Electric Brakes working without controller in car

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Sorry Ozzie....

Yep - I realised as soon as I hit the post button.

Modern Landrovers have a similar issue with their headlights - European trailers have dedicated power lines to each tail light - Aussie trailers only have one. The OEM trailer wiring in the car is wired for European trailers and of course one of the trailer tail light feeds works the Aussie trailer fine but the other tail light feed is where our brakes are connected, so switch on the lights and the trailer brakes come on.

A trick for new buyers who have not done their research - easy fix as there is a dedicated trailer wiring fuse box in the rear so just pull the relevant fuse and when you install a controller just run the wire to the fusebox - easy peasy, but you need to know.

That is how you beat me top the punch because initially I thought it was the same issue and wrote a response along the above lines but then realised it was a different issue.

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Yes Grant,

There needs to be a wire from the brake controller in the car to the brakes on the van.
This is separate from the brake light circuit.

Allan, I think you will find that the TRAILER MOUNT ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER as linked earlier is OK if it is actually fitted to the van.

These are sometimes fitted to hire vans rather than needing the car to be setup with a controller.

Drawbar or van mounted brake controllers are now illegal unless fitted before a certian date that was quite a long time ago and new ones can only be fitted to replace old ones.

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Kazza,

Grant,

Initially, the OP asked about "implications for the installation of the brake controller IN THE CAR".
Then he asked "If it is wired into the brake light circuit, does this need to be changed when installing a brake controller?"
I answered in that context.
Shane's response was not in that context.

With this autonomous braking of the van, how do you regulate the amount of braking need according to varying Van weight or to activate it in an emergency independent of the vehicle braking system?

If its the Redarc trailer mounted controller there is an (optional) couple of buttons mounted in the car that activates the brakes manually independent of the foot brake when required & controls the degree of braking to suit the trailer weight, road conditions, etc. The unit also regulates the amount of trailer braking by sensing the duration & how hard the car brakes are applied.

Blown4by
That must mean either a wired connection which the OP doesn't have or it is Bluetooth controlled.

Sensing duration can mean light braking for a long time, if the trailer interprets that as needing maximum then it isn't a system I want. All a bit airey fairey for me. Electric override brakes eh?

And have IT control the braking irrespective of what may be in the van already. Some decommissioning may be required there.

That's right Bob, its called a controller because it is supposed to, (correctly adjusted), apply the brakes according to the need. 12-14v should lock them up with about 4amps current draw per magnet.
Have a controller fitted Grant; many caravanners would say that the Red-Arc is best, particularly in modern vehicles with limited dash space.

That’s the type of controller I thought must be on the OP’s van.
But He will need an in vehicle controller, I don’t think you could use the trailer one in the vehicle. Plus the vehicle ones are a whole lot better.
Cheers
Shane

It’s all a mystery what’s going on ! If what you say is correct the brakes shouldn’t be working without a controller.

Rest my case