PrimusIQ Brake Controller
This is the controller that you require to control an electric braking system on your 5th Wheel/Travel Trailer/Boat Trailer. With stepped braking force to for gradual breaking rather than the damaging 'all or nothing' of cheaper alternatives.
PrimusIQ
The super sleek and modern design of the Prodigy stands out among all brake controllers. Tekonsha has made installing and using this brake controller simple and easy. You get high performance for a low price!
Tekonsha introduces PrimusIQ one of the most advanced and intelligent approaches to trailer brake controls. PrimusIQ requiring no manual leveling, is a technological breakthrough among inertia-activated brake controls. Equipped with a self-adjusting sensing device similar to the one used in guided-missile technology to allow for easy, flexible installation - from nearly horizontal to nearly vertical - the Tekonsha PrimusIQ constantly adjusts itself to the position of the tow vehicle.
Features
- Complete with instructions, wiring, mounting bracket etc
- Applies power to the trailer brakes in proportion to vehicle's deceleration.
- No level adjustment necessary - it adjusts itself to varying terrain as you drive.
- Works proportionally in reverse - great for backing into tough spots.
- Digital display depicts voltage delivery to trailer during braking
- Continual diagnostics check for proper connection, shorted magnet condition and much more.
- "Boost" feature gives users the ability to apply more initial trailer braking power when towing heavier trailers.
- Power-saving mode reduces drain on battery when vehicle is not in use.
- Unique pocket mount allows for flexible mounting options. Quick and easy disconnect feature allows user to remove and store the control when not in use
- Rotary manual brake adjustment lever
DIY price is £220 inc. VAT and delivery
Installation
Please call and ask about installation of this and other Fifth Wheel and Travel Trailer products
REVIEW
Davido: 5 out of 5 stars
If you need an excellent inertia based (accelerometer sensing) electronic brake controller for up to three axles, that can be mounted at angles from 0 through 70 degrees, this is the perfect choice. Frankly, the only reason to buy a higher-end model such as the P3 is if the higher end model provides a feature you specifically need such as stored settings for multiple trailer configurations, 360 degree mount angle, 4-axles, enhanced diagnostics, or electric-over-hydraulic brakes. If you don't need one of those specific features of the higher-end models, they won't really provide you with anything compelling above and beyond what this one offers. That is to say, this one provides just as good brake control as models that cost 50% more, and if you don't need one of the features of those more expensive models, there's no reason to pay more.
After installing, set-up is simple; calibrate the braking pressure per the easy instructions, and you're set. This setting can be adjusted anytime as brakes age.
If your trailer is substantially heavy, choose one of the boost modes. In B1 mode, touching the brakes causes this unit to apply 13% braking immediately regardless of the feedback from the accelerometer. In B2 mode, 25% is applied immediately regardless of the accelerometer. So when descending hills, this enables me to select a mode where the trailer doesn't wait for the vehicle to start slowing before the brakes start being applied, and this helps to save the tow vehicle's brakes. I like to use B1 mode with my trailer when I'm descending hills. Other uses of the boost settings are to provide additional control when the trailer is heavy compared to the tow vehicle. B3, for example, is useful for trailers that weigh around 40% more than the tow vehicle, or beyond.
Inertia based controllers such as this one are so much better than the less expensive time-delay models. With a time-delay controller, the longer your foot is on the brake, the more pressure is applied to the trailer's brakes. Time-delay controllers are terrible for panic stops. But they're also terrible for longer gradual braking; they start out light, and increase force over time. This may not be what you would actually want to have happen. Imagine doing that on a wet road.
Inertia based controllers, on the other hand, brake proportionately to the change in momentum of the vehicle. If the vehicle slows more quickly, more force is applied to the trailer's brakes. So the rate of deceleration controls the braking force of the trailer. That is a much more accurate way to provide braking to the trailer than a "dumb" time delay method.
Now here's why I think this unit hits the sweet spot. Higher priced controllers work exactly the same way. There's no magic here. Higher priced proportionate controllers work just like this proportionate controller. They just offer more features. And most of those features are only useful for very specific tasks. Someone might pay $150 for a higher-end model, and never need or use the features that model provides beyond this one. Don't have 4-axles? Don't need to mount it at 90 degrees? Don't have hydraulic trailer brakes? Only have one trailer that you tow regularly? Then you won't benefit from a higher end controller.
On the other hand, if you drop below this one in features you typically either get time-delay, or proportionate but with more difficult calibration or no boost modes.
This model combines the features that 90% of us need, at a price that 90% of us would be happy to spend.
