. Theres no way my brakes will lock up on the van with the slider as they should when setting it up. D.
If your going to buy a new unit, look at the Redarc Pro Elite. THese monitor momentum and the harder you press the brake the more the van brakes go on.... I don't like the old style controllers..they are either on or off, not like the Elite. www.redarc.com.au/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller
-- Edited by Jenko1 on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 03:09:09 PM
Thanks for your response. The Tekonsha is also proportional. D.
Good Luck
Can't say I've ever had the Van brakes lock on, but it sure as hell stops when you want it to with the controller wound up.(using a Tekonsha 2)
It's all you need for normal reliable towing and stopping..
All the rest in the others are just sugar to suck in the mugs
and empty their back pockets more.
I'd rather put the extra lollies towards a Torque Converter Lockup for hills and slippage,
if running an auto.
I Did. and VERY impressed with van on.
I just had a trailer specialist adjust my newly installed van brakes (but that's another story) & he advised against the Redarc product. He suggested that he had experienced several that had 'burnt out' the wheel magnets.
He also poo pooed my practice of winding up the wheel adjuster to max & then backing off till the wheel turned freely with a sight 'ching ching'. He advocated backing off for 13 clicks. It certainly did the trick with my brakes, improving their operation out of sight.
Back to thread .. My new P3 is set on B2 & works well with my 2.4T van. I haven't yet adjusted the "power" setting since the professional wheel adjustment. I'll wait till I am fully loaded for the next trip. The Boost increases the sensitivity of the motion sensor to set how soon the van brakes operate in relation to the tug's. The P3 is proportional system too.
-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 08:17:08 PM