Re: [A/S] !2 Volt Question

[Dick Kenan <as5368@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don:

         My white wire was connected to the metal frame of the truck, but 
Jordan advises against that.    Somewhere in the instructions, it says NOT 
to connect it to a metal ground, as that might lead to intermittent 
behavior, but instead to actually run a wire to the negative battery 
terminal.
         Last summer, I experienced some intermittent brake-controller 
behavior that I attributed to a faulty ground.  The connection was 
evidently not firm enough, and when it went out, the controller didn't 
control normally - it came full on, regardless of the settings, unless the 
setting was to zero.  This is NOT a good situation.
         I had a different problem later, and removed the controller and 
sent it to Jordan for correction.  He replaced the entire internal 
controlling mechanism.  Since I had it out, I re-wired it, running a white 
wire to the battery ground (actually, I connected it to the cable end that 
grounds the negative side of the battery, as that was convenient) and a red 
one through an auto-reset, 20 Amp breaker, to the positive terminal.
         Can I guarantee that my problem was the ground?  No.  Do I believe 
that it was? Yes.  After reading the instructions again, I made sure the 
ground was firmly attached to the metal frame, and the controller worked 
fine for the rest of our caravan (except for the different, unrelated, 
problem mentioned above).  Grounding to the metal frame will work just 
fine, provided you are SURE it cannot vibrate loose, as I believe mine 
did.  Since you are installing it, why take a chance?
         Your controller, your choice.  Just my 2c worth.

- Dick