Elecbrakes Brake Controller

Balangara · Member

Elecbrakes Brake Controller

Legend · Newbie

I have a Camec ESC & while travelling the brakes keep coming off & on is it faulty?

TheHeaths · Guru

Neil,

Are you using the controller Michael is asking about and is your question related to the use of that brake controller?

If not you may get more information starting a new thread, and others may concentrate on answering Michaels issue.

Rob Driver · Guru

Balangara wrote:
I am considering buying the Elecbrakes brake controller which attaches to the caravan and does not need to be wired through the tow vehicle. It is expensive but there are no installation costs so at the end of the day the overall cost seems to be about the same or actually cheaper than the wired units. But wondering whether anyone has experience with this system, and whether there are any interference issues with other Bluetooth devices. Appreciate any advice.

I dont have one and apart from reading up on how it works I would spend a few dollars extra and fit a wired unit.

In this report here ; https://rvdaily.com.au/elecbrakes-we-field-test-the-bluetooth-trailer-brake-controller/

they recommend using another dedicated phone which may add to the cost as well.

You may not get a second chance when it comes to stopping your vehicle and caravan combination.

I think you answered your own question when you asked this,

and whether there are any interference issues with other Bluetooth devices. Appreciate any advice.

-- Edited by Rob Driver on Sunday 30th of January 2022 06:15:34 PM

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

I wouldnt trust Bluetooth particularly with a brake controller.

If I am using the brakes I want to be assured that they will work with better reliability than a phone Bluetooth.

This is what I use and would recommend this system. It is not hard to fit into most vehicles.

https://www.redarc.com.au/tow-pro-v3-2

Are We Lost · Guru

One of the features I like about my Redarc one, is the button with integrated sensitivity adjuster that works very well. I can reach down and push it, while rotating it all in the one smooth movement. I found this very helpful when a first time tower was behind the wheel and swerved to avoid a pothole. I had the van brakes activated and braking increased in a second.

Maybe you can do it almost as well with the remote, but that rotating control gives a lot of confidence.

Also, sensitive electronics on modern vehicles may not play well with a device that turns the brake lights on, as it must do if the button is pushed. The later Ford Rangers (amongst others?) requires extra circuitry to avoid seeing this as a fault. This is sure to be a growing trend with later cars. There goes the "no installtion" in the tow vehicle.

Greg 1 · Guru

Agree totally with what "Are we lost" posted. Redarc Towpro is a brilliant controller.

Balangara · Member

Thanks for all your advice and suggestions. Thanks also for the really good article Rob. Looks like the Elecbrakes is a good option if you will be using multiple tow vehicles but the wired units are otherwise going to be more reliable . Will check out the Redarc Towpro. Thanks again.

SoloMC · Senior Member

one thing that i would be concerned about is that you dont have any control over it. with my onboard unit, i need to set at various levels when going thru towns/van parks etc compared to travelling on a hwy. sometimes you need to be able to control the brakes especially if you get a sway happening

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

Greg 1 wrote:
Agree totally with what "Are we lost" posted. Redarc Towpro is a brilliant controller.

+2

landy · Guru

Although I think in principle wireless brake controllers are a great idea as far as convenience go's personally I would not trust a wireless connection for my day to day heavy towing. On the odd occasion I need to move the Van with my daily drive which is not wired for electric brakes I use a portable wired brake controller very similar to the one shown here.
https://www.portablebrakes.com.au/

Landy

86GTS · Guru

Another vote for the Redarc unit.

rmoor · Senior Member

Interesting. I have been enquiring about Elecbrakes recently. I wanted to tow with two separate vehicles but my old vehicle does not have a Redarc in it.
Was concerned about the safety and reliability of the Elecbrake units.
I rang and enquired with a local farm machinery manufacturer who use and install Elecbrakes and they said they have never had any negative feedback.
I continue to get positive feedback re Redarc units.
Maybe I am better to put a Redarc in my old Suzuki and install another in my new tow vehicle in a few months time??
I have a quote from my friendly local dealer for a Redarc unit for $773 installed in a new ute.
Two Redarc units would exceed one Elecbrakes by about $500 but the safety and reliability aspect is my number one concern?
Any input fellas?

Ivan 01 · Guru

Ron, personally anything Bluetooth and highly dependant on my own safety is not what I might call a good combination.

It might be even less reliable if just using a phone for this and other bluetooth functions.
I know my phone quite regularly has a glitch connecting to the radio in the car.

