|
Why is the BrakeSmart compatible with electric/hydraulic brake actuating systems?
The BrakeSmart was originally designed to be used with Master Brake Systems Elecdraulic brake actuator. The BrakeSmart can handle the fly-back current that these systems produce. The superior, top drawer electronics used in the BrakeSmart gives it capacities that no other controller can match.
The BrakeSmart enhances these systems because we measure the brake pressure of the tow vehicle then give a signal (voltage) that is proportionate to both this pressure reading and what the trailer is asking for. All of this is independent of pedal travel, vehicle or controller attitude.
Resetting the Unit: Press the "M" and the "E" buttons simultaneously to manually reset the BrakeSmart.
Electric Brake Calibration: Note: This procedure is necessary only if your trailer does not have 2 axles. Ensure the tow vehicle and trailer are stopped. Please complete this procedure every time you connect the trailer. This will enable the auto-compensate mode to stop electric brakes from fading during braking operation.
1. Stop the tow vehicle, connect the trailer, turn on the motor.
2. Push and hold the red thumb button all the way down for 2 seconds. The display will update and show the "CALIBRATION DONE" message. |
Unique BrakeSmart Features
The BrakeSmart is a truly "set it and forget it" trailer brake controller. The ability to measure the tow vehicle output brake pressure and then turn that data into an appropriate signal for the application, makes this controller second to none! Every 2 minutes the BrakeSmart performs a total system diagnostic test. Its microprocessors perform over 2000 computations per second! As the BrakeSmart is executing an instruction, it is acquiring a command. It's a pretty busy guy. But this is only scratching the surface. The BrakeSmart's microprocessors have the ability to perform 4 million computations per second! That's power for the future!
Trailer Compatibility: The BrakeSmart is compatible with any trailer that has electric brakes. In addition, it is one of the only controllers that will work with electric/hydraulic brake actuators. It will work with any trailer out there, from one axle to four and even more with reprogramming. Travel trailers, Horse and Livestock trailers, 5th Wheel RV and Gooseneck RV trailers, Equipment and Cargo trailers, Car Haulers, Boat and Transport trailers.
Intensity adjustments: When the display is in the default mode, simply adjust the arrow keys up or down to adjust the brightness.
Amps & Volts Mode: In this mode the BrakeSmart displays the measured amperage and voltage under load. If a problem is detected in either, a visual and audible alarm will be present. A reading of 10 volts or less will kick in a warning. The BrakeSmart automatically detects the number of axles on your trailer. With optimum wiring and connections for an electric brake trailer, you should show amperage readings accordingly:
1 axle trailer - 5.8 - 6 amps
2 axle trailer - 10.8 - 12 amps
3 axle trailer - 15.5 - 18 amps
General rule of thumb is 6 amps per axle, 3 amps per wheel/magnet.
Adjust The Brake Controllers Gain: Use this feature to set gain mode. BrakeSmart has 8 gain settings from minimum to the 50% level and 8 gain settings from 50% to the maximum gain setting. With 16 available gain settings, BrakeSmart provides the most proportional truck brake to trailer brake response available. There is an optimum setting for any truck to trailer combination. The BrakeSmart is programmed with a gain setting of 50% from the factory. Most people find that there is no need to adjust from this point.
Set Initial Brake Constant: The default setting for the "Initial brake constant" is 26 without a trailer attached. If your trailer has electric brakes and when you attach it, the value should be right around 20. This feature allows you to adjust the initial voltage that is sent back to your trailer brakes as soon as you have a brake action. The "Initial brake constant" is a voltage figure being assigned a value. The value being assigned is in brake pressure. For instance, if you tap on your brakes just enough for the brake lights to come on with the "IBC" at 26, the first PSI reading on the BrakeSmart display should read right about 51 psi. What is being "said" is that with a setting at 26, voltage is being sent to your trailer brakes that is equal to 51 psi. You can increase or decrease the "IBC" with the result being a harder or lighter initial brake action as soon as your stop light circuit is activated, your initial brake action. This feature is helpful in "balancing" the truck and trailer brake action especially with bumper pull type trailers.
Set Time of Day: This feature allows you to set the time of day.
