Brake controller wiring: What color wire from brake switch? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

blakeduren · 05-12-2010, 10:59 PM

Need to quickly wire up a new brake controller this weekend. I have all the wires ran but don't know which wire to use for the brake signal to the controller.
My 83 C20 Sub has cruise on it also, so i assume that there is a switch for that on the brake pedal, so which one is which? And what color wire do I get the signal from?
pics would be great.....
Many thanks,
Blake

James McClure · 05-13-2010, 07:34 AM

Blake, one cruise switch is a vac release and has a hose on it. I do believe the brake light switch has an orange wire on it. To find out exactly where to hook in backprobe both electrical switches and find B+, then depress brake pedal and find wire that goes to B+ but goes dead when pedal is released. I did mine about a year ago and it works great. The electric brakes will actually lock all 4 wheels on the trailer, which surprised the crap out of me. There is a problem with them though. If you turn on the 4 way's the trailer brakes will pulse with the flashers (doesn't happen with signal lights). Another member gave me a source for a diode that corrects this issue 100%. Part was $14 give or take. It's a simple wire in and only 2 wires. Directions are included and easy to understand. Someone here will pipe up with the info or you can do a search here or Google it. I'll look for my reciept but don't know if I'll find it. Jim

blakeduren · 05-16-2010, 12:40 AM

Well, turns out the white wire is the live one when the brake pedal is pressed.
The orange wire has power all the time.

It was one switch with a plug for brake lights and a plug for Cruise control, but there was another plunger for the cruise control with a vacuum line running to it.

just fyi.

05-12-2010, 10:59 PM	#1
blakeduren Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 192	Brake controller wiring: What color wire from brake switch? Need to quickly wire up a new brake controller this weekend. I have all the wires ran but don't know which wire to use for the brake signal to the controller. My 83 C20 Sub has cruise on it also, so i assume that there is a switch for that on the brake pedal, so which one is which? And what color wire do I get the signal from? pics would be great..... Many thanks, Blake

05-13-2010, 07:34 AM	#2
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: Brake controller wiring: What color wire from brake switch? Blake, one cruise switch is a vac release and has a hose on it. I do believe the brake light switch has an orange wire on it. To find out exactly where to hook in backprobe both electrical switches and find B+, then depress brake pedal and find wire that goes to B+ but goes dead when pedal is released. I did mine about a year ago and it works great. The electric brakes will actually lock all 4 wheels on the trailer, which surprised the crap out of me. There is a problem with them though. If you turn on the 4 way's the trailer brakes will pulse with the flashers (doesn't happen with signal lights). Another member gave me a source for a diode that corrects this issue 100%. Part was $14 give or take. It's a simple wire in and only 2 wires. Directions are included and easy to understand. Someone here will pipe up with the info or you can do a search here or Google it. I'll look for my reciept but don't know if I'll find it. Jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

05-16-2010, 12:40 AM	#3
blakeduren Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 192	Re: Brake controller wiring: What color wire from brake switch? Well, turns out the white wire is the live one when the brake pedal is pressed. The orange wire has power all the time. It was one switch with a plug for brake lights and a plug for Cruise control, but there was another plunger for the cruise control with a vacuum line running to it. just fyi.



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