A Brake Controller Story

[Raz]

A few weeks ago I noticed I was unable to set my Prodigy brake controller to a fixed voltage. The problem appeared to be a dirty or noisy potentiometer. The unit, an original Prodigy with the red LED readout, was bought in 2004. A little electronic cleaner should solve the problem but the unit was sealed with tamper proof screws. Before I fired up the drill press I decided to call Tekonsha. After a few phone tree minutes I chatted with a tech who issued me a case number and said I should send them the old unit and they would take care of it. Today, 10 days from my initial contact, FedEx dropped off my replacement. I expected a refurbished unit similar to what I sent in. What I received is a new Prodigy P2. I'm very impressed. Thank you Tekonsha. Service like that needs to be shared. Raz

[Joe Romas]

Thank you for sharing!

[Darral T.]

That's SUPER Raz. I have the Tekonsha and that's security knowing they take care of their own. PLUS, you posted a major "positive" about a manufacturer. Seems we only here the BAD on here. So yours is an uplifting post.

Thanks again!

[floyd]

I have three of them, the oldest is maybe 17YO.
Good to know!

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by Raz

A few weeks ago I noticed I was unable to set my Prodigy brake controller to a fixed voltage. The problem appeared to be a dirty or noisy potentiometer. The unit, an original Prodigy with the red LED readout, was bought in 2004. A little electronic cleaner should solve the problem but the unit was sealed with tamper proof screws. Before I fired up the drill press I decided to call Tekonsha. After a few phone tree minutes I chatted with a tech who issued me a case number and said I should send them the old unit and they would take care of it. Today, 10 days from my initial contact, FedEx dropped off my replacement. I expected a refurbished unit similar to what I sent in. What I received is a new Prodigy P2. I'm very impressed. Thank you Tekonsha. Service like that needs to be shared. Raz

We had a Tekonsha installed and we've never been able to get a set number. When hitting the brakes it jumps all over. Now I know what to do. It is only 14 months old. Thanks.

[gordon2]

Fantastic Fan is another company that seems to get consistent high marks for customer service. So much, in fact, that it might persuade me to buy that brand over another even if it happened to be a slightly inferior product. I thought that when Dometic acquired them, the tradition of stellar customer service might come to an end, but my recent experience seems to prove otherwise.

Last week I pulled the screen off my fan for only the second time since I bought my Scamp new in Sept 2015. Despite being very careful and doing it as described in the manual, one of the tabs that holds it in place broke so there was a gap when I put it back. Since it was still in the warranty period, I called them and they sent out a replacement at no charge (3 day UPS). I did not even have to prove it was under warranty.

Now, just this week, I notice that the plastic filter holder on my Dometic Air Conditioner also has a tab broken off, so it does not seal and incoming air can by bypass the filter. It is also under warranty.. lets see how this one turns out.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

We had a Tekonsha installed and we've never been able to get a set number. When hitting the brakes it jumps all over. Now I know what to do. It is only 14 months old. Thanks.

Its not clear to me what you mean by "jumps all over" but the numbers normally fluctuate while the pedal is being moved based on the brake pressure applied.
Look here, there are several good videos... Go to the space marked "Search Videos" and type in the word "prodigy"

Tekonsha - Video Library

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

We had a Tekonsha installed and we've never been able to get a set number. When hitting the brakes it jumps all over. Now I know what to do. It is only 14 months old. Thanks.

When you push the manual mode lever you should see a fixed output which can be adjusted. This is part of the set up procedure. My old prodigy would not do this because of a malfunctioning control. Once the unit is set up, the output varies depending on the braking situation hence proportional braking. I suspect your unit is fine.

[Alf S.]

Originally Posted by Raz

When you push the manual mode lever you should see a fixed output which can be adjusted. This is part of the set up procedure. My old prodigy would not do this because of a malfunctioning control. Once the unit is set up, the output varies depending on the braking situation hence proportional braking. I suspect your unit is fine.

Hi: Raz... Our manual mode is controlled by my wife. When she grabs the door handle I know it's time to apply the brakes.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Alf S.

Hi: Raz... Our manual mode is controlled by my wife. When she grabs the door handle I know it's time to apply the brakes.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie;wave

Do you mean the inside or outside door handle??

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Alf S.

Hi: Raz... Our manual mode is controlled by my wife. When she grabs the door handle I know it's time to apply the brakes.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie;wave

Alf, you always make me laugh.

[The Minimalist]

Originally Posted by floyd

the numbers normally fluctuate while the pedal is being moved based on the brake pressure applied.

Though there is a correlation between the pressure applied to the pedal and the output of the controller, the output is actually controlled by an accelerometer in the controller which measures the rate of deceleration of the tow vehicle and applies the appropriate voltage to the trailer brakes.

This is probably not relevant to the current discussion, but that's the way it works.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by The Minimalist

Though there is a correlation between the pressure applied to the pedal and the output of the controller, the output is actually controlled by an accelerometer in the controller which measures the rate of deceleration of the tow vehicle and applies the appropriate voltage to the trailer brakes.

This is probably not relevant to the current discussion, but that's the way it works.

Good point, but unless the there is a serious brake problem, deceleration occurs in proportion to the pressure applied to the brake pedal. this brings up a few thoughts...
I have both a Prodigy and a Prodigy 2.
The original Prodigy does not respond to deceleration unless the brake pedal is depressed. Downshifting or lifting in a lower gear without braking apparently doesn't effect it.
The Prodigy 2 also requires brake pedal activation.


On my TC, the computer actually interferes with brake pressure under certain conditions. It would then respond as you say since the brake pedal is depressed but pedal pressure is not really proportional to deceleration.

So what happens when the brakes are applied by the computer alone?
I assume the brake lights are activated, but the brake pedal switch is not, giving no signal to the brake controller to activate it.
I haven't checked into this but it could be an issue with TVs which have the panic stop provision activated by obstacles in the lane ahead, since that applies brake pressure, thus deceleration due to braking, without the pedal being activated at all, unless the brake light switch is bypassed at the switch and power is supplied to the aftermarket prodigy power supply wire attached downstream of the switch.

[Raz]

Don't you love it when you buy something and then find out how it does or doesn't work?

[skalywag]

Not sure what trailer make this is, but ... I don't know what to say.
https://www.facebook.com/10001041769...0903140933605/

[Alf S.]

Originally Posted by Raz

Don't you love it when you buy something and then find out how it does or doesn't work?

Hi: Raz... My Husky controller started to act up. Worked kinda like the neutral coloured house down there does. Good in theory but pushing buttons or back pedaling did nothing to stop you in the end. My RVTech installed a Tekonsha Primus and all's well that stops well. Nothing that $135. inc tx wouldn't cure.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Raz

Don't you love it when you buy something and then find out how it does or doesn't work?

Manufacturers have come up with a novel idea called an Instruction Manual.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Manufacturers have come up with a novel idea called an Instruction Manual.

When you find the page that covers Floyd's concern do let him know.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by Raz

When you push the manual mode lever you should see a fixed output which can be adjusted. This is part of the set up procedure. My old prodigy would not do this because of a malfunctioning control. Once the unit is set up, the output varies depending on the braking situation hence proportional braking. I suspect your unit is fine.

Yes this is what it should do but we never get a fixed number even when stopped. It fluctuates all the time and never stops changing. I've read the manual and tried to set it but it doesn't work. Thinking I got a bad one.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by Raz

When you find the page that covers Floyd's concern do let him know.

I've read the manual and my husband has read the manual(I know that seems strange) as I tried to do the adjustment but it never settles on one number even when stopped.