Set Today's Date: This feature allows you to set the Month, Day, and Year.
Enter Your Own Custom Message: You can enter a personal message of up to 16 characters . Your custom message will be displayed along with the Day, Date, and Time when the BrakeSmart is in the default screen mode. You can choose from a variety of symbols, both upper and lower case letters, and numbers. Simply "arrow up or down" to scroll through letters, numbers, & symbols until you find the one you want. Then press "E" which will move the cursor to the right one space. Repeat until you have up to 16 characters or blank spaces.
Set Power Off Delay: You may adjust the time allowed before the display screen goes blank when there has been no activity such as a brake application. The BrakeSmart is programmed with a power management system that automatically shuts down power to the display after a period of time. The power off delay time is adjustable through the menu from 30 minutes to 5 hours in thirty minute increments. This reduces the battery drain from less than one ampere to a few thousands of an ampere. Any activity will bring the display back on.
Press Enter for Power Save Mode: You may instantly turn off the display with this feature. Note: This does not disable the controller. Your trailer brakes will continue to function if applied. This function is most commonly utilized during long stretches of night driving. After adjusting the intensity level you may still find the display too bright. The display will come back on as soon as there is any activity such as a brake application.
Communication Mode: This function is to be turned "On" if you have a Master Brake Systems electric/hydraulic brake actuator the Elecdraulic. The BrakeSmart will communicate with specific programming in the Elecdraulic.
Set Pressure Sensor: The BrakeSmart can be used with both hydraulic and air brake tow vehicles. There are two types of pressure sensors, hydraulic & air, each of which are included in the appropriate wire harness kit. For hydraulic brake tow vehicles choose 2000. For air brake tow vehicles choose 150. There was an earlier version of the pressure sensor that was scaled to 1500 psi. All current kits are using the 2000 psi sensor. The BrakeSmart controller will now recognize the appropriate sensor.
Fuse Test Mode: This design feature will alert you if the 15A fuse in the back of the BrakeSmart has blown. This fuse is on the Brake Light Circuit only. Your BrakeSmart controller will continue to work if this fuse is blown. This is to alert you that the circuit is being overloaded possibly by other lights. Note: If you have LED lights on the Brake Light Circuit, turn this function to Off. LED lights may flash when the BrakeSmart is running it's system check every 2 minutes.
Set Beeper Mode: Allows you to turn on or off the audible alarm. If an error is detected, an initial visual and audible alarm will commence. The audible alarm will then go into a cycle mode. You may find that it will be some time before you can investigate. This feature allows you to turn off the audible alarm which may become distracting. The visual alarm will remain.
Set Pump Mode: This is to be set to "On" only if you have an Ausco brand trailer brake actuator on your trailer. There is a value of 1.0. This can be scaled between .1 and 2.0. This feature immediately applies full brake for the corresponding time in seconds when you have a brake application. This allows the Ausco unit to "wake up" and thus decrease the lag time between brake action and application. A value of 2.0 is the maximum setting recommended.
Set Power Factor: Think of this as a very fine tuned gain adjustment, a voltage tuning mechanism. The unit is programmed from the factory at 1.0. This scale can be adjusted in increments from .5 to 1.5. Most users will never need to adjust this setting. Always adjust the Brake Controller Gain first. What this function does is limit or increase the amount of maximum brake you can achieve. Roll it down past 1.0 and essentially maximum brake availability will not be achieved. Raise this up past 1.0 and you will achieve maximum brake at a lower brake pressure, essentially achieving maximum brake faster.
Trailer Battery Test Mode: Set to "On" if you are using the Master Brake Systems Elecdraulic brake actuator. This mode will keep tabs on the break-away battery or unit battery system if you have an RV unit.
Manual Button Gain Percentage: You can actually adjust the gain setting for the manual thumb control from 30% to 90% in increments of 5. Remember that the manual control is separate from the pressure sensor at the master cylinder. The brake achieved by the manual control is only proportionate to how far you depress the manual control.
Set EGT Cutoff Temperature: An EGT and Turbo boost module is in the works and will be available soon. This function will allow the user to set the maximum temperature at which the exhaust gas will reach before an alarm is set off. |
