How do you hook a trailer brake controller on a 1998 ford E-150 Conversion van?

Answer 1

I have a Prodigy Brake Controller I installed on my 1995 Econoline 150 cargo van about 3 months ago. Installation was tricky to say the least, but it wound up working really well.

I had to get the existing 4-pin trailer connector at the rear of the van's undercarriage to work with a Hopkins (aka "Hoppy") 7-pin connector on a travel trailer. What I did was first purchase the 7-pin Hoppy connector at an RV store, match the trailer connector contacts with enclosed wiring diagram to get the trailer lights working.

I then ran a single 12GA wire from the brake controller's brake control wire to the Hoppy connector (you have to follow the enclosed wiring diagram and manufacturers' instructions for the brake controller carefully.) I also used 10GA wire to the brake light switch to the "hot" contact at the top of the brake pedal (under the instrument panel.) Then connected the neutral return to the "cold" contact on the switch.

There was then the problem of how to power the brake controller. I used 10GA wire to a spare 12V cigarette lighter plug I happen to have and used the cigarette lighter to power the unit.

Most manufacturer's will recommend hardwiring the power to a intermediate relay between the controller and the hot side of the battery to maintain steady state power to the controller at all times.

I also connected a 12GA wire to the Hoppy for a trickle charge to the trailer battery (Aux 12V.) The diagrams enclosed with the Brake Controller and with the Hoppy will illustrate the connections far better than I can describe here.

E200