The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay brake controller help and more

my 49 1-ton dumper is a hard working bolt. the previous owner pulled a low-boy trailer loaded with a trac-hoe behind her for years running his septic business. the trailer is a 1975 with electric brakes. i too need the electric brakes for my tractor.
here is the rub. i am converting to 12v and replacing all wiring. the brake controller he was using was with the orginal 6v system. i know it is not orginal, but i would like to use it if possible.
if one of you will give me quick instructions how to post a pic here i will post pictures of the controller and how it was wired. it looks to be modified a little. i would love to "fix" it for use with 12volts as intended and i am too cheap to spring for a new one anyway.

zebcotia,

Without seeing it, or even knowing a darn thing about electric brakes, I will say I think you stand a good chance of pulling this swap off.

Dropping the voltage to 6 volts from 12 volts for this brake controller is probably a relatively quick and easy task!

Watch me be all wet on this one.

Stuart

stuart. thanks. i may not have made my question very clear. the controller has already been converted to 6volts or at least used at 6volts. i need to send it back to 12volts.

the controller cover says: adjustable automatic
and
manual electric brake
controller

kelsey hayes company
detroit michigan
pat. 2,820,255

has anyone heard of it?

zebcotia,

I thought I had it figured out. If you are converting to 12 volts, and the controller has been used successfully on 6 volts, then I think the best route would be to see if a Runtz type voltage reducer would have the capacity to handle the brakes.

As you mention, if the brake controller was ORININALLY 12 volt, maybe you could change it back to this voltage from the 6 volts it is now.

Kelsey Hayes is, or was, THE name in brakes or eons. They were probably purchased by Burger King or Tampax Corp...a leveraged buy out perhaps. Keep us posted on your "working bolt" progress.

Stuart

stuart,
if i knew how to put in some photos it would be easier to explain what i am looking at. i am not very electrically inclined but i will try. at the end of what i think in the resistor is/was two wires. one is still there and went to the brakes, the other(red) was cut very short. i think it was to reduce the voltage? i can email pics to you or anyone who may be familar with this type controller. help!!

zebcotia,

If you go to "IT Short Bus" forum at the bottom of main page, red58 has the Forum Users Guide which shows how to post pictures. Look in the Glove Box Manual!


Stuart

The older controllers had a hydraulic line that teed into the brakes. The newer ones use an enertia system with electronics. The older one would work either way with adjustment on the resisters.