I have just fitted a push button switch under my brake pedal, when the pedal is depressed very hard as in an emergency stop the button is depressed and puts full power back to the van instantly, bypassing the electric brake switch. I have had a situation when on a wet road a car pulled out in front of me, the de-accelerator in the electric brake switch would not give instant power to the van because the car was skidding, hence , no inertia. Has any body done anything like this?
regards,Fred.
patrol03 said
05:11 PM Aug 29, 2016
What brand of electric brake unit do you have Fred?Fitting a switch as you have is a very dangerous practice and would certainly negate insurances in the case of accident.
erad said
05:49 PM Aug 29, 2016
I appreciate why you have done this modification, but it is potentially dangerous. The caravan wheels will almost certainly lock up - especially if the road surface is wet. Then you may have your van sliding any which way but where you want it to go. Once the wheels lock up, the camber of the road, the wind, the initial direction - anything can send you off out of control.
vince56 said
10:28 AM Aug 30, 2016
Hi freddy
The modification as you describe seems to be a very dangerous one, locked wheels are not good!
As mentioned by others, I am sure your insurance would love to discover your mod if you had a prang.
Sorry, but true.
Cheers Vince
MICKO said
03:35 PM Aug 30, 2016
We have a Redarc system fitted and when set to manual I can push the control button to activate van brakes at which ever strength or duration that is needed
Micko
Aus-Kiwi said
09:00 PM Aug 30, 2016
Yes my old RV has an electic hand controller.. I used it much like exhaust brakes.. can be quite busy at times...
macka17 said
06:36 AM Sep 3, 2016
Brakes on all vehicles.
WHEN set up properly and legal.
Are balanced for ALL conditions.
ANYTHING that can lock them up, Especially the trailer.
is downright dangerous.
Unless you rallying like we did a lifetime ago.
The parker was magic for that.
The ONLY thing that should be used. Over and above the foot brake.
For both controlling sway. and decreasing stopping distance of total rig.
Is the manual lever of electric brakes.
And that SHOULD be set to almost but not quite slide your van.
Mine set to JUST lock at extreme end of slide travel.
But I've had 50 yrs hanging off end of Jacobs lever.
ADJUST it. EVERY time you attach van to car.
As soon as wheels NOT rolling. you speed up. Believe it or not.
Loss of ALL retardation of those wheels. Specially in wet/ice.
Anybody watch Bunny's/Chucks game last night.
Wet/slippy. PROPER. full on Rugby. Little but of niggle.
Pleasure to watch.
freddy fingers said
09:54 PM Sep 7, 2016
thank you all for your input, I have considered every thing that was said and am now putting a in line adjustable resistor in the circuit so as to apply the brakes without lock up. My brake controller is a Hayman Reece, I think it leaves a bit to be desired. As far as the manual slide controller is concerned, It would be a great thing if one could foresee a oncoming emergency situation, but when the fertiliser hits the windmill one does not have the time to think OR grope around trying to find the controller slide, all one does is say "sh....t", jump on the brake pedal and squeeze the crap out of the steering wheel. That was the point of putting the button under the extreme limits of the brake pedal movement, you didn't have to think of it. Before I fitted it I discussed it with my local NRMA rego mechanic and got a thumbs up.
I have just fitted a push button switch under my brake pedal, when the pedal is depressed very hard as in an emergency stop the button is depressed and puts full power back to the van instantly, bypassing the electric brake switch. I have had a situation when on a wet road a car pulled out in front of me, the de-accelerator in the electric brake switch would not give instant power to the van because the car was skidding, hence , no inertia. Has any body done anything like this?
regards,Fred.
I appreciate why you have done this modification, but it is potentially dangerous. The caravan wheels will almost certainly lock up - especially if the road surface is wet. Then you may have your van sliding any which way but where you want it to go. Once the wheels lock up, the camber of the road, the wind, the initial direction - anything can send you off out of control.
The modification as you describe seems to be a very dangerous one, locked wheels are not good!
As mentioned by others, I am sure your insurance would love to discover your mod if you had a prang.
Sorry, but true.
Cheers Vince
We have a Redarc system fitted and when set to manual I can push the control button to activate van brakes at which ever strength or duration that is needed
Micko
WHEN set up properly and legal.
Are balanced for ALL conditions.
ANYTHING that can lock them up, Especially the trailer.
is downright dangerous.
Unless you rallying like we did a lifetime ago.
The parker was magic for that.
The ONLY thing that should be used. Over and above the foot brake.
For both controlling sway. and decreasing stopping distance of total rig.
Is the manual lever of electric brakes.
And that SHOULD be set to almost but not quite slide your van.
Mine set to JUST lock at extreme end of slide travel.
But I've had 50 yrs hanging off end of Jacobs lever.
ADJUST it. EVERY time you attach van to car.
As soon as wheels NOT rolling. you speed up. Believe it or not.
Loss of ALL retardation of those wheels. Specially in wet/ice.
Anybody watch Bunny's/Chucks game last night.
Wet/slippy. PROPER. full on Rugby. Little but of niggle.
Pleasure to watch.
thank you all for your input, I have considered every thing that was said and am now putting a in line adjustable resistor in the circuit so as to apply the brakes without lock up. My brake controller is a Hayman Reece, I think it leaves a bit to be desired. As far as the manual slide controller is concerned, It would be a great thing if one could foresee a oncoming emergency situation, but when the fertiliser hits the windmill one does not have the time to think OR grope around trying to find the controller slide, all one does is say "sh....t", jump on the brake pedal and squeeze the crap out of the steering wheel. That was the point of putting the button under the extreme limits of the brake pedal movement, you didn't have to think of it. Before I fitted it I discussed it with my local NRMA rego mechanic and got a thumbs up.