PRODIGY BRAKE CONTROLLER

[jackel1959]

I have a question regarding my PRODIGY brake controller. I am towing a Mountaineer 325FKBS which has a total loaded weight of approx. 10500 lbs. I have the voltage on the controller set to 11 and use boost 2 or 3 setting depending upon if I am in the mountains or not. These settings work very well and provide more than adequate and smooth braking when at highway speeds. My problem arises when I am in the city or stop & go traffic. When I apply the brakes, the trailer “grabs” very noticeably. I thought the proportional controller was supposed to eliminate this type of reaction. I have tried adjusting it to no avail and so far, the only thing that I have found that works is to drop the boost setting to 1 or none while I am driving at slower speeds. Is this normal for this brake controller or am I doing something wrong? Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

Jack

[Ozzie]

There is a button on the Prodigy that you can toggle between 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3.
At highway speeds I always have the setting at 6.3, but when I slow down, say 30 mph or less, I drop it down to 6.1 and the braking is much smoother. Don't forget to bring it back up when you are accelerating to highway speeds again.

[jackel1959]

Thanks...that is the way I have been operating and it seems to work fine that way. I just thought that maybe I shouldn't have to do that. It does make me feel better that I am not the only one using the controller in that way.

Jack

[Ozzie]

You're more than welcome. I've tried to strike a happy medium, but I don't think there is one. If it's good in town, it's weak on the highway and vice versa. I just do it the way I said and it works very well.
So well on the highway in fact that I wonder how much the truck is braking...

[Cat320]

The consensus on the RV Forum is that in town you might want to reduce the boost setting. With it off, it is designed for the power to the brakes to start out at zero; at setting #1 the power starts out at 13% of the power setting; at setting #2 and #3 the power starts out at 25% of the setting...all three power settings increase with deceleration.

[jerryb]

you are supposed to turn off the boost in town and when backing, according to the manuel

[jackel1959]

JerryB,
Thanks for the reply but you must have a different manual than me . I just reviewed the one that came with my unit and the one from the Tekonsha website, both P/N 7689 REV H, and it doesn't refer to towing in town. I've had mine for about 3 years now. It does talk about how to cancel the boost when backing, but that is all. In any case, I figured out to reduce or cancel the boost while in town or traffic and I guess thats th right way to use this controller.

Jack