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jn089
23-04-2019, 02:49 PM
Hi guys.

I am wanting to fit a brake controller to a 2018 Amarok.

I have fitted numerous before however not to a Amarok.

Are there plugs to connect too? Will cutting wires interfere with the system?

Jonno


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Transporter
23-04-2019, 03:05 PM
There is a dedicated bodybuilder connector under the dash where you can connect properly various consumers, the stop light signal for the brake controller is there as well.

jn089
23-04-2019, 03:08 PM
Thanks very much for that appreciate it. The person has a Hayman Reece 05550 controller unit. Not sure if anyone has fitted this unit?


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Hillbilly
23-04-2019, 06:13 PM
Thanks very much for that appreciate it. The person has a Hayman Reece 05550 controller unit. Not sure if anyone has fitted this unit?


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As I said on Whirlpool this is an old style unit where you set the braking force and thats what you get regardless of surface

Eg set it for a dry road and if it rains the trailer wheels could lock up.

Newer models like a Teknosha Prodigy or P3 and the Redarc Tow Pro Elite are proportional controllers

That is they apply the braking force harder or softer depending on how hard the tug brakes and are far superior to that one.

Most dedicated vanners have dumped them in favour of newer safer units

Attached ia a visual descripton of the difference in how they work

Also you must fit any accessory the correct way in a VW or you will have serious electrical problems

jn089
23-04-2019, 07:39 PM
I appreciate the feedback.

I’m just trying to workout the best locations where to collect a brake signal from without having these issues you are talking about.

Can you define that they are temperamental when electrics are touch?

Do you need diodes in the system to prevent back feed do you?


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Hillbilly
23-04-2019, 08:07 PM
I appreciate the feedback.

I’m just trying to workout the best locations where to collect a brake signal from without having these issues you are talking about.

Can you define that they are temperamental when electrics are touch?

Do you need diodes in the system to prevent back feed do you?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The whole car is goverened by controller modules and they read resistance etc in circuits. If a circuit is outside excpected paremeters it can shut the vehicle down. Transporter who is a VW specialist will chime in Im sure but I think the best thing is to buy the Redarc Tow Pro elite and the fitting kit and do it properly.
You are talking about old school stuff which wont work on VW and therefore playing with fire if you dont know what you are doing

I wired up my own Landcruiser with extra battery and all sorts of wiring but I wouldnt touch a VW

jn089
23-04-2019, 08:09 PM
Ok mate fair call I appreciate the feedback and awareness.

I’m a trade qualified diesel fitter and fully understand how much of a disaster it can be when interfering with electrics which is why I’m
Asking.


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Hillbilly
23-04-2019, 08:36 PM
Ok mate fair