TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND ITRM BOO INTERFACE
A trailer brake system may include a trailer brake controller comprising a manual braking control, and a trailer light controller; where the trailer brake controller comprises a brake on/off relay, which responds to the manual braking control.
1 . A system comprising:
a trailer brake controller comprising a manual braking control; and,
a trailer light controller;
wherein the trailer brake controller comprises a brake on/off relay which responds to the manual braking control.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the trailer brake controller is an electronic device that controls the brakes of a trailer.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the trailer brake controller is included in a towing vehicle or in a trailer.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein a user interface component is included in the trailer brake system wherein the user interface component is in communication with the manual braking control in a towing vehicle or trailer and is configured to receive an activation instruction from the manual braking system when activated by a user.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein the user interface component is a potentiometer.
6 . The system of claim 4 wherein the user interface component is configured to further communicate a signal to the brake on/off relay.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the signal is one that closes the brake on/off relay thereby allowing the signal to further communicate with at least one light on a trailer.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the trailer light controller comprises a power circuit, an anti-feedback circuit and a sensing circuit.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the anti-feedback circuit is connected, in series, between the power circuit and the brake on/off relay.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the anti-feedback circuit comprises a diode.
11 . A process for using a trailer brake system comprised of:
a trailer brake controller; and,
a trailer light controller;
wherein the process comprises:
from a towing vehicle, initiating a braking signal to the trailer brake controller to apply a trailer's brakes;
wherein the braking signal is received by a user interface in the trailer brake controller which communicates the braking signal to the brakes of a trailer and communicates the braking signal to a brake on/off relay;
wherein the brake on/off relay, upon receiving the braking signal, closes, thereby sending a signal to at least one brake light on a trailer to indicate braking is being applied to the trailer and lighting the brake light.
12 . The process of claim 11 wherein the user interface is a potentiometer.
13 . The process of claim 11 wherein the trailer light controller comprises a power circuit, an anti-feedback circuit and a sensing circuit.
14 . The process of claim 13 wherein the anti-feedback circuit is connected, in series, between the power circuit and the brake on/off relay.
15 . The process of claim 14 wherein the anti-feedback circuit comprises a diode.
16 . The process of claim 11 , wherein, when the brake on/off relay is closed, the anti-feedback circuit in the trailer light controller prevents flow of current from the trailer brake controller to the trailer light controller.
17 . The process of claim 11 , wherein, when the braking signal is not present, the brake on/off relay opens and the brakes on the trailer are not applied and the brake light on the trailer is not activated.
18 . The process of claim 17 wherein the trailer light controller communicates with and controls lights on the trailer.
19 . The process of claim 18 wherein the lights on the trailer include brake lights on the trailer.
20 . The process of claim 17 wherein the lights on the trailer include a center high mounted stop light (CHMSL).
21 . A system comprising:
a trailer brake controller comprising a manual braking control; and,
a trailer light controller;
wherein the trailer light controller is configured to turn on a stop light of a trailer lighting system or towing accessory lighting system when the manual braking control is not activated.
22 . The system of claim 21 further comprising a sensing circuit operatively coupled with either of the trailer brake controller and/or the trailer light controller, wherein the sensing circuit senses a status of the manual braking controller.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the sensing circuit is integrated into the trailer light controller.