Rookie electric brake question

[picklenjim]

Can anyone tell me on a electric drum setup do the magnets actually drag on the drums or just create a strong magnetic field to them?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

Neither really.

When the controller sends current to the electric brake, the magnet is energized, causing the magnet to be attracted to the inside of the brake drum. This attraction makes the magnet try to turn with the brake drum. Because the magnet is attached to the actuator arm, the rotation of the brake drum forces the brake shoes out against the friction area of the brake drum, thus slowing the trailer.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

Neither really.

If it doesn't drag on the drum, why do they put friction material on the magnet face?
Mike

 

[djvan]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

Don't know if it's right or wrong but all of my trailers that have electric brakes touch the drum. It is evident when removing the drum for maintenance that the magnets are clean and shiny and so is the inside of the drum where they touch.

DougV>

 

[dingbat]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

If it doesn't drag on the drum, why do they put friction material on the magnet face?
Mike

Something to do with the design of your particular brake. Mine don't
http://www.marksrv.com/10inbrakeid.htm

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

Thanks everyone for all the responses! I have purchased a pair of Dexter brakes and was hoping I could use my drums from my surge brakes with them.However I don't believe they are going to work as they appear to be Warner drums which are shaped differently inside. They look like they would have worked with the Warner brakes which are no longer available. Their old. Thanks for the pictures dingbat,they really helped me out.The Dexters appear as if the magnets actually do drag on the drums so I believe I am going to need the Dexter drums. It looks like all the different brakes will work with the Dexter drums but the Dexter brakes will only work with Dexter drums.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

Let us know how long the magnets last after the salt water enters them.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

BruceB58, exactly how much salt water is there around St. Charles, Missouri (where the original poster is from)??? Seems like to me it would be hard to get much further away from salt water ......

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

He is actually closer to saltwater than a lot of places I boat at.

It was more of a hypothetical question aimed at anyone who is thinking about using electric brakes on a boat trailer. Actually, any water that enters the magnet coil...which is supposed to be sealed but will evenentually not be...including fresh water, will cause the coil to short out or open.

By the way, you can get a lot further from salt water than Missouri.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

He is actually closer to saltwater than a lot of places I boat at.

You must be some kind of serious boater! Where do you go to boat leaving from California that's more than 600 miles from salt water? A 600 mile radius from Salt Lake City, Utah pretty much covers the whole western US. You must be going up to North Dakota or central Canada?

PicklenJim, you may be interested in Jeff Nicholas's experience with electric boat trailer brakes if you haven't seen them. He has a web page about it here:

http://www.geocities.com/jeff_nicholas/TrailerBrakes/TrailerBrakes.html

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

45Auto,Thanks for posting the site with the story by Jeff Nicholas.However I did read it earlier when I was doing investigations on electric boat trailer brakes.It was not only interesting but help full in deciding my set up.I ended up purchasing the Dexter brakes and the Prodigy controller.Lucky for me there is a huge trailer parts distributor just 5 miles from my house (ETrailer.com).I was able to go there and get everything I needed with out messing with shipping.I did have to pay tax though.I installed the brakes and trailer wiring yesterday and plan to install the controller today.
Do I start keeping track from today or the first time I use it in salt water,which may be a while,more like never,beings I boat 20 minutes from my house in the Mississippi River for how long my magnets last?There seems to be some idiot wanting to know though it has nothing to do with the subject of this thread.It's a shame there are morons out there with nothing better to do them chime in with there BS know it all attitudes on a trailer forum.Get a life.I think they just do this to increase their number of post so they advance in rank.Then they feel really important.http://www.whatsupontheriver.com/

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Rookie electric brake question

You must be some kind of serious boater! Where do you go to boat leaving from California that's more than 600 miles from salt water?

I said I drive more than 600 miles to go boating. I drive to Vancouver and boat the inland passage.

Back to the topic...I have Electric over hydraulic with disc brakes. Way less maintenance than drum but the advantage of having the brake controller in the cab. I had the Prodigy but have since switched to Tekonsha's newer model the P3. The disadvantage of the Prodigy is that you have to be stopped to really know what the gain setting is at. You have to hold the manual lever while adjusting the wheel. With the P3 once you start adjusting the gain, the numbers pop up. If you can trade back the Prodigy, i would do it for the few extra dollars. Also, if you ever decide to go electric/hydraulic it has a modified curve for that.