Electronic Trailer Brake Controller - Advice/Install

[Tomassend]

Recently bought a trailer with hydraulic brakes which are not functioning anymore. Looking at new braking systems and trying to determine if I want to switch to electric.

Has anyone ever installed a electric brake controller on a 2007 Volvo XC70?

Just wondering if anyone has any advice as to even go the electric braking controller route, if so do you have any recommendations on type of controllers which are more compatible with the XC70.

Wiring installation of the controller itself would also be something I could use assistance on, any help is appreciated.

Thank You,

Dave

[SlipsOnIce]

I haven't installed one in my XC70, so I can't help you with the wiring there. But for electric brake controllers, you can't go wrong with a Tekonsha Prodigy. It's a proportional brake controller as opposed to a time delay and gives much better control over the trailer. It brakes the trailer based on how hard the tow vehicle brakes are applied.

[cattlecar]

Prodigy is a great one. You will have to run 12 gauge wire from battery cable lug at the underhood fusebox to under dash and a 12 gauge wire back to trailer plug. The feed wire needs to have a slef-reset circuit breaker that id readily available at a good RV store or even better at Southwestwheel.com . They have another website linked there that I think is etrailer.com or etrailerbrake.com but their main site will have the link.
The controller will have to have a brake light feed and that IS NOT AVAILABLE AT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH!! The feed will have to come from the wire to upper brake light on tailgate, technically best at CEM under dash.

[Tomassend]

Cattlecar - Just want to recap what you are saying below so I am positive I am understanding you.

1) Place a breaker between the power from battery to controller. I will also place one to the power which feeds the 7 way as well.

2) For power to the brake controller, you mention pulling from the battery cable lug at the underhood fusebox. Are you referring to the area where you would connect the jumper cables to on the vehicle if you were to jump start it OR the actual positive feed the provides power to the entire fuse box area?

3) Braking Switch Wire is not located under the steering console. I order to make the connection to the braking system, you need to run a a wire from the front of the drivers side back to the tailgate light in order to make that connection.

4) Can you elaborate on "Technically best at CEM under dash"

Your post was very informative, thank you very much

[Tomassend]

Sorry forgot one question.....so I guess I have 5

5) Why can't you quick connect into the brake control switch at the cold wire (that only sends volts as the pedal is depressed) for the brake controller?

[cattlecar]

The brake light switch is just a signal to the Central Electrical Module and not a conventional switch providing power to the lamps. I looked at wiring diagram and the 05 and later have the top brake lamp powered by REM so there is no brake light output at CEM. Before you run a wire from rear to front just for the brake applied feed to ETBC, try the yellow/red wire at brake light switch. My concern is the ETBC may have a reference voltage on that wire expecting that to be grounded out through filaments of brake light bulbs. If this is true then the ETBC will not work when brakes applied and you may have brake lights stuck on when the ETBC is connected to that Y/R wire.
Background: earlier electronic trailer brake controllers (ETBC) expected to be connected to brake light bulb wire and would actually look for the ground being lost rather than 12V being on the wire. The "technically best" comment is due to this.

Yes, connect your power feed to the place where they instruct to jump start.

[Tomassend]

All - I have finished the install.

Time - 6 hours

Key Items:

1) Run all wires (except 4way) through grommet into trunk area where battery is. This allows for all electrical connections to be in the vehicle

2) Remove Driver side plastics from the front to back of vehicle. There is a network of wires which runs behind the passenger seat on the drivers side. use this route to run wires.

3) Remove Tailgate Drivers side speaker. This will give you the wire for the taillight. You can hook the brake controller into the tail light for the signal.

4) Put it all plastics back together.

5) Mount controller on flat section on the left side of the steering wheel. Plenty of plastic to screw into without wires behind it to worry about. Also makes for slick routing of brake controller wiring.

[lothar]

I have a 2007 with a 4 pin plug and receiver..... all factory. Would be interesting in more detail which plug you use and how or if it is wired into the factory harness, to get the electronic brake control. I have searched lots and not found much. Dealer says no seven pin plug for electronic brakes and I can't find a brake controller to list the xc70 install either. Thanks......