Re: [A/S] Which Break Controller (maybe a Tekonsha?)

[Charlie/Betty Burke <cbburke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Most of the new tow vehicle have relays which cut out the charge line 
when the ignition is turned off. In the past when one stopped at the 
campground one of the first things done was to unhook from
the trailer. This allowed use of the tow vehicle for running around the 
area. As a result the trailer electrical was isolated from the tow 
vehicle. Isolators were developed for mounted truck campers
which are not normally unloaded each time you stopped to camp. So the 
need for an isolator is as much a matter of technique as any thing. We 
normally do not install them on trailer tow vehicles at
our place.

There is a wide variety of brake controllers available. Several 
categories include:
Programmed-usually the least expensive-provides at preset timed output 
which does not allow for different circumstances, e.g. in city vs 
emergency
Pendulum-the most commonly available-output is dependent on inertia 
sensing a change is motion and to a lesser degree the angle of the 
vehicle, e.g. down hill more, up hill less.
Direct  connection-limited market presence-the old Kelsey Hayes 
hydraulic and the Ultima 2000 are two examples. The KH requires taping 
into the tow vehicle brake system but are out of production. The
Ultima is a direct buy unit.

Depending on the tow vehicle to recharge the trailer battery is not a 
good source. A deep cycle battery by design should be charged slowly 
with a trickle charger. It has thicker plates and can take
1-2 days to fully recharge. An engine start battery and the vehicle 
charge system are high discharge fast rechargers.

The plug/sockets, either older or newer style can handle up to a 10 
gauge wire. The trailer is already wired at that gauge. While you may be 
able to get more charging current to the battery, the
battery can only take so much without doing damage to it.

There is no adapter to convert the old connector to a new one. The old 
style connector is still available. Take care when you connect up you 
wiring as the Airstream wiring code of the time is not the
same as the current code.

Charlie