Maybe a designated Bluetooth repeater might work but for the trouble I would just go the two red arc tow pros.

The tow pro units arent hard to fit. You might find someone to supply and fit for a bit less money than you indicated

-- Edited by Ivan 01 on Monday 16th of January 2023 02:05:34 PM

rmoor · Senior Member

Yep. Thanks Ivan.
Your comments are all very practical.
I am pretty much going down the road of the two Redarc's now....
Hang the expense, it is the safety aspect that is the important issue isn't it?
Not just ones's own safety but others on the road too.
How would electric brake controllers react in the event of a van tyre blowout I wonder?
That is the sleeper with on road safety and vans is it not?

Radar · Guru

Hi rmoor.

Just last month I replaced our 20 year old Hayman Reece brake controller with a new H & R brake controller, nothing fancy but what I did find interesting was the controller could be swapped between vehicles via a bit of extra hardware.

Cost of a additional easy swap bracket and wire loom the brake controller is then ready to swap between tow vehicles, very clever.

$160 plus refitting (which I was capable of doing).

jegog · Senior Member

I wonder how many who are offering opinions have ever used an Elecbrakes system. My previous camper trailer came with one fitted and it worked flawlessly.
It does things automatically that must be manually done with the Redarc controller.
It has sensors to measure drawbar tilt and automatically adjusts the response when going up or down a hill. No need to lean forward to reach that small knob that needs fiddling with.
It also incorporates electronic stability control due to its accelerometers which measure sideways movement.
So it has advantages over the Redarc system.
Elecbrakes do market a dedicated controller.
As for Bluetooth, how many of you understand it.
Bluetooth was designed for short distance communications, whereas wifi is for longer range communications.
They both operate in the same frequency spectrum.
Interference can happen but both have mitigation built in.
And wifi with its much larger packet size is more likely to suffer interference than Bluetooth.
An Elecbrakes with dedicated controller installation is pretty much equivalent to a Redarc controller plus a ESC system. At a much lower price.

rmoor · Senior Member

Very good answer.
They do have a very good reputation.
The young lady at the rural manufacturing place was very friendly and helpful and she knew a bit about them. They had one in stock and she said they had a controller unit there but no-one had shown interest in it?
She was happy to put me through on the phone to one of the fellows in the shed but I didn't want to interrupt them.
Told her I would do some more research, which I am doing now and your response was really informative.
I picked up they did them from an enquiry at the local Supercheap auto store and they googled it and found one local supplier.
The shed I spoke to have a very good reputation and they said they have never had any issues with Elecbrakes.
They make some pretty heavy duty farm equipment and stock trailers of about 4.5 tonnes.
I was prepared to spend the extra $230 or so for a controller as the local auto electrician told me he had installed one but had some feedback sometimes the mobile phone connection to the Elecbrakes system dropped out so I thought the control unit was a wiser and safer investment.
It is a complicated and important topic which is why I am researching so heavily, one's life (and the life of other road users) could depend on it.
Thanks heaps.

RickJ · Senior Member

jegog wrote:
I wonder how many who are offering opinions have ever used an Elecbrakes system. My previous camper trailer came with one fitted and it worked flawlessly.
It does things automatically that must be manually done with the Redarc controller.
It has sensors to measure drawbar tilt and automatically adjusts the response when going up or down a hill. No need to lean forward to reach that small knob that needs fiddling with.
It also incorporates electronic stability control due to its accelerometers which measure sideways movement.
So it has advantages over the Redarc system.
Elecbrakes do market a dedicated controller.
As for Bluetooth, how many of you understand it.
Bluetooth was designed for short distance communications, whereas wifi is for longer range communications.
They both operate in the same frequency spectrum.
Interference can happen but both have mitigation built in.
And wifi with its much larger packet size is more likely to suffer interference than Bluetooth.
An Elecbrakes with dedicated controller installation is pretty much equivalent to a Redarc controller plus a ESC system. At a much lower price.

Thank you for providing accurate comment.

I think Bluetooth reliability is basically a technology that many people have very little faith in when using.

My personal experience is if I am on my phone on speaker and while I am talking my partner drives back and parks outside the van then my phone automatically connects to the speaker in the car, yet when I get into the car and want the player to play my Spotify menu the Bluetooth will select every other device but my phone.

So there is no confusion I am talking Bluetooth and not WiFi or Apple or google play.

Do you have a dedicated Bluetooth device to operate your van brakes? or do you run it through your phone.

