Electric Brakes

journey on · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:51 pm Post subject:

Hm, the bottom two are a darker colour and I would assume that the colour comes from brake dust. Does it?

If so, I would guess that only the darker set is braking, since that's the only one with dust. Or, did you clean off the dust in the top ones?

Boris

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:12 am Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:17 am Post subject:

Good catch Boris, I started to say something in my post with the photos, but wasn't sure exactly why the color difference. I tend to agree with your thought that that axles brakes were not working. Or could have been I had them adjusted much looser so the front axle was doing most the work. (The darker ones came off the front axle.) I did check the operation of the new brakes, and know that all 4 are in fact energized. And the old ones were still providing a lot of stopping power, even if only two were actually doing the work.
One thing to point out for the naysayers about electric brakes, notice the magnet is still all intact with no pitting or breakdown. But no saltwater dunkings on this trailer either, other than the brackish St. John's River a few times, the brackish Sacramento River and retrieving the boat at Astoria a few weeks ago. Colby

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:32 am Post subject:

Rob, I no longer tow with the Highlander. I finally found a nice F150! Very Happy

However, the Highlander did have a tow package. The problem with the one time tranny overheating was due to repeated accelerations from 30mph to 60 mph after having to slow down repeatedly, on a +7% grade in high elevation. And on a relatively warm day. It finally overheated on the 3rd acceleration. I suspect this would happen to many tow vehicles towing at their max weights... The F150 I purchased did NOT come with the factory tow package. (Which only means no aux tranny cooler, trailer hitch & plug or trailer brake controller. It still has the "tow" mode and was prewired for most the connections needed.) I did install a good hitch and 7 pin plug, and after market brake controller. After two trips with the boat out west over the mountains, I see no need for the aux tranny cooler. Cool

While I felt very comfortable towing with the Highlander, the F150 does a great job, and it would be hard to go back to towing long distance with the Highlander. Mr. Green

Colby

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:58 pm Post subject:

Been a few years, and thought I'd stir the pot again. Mr. Green

I'm in the process of purchasing a new trailer, and it will have Electric over Hydraulic (EOH) disc brakes. Only because Load Rite doesn't do pure electric brakes. One thing I've seen from experience with C-Traveler's trailer this year, which has Disc brakes, is that they run hotter, thereby needing longer to cool down before backing the trailer in the water or sucking more water into the bearings. Another thread recently talked about disc brake drag. And I don't think I'm the only one that has lost a caliper going down the road somewhere. I've also noticed there is some delay between when I apply my truck brakes and when the EOH system kicks in. Not much of a delay mind you, but more so than I've noticed with pure electric. Someday, when the EOH system starts costing me money in repairs, I'll probably just pull it and replace it with all electric. Anyway, I just came across this article. Enjoy. Smile

Colby

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2016/11/electric-brakes-for-your-boat-trailer.html

san juanderer · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 1:25 am Post subject:

Well that blog should get the old topic going well.
Offering comments without personally experiencing an all electric brake system used in fresh and salt water launching situations should be used cautiously.
Opinions are just that.
Ultimately, it is personal preference based on personal experience, and personal experience of doing ongoing maintenance of your equipment.
I have to admire Colby, he puts a lot of miles on his trailer and boat. Experience and owner hands getting dirty.
Hands On Guy !

Now we sit back and read !

hardee · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:58 pm Post subject:

Colby is the epitomy of a "trailer boater".
Interesting that the EOH trailer brake has a delay. I would thing that would not be. Any idea why it is occurring?

I am considering upgrading my trailer brakes to 4 wheel, vs 2, and EOH or Surg.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:42 am Post subject:

My only guess is perhaps time for the actuator to pressurize the brake line after getting the electric impulse from the controller. Or could just be my brake controller settings. But I think the settings are ok.

journey on · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:48 pm Post subject:

Hardee,

Those EOH brakes are driven when (my) brake controller senses an electrical signal from the vehicle brake, then generates another electrical to the pressure generator on the trailer. This generator contains an electrically driven hydraulic pump, operated from the vehicle 12v. This builds up hydraulic pressure and moves the brake pucks in the caliper.

Is it any wonder that there is some delay? It's on the order of 1-2 sec, I estimate.

Nevertheless, EOH brakes are the best way to stop that boat/trailer I've encountered. They operate as a result of applying the vehicle brake, are disk with all those benefits and DON'T operate when I'm backing up or going downgrade. I've been towing boats for 45 years and used no brakes, surge brakes and EOH.

Boris

thataway · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:12 pm Post subject:

I have never "timed" the controller/E/H, but when I use the controller only, there seems to be an almost immediate effect--not the full effect, but can notice the drag. Faster than surge brakes; far better control. It is certainly possible that pure electric is faster.

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 2:02 pm Post subject:

Oops. Bad link.

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 2:06 pm Post subject:

Duplicate post

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:02 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:21 pm Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:37 pm Post subject:

"General operation". What I meant was the Ford controller and Tekonsa's are alike in that they proportion the amount of braking to what the vehicle's braking is doing. Ford's system using it's own master cylinder electronics, and Tekonsa using de-acceleration. Perhaps I'm being way to general there. Smile

The Ford system is much more sensitive to the vehicles brake operation since it's taking readings right off the master brake cylinder. Either way, after finding and reading that article to come more up to date on more modern systems, it makes a little more sense of why the Ford factory controller is relatively expensive. There are three settings available for the brakes, being Low, Medium and High. I think there is a way to tweak that a bit more as well, but I'd need to get into the operating manual. The controller works well on either electric or EOH brake systems.