Electric brake control

The earlier Voyagers gave problems (grey face) whereas the later one (purple face) was upgraded. I had the earlier model and ended up replacing it with a Prodigy and wouldn't recommend any other. Great for ease of use . Don't get the voyager I'm sure in time you'll regret it

Cheers Dave

The cam action of electric brake shoes is imposable to work in reverse. The magnet will activate on to the hub face, BUT the brake shoes will not touch the drum to stop the van/trailer at all. They work when rolling forwards NOT in reverse
Cheers
Charlie

Are you REALLY sure about that Charlie?
I had my trailers electric brakes apart and studied the action. The (electro)magnet activates the arm in both directions as you say. Then the cam arm opens the shoes in both directions too. I tried it then by spinning the jacked up wheel, it stops in both directions.
Yes, I agree with you, the magnet arm appears directional and the brakes come as a left and right module, Perhaps they work much better when operated in the preferred direction but I would not go as far as saying they work not at all in reverse.
Klaus

I second that. Back in the days when we had drum brakes all around in cars, the brakes certianly worked in reverse, otherwise backing out of a hilly driveway would have been hilarious...not to mention driving in general.

The Alko brakes (used in most trailers) have not had the cams ground off so they don't operate in reverse - they do. As Klaus points out, they may not work as well in reverse but then you don't go backwards at 100k either so they don't have to.

V8 Troopie the brakes work as the cam travels out to the maximum radius of the shoe face to give max brake pressure on outer drum surface when travelling forwards. In reverse the cam is pulled into the centre of the drum giving no braking power as the cam CANNOT extend the brake shoes to the outer surface of the drums to give braking. Magnet will active an drum face in both directions.

Gerhardp1 The drum brakes on cars are operated on a hydraulic system with the foot brake pedal to expand the shoes and WILL operate in either direction. A completely different system to electric brakes. Electric and hydraulic hubs will not fit to each other's systems as they are different sizes.
Cheers
Charlie

Well Charlie, you are doing your very best to convince me that your electric brakes work differently from mine. Maybe so, maybe NOT so.
I don't buy your argument of the cam travelling toward the centre of the drum - mine certainly does not do that.

For a moment, to give you a mental picture, imagine a brake assembly like a clock face, the axle is where the clock hands attach.
At the 12 o clock position is the pivot of the magnet arm, it can travel to either side, like a pendulum, travelling ALWAYS toward the OUTER face of the brake backing. The magnet is at the 6 o clock position at rest.

The "cam" itself ( the bit that pushes the brake shoes apart) is just a flat portion on the pivot of the magnet arm, it opens the shoes in EITHER direction from the rest position.
The magnet arm is curved so it gets around the axle to give it the maximum lever length. It may "look" as if its directional but from an operating point of view it is not. It is directional in the way the magnet moves in the direction of the arm curve when the wheel rotates forward as then there is possibly more magnet movement available. However, there is sufficient magnet movement (on my brakes) to brake in reverse WHEN the brake adjuster is set correctly.
The only thing that makes the brakes truly left and right handed is the attachment of the hand brake cable, this does indeed only work one way.

So, I suggest you have another good look at your brakes, perhaps they need adjusting or something is wrong in there since you insist they only brake while rolling forward.

Just imagine the legalities of marketing a trailer braking system that only works in one direction. I do not think such a device would be fit for sale, morally or legally. Neither do I think any manufacturer would be game to maket one.

Cheers,
Klaus

I second that again.

The cam you are talking about is actually a square and if you move the actuator lever to the rear (as when the brake is applied going forwards) two high points of the square push the shoes out at the top.

When you move the actuator lever forward, as when braking in reverse, the other 2 high points move the shoes out at the top.

My point about the drum brakes in cars was merely to illustrate that drums are capable of operating in reverse - I am fully aware that hydraulics have a different actuating method to electrics. BUT, the handbrake on the old hydraulic drums works the same way as electrics - it operates a cam to expand the shoes.

However, an old saying goes: a man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.

So I suggest you go to the next caravanning show and talk to the man from Alko who might convince you that you are wrong. He has working models of brakes in see through apparatus which will give you indisputable visual evidence that Alko electric brakes DO work in reverse.

There has to be a reason why Tekonsha specifies that their Prodigy electric brake controller (and possibly other models) work in reverse. They'd be in court getting sued quick smart for a claim like that if it was false.

Gerhard

I went to the 4wd & camping show in Penrith the other week and bought the PRODIGY it was marked as $200 and I need to get it fitted which will be done next tuesday for about $100 on my 100 ser L/C and I actually NEG a deal for $170 at the show from Coast to Coast caravan and lesure 44 Adderley st Silverwater NSW (02) 9647.1164 its supose to be the Rolls Royce of controllers and when My wife and 2 boys are involved not to mention other motorest you cant skimp on a sub standard brand .... anyway thats my 2 cents worth hope I helped a little as I was confused as to which way to go myself.

Speak to Derek from Affordable batteries he was my savior and he knows his stuff he is also a member here .

Regards J.B.

J.B.
"you cant skimp on a sub standard brand " - The Voyager and Prodigy are different model controllers, both made by Tekonsha. The Voyager was Tekonsha's 'standard' until superseded by the newer, flasher (& more expensive) Prodigy. I don't think that makes it "sub-standard", does it?

Ian
I actually ment OTHER brands I know that the voyager is made by the same company as thats what alot of Installers were trying to sell me and it is not rubish at all but I also had alot of no name brands thrown at me as I supose that alot of people just want cheap at no consideration of the quality because they dont know any better but with some solid research and ADVICE from fellow E/O members that have the products I think we may be able to make a well informed decision

Regards J.B

Sorry J.B, I misunderstood your point. I thought you were canning the Voyager. My apologies.

Alls good mate !!