If at one in 1000 times it decides not to send a Bluetooth signal to the vans brakes and at that moment you really need for your car and van to stop what then happens?

Does the unit have a battery and can that battery remain charged within the vehicle system?

If your phone sits on the dash of the car and gets hot and shuts down ( my phone does that ) do the brakes on the van still work.

A campervan being towed by a reasonably large vehicle would have at least a margin of safety but if I can go by comments from owners on a couple of caravan forums there are many car and van set ups where the van is as heavy as the towing vehicle or worse.

In this situation I would be at least a little bit worried if I was in a spot where I needed to stop quickly.

46jade · Member

Everyone is concerned about the Bluetooth dropping out and having no brakes. That is not how the system works.If there is a dropout of the controll signal the unit defaults to its last known setting . There is no loss of braking but a momentary loss of adjustment

jegog · Senior Member

RickJ wrote:
jegog wrote:
I wonder how many who are offering opinions have ever used an Elecbrakes system. My previous camper trailer came with one fitted and it worked flawlessly.
It does things automatically that must be manually done with the Redarc controller.
It has sensors to measure drawbar tilt and automatically adjusts the response when going up or down a hill. No need to lean forward to reach that small knob that needs fiddling with.
It also incorporates electronic stability control due to its accelerometers which measure sideways movement.
So it has advantages over the Redarc system.
Elecbrakes do market a dedicated controller.
As for Bluetooth, how many of you understand it.
Bluetooth was designed for short distance communications, whereas wifi is for longer range communications.
They both operate in the same frequency spectrum.
Interference can happen but both have mitigation built in.
And wifi with its much larger packet size is more likely to suffer interference than Bluetooth.
An Elecbrakes with dedicated controller installation is pretty much equivalent to a Redarc controller plus a ESC system. At a much lower price.
Thank you for providing accurate comment.
I think Bluetooth reliability is basically a technology that many people have very little faith in when using.
My personal experience is if I am on my phone on speaker and while I am talking my partner drives back and parks outside the van then my phone automatically connects to the speaker in the car, yet when I get into the car and want the player to play my Spotify menu the Bluetooth will select every other device but my phone.
So there is no confusion I am talking Bluetooth and not WiFi or Apple or google play.
Do you have a dedicated Bluetooth device to operate your van brakes? or do you run it through your phone.
Bluetooth is used to set which brake program to use not to directly control the brakes, though it does have an emergency brake on button.
If at one in 1000 times it decides not to send a Bluetooth signal to the vans brakes and at that moment you really need for your car and van to stop what then happens?
That is not how it works
Does the unit have a battery and can that battery remain charged within the vehicle system?
The unit runs on the van battery.
If your phone sits on the dash of the car and gets hot and shuts down ( my phone does that ) do the brakes on the van still work.
Yes
A campervan being towed by a reasonably large vehicle would have at least a margin of safety but if I can go by comments from owners on a couple of caravan forums there are many car and van set ups where the van is as heavy as the towing vehicle or worse.
In this situation I would be at least a little bit worried if I was in a spot where I needed to stop quickly.
Needlessly so.

The unit runs on the van battery.

The unit is standalone, the phone or dedicated controller is used to set the unit up.

It comes with 5(I think) selectable braking programs and these can be edited.

Each program has settings for uphill, downhill and level driving.

There is a default program and the controller can change the selected program.

Normally you would run on program 3, and program 2 and 1 use less aggressive braking intervention. 4 and 5 are more aggressive.

When you start towing the unit needs calibrating, so on a level road apply full pressure to the brake pedal. Then the unit knows the attitude of the drawbar and the voltage for full braking.

If you start towing without calibrating the unit tapps the brakes 3 times to remind you to do the calibration. This just jerks the car.

In 2019 I drove to Cape York from Mornington(Vic.) and apart from the calibration each day never gave the unit another thought. It just worked and did its thing.

RickJ · Senior Member

Thank you for your concise explanation. They obviously have found a niche in the industry.

Hylife · Guru

Just fitted a Redarc TowPro Elite to my daughters Prado Kakadu and installation was a breeze if you buy the wiring kit and the replacement blank switch insert.

Spent more time googling how to remove the glovebox than on installation.

The Elite version has both "Proportional" and "fixed setting Time Delay" systems that are changeable on the fly just by dialling up zero, pressing and holding in the brake and then double pressing the 0-10 button.

"fixed setting Time delay" is better when off the black top as emergency braking on gravel with "proportional" will have your van pushing you on the marbles and the accelerometer wont detect any deceleration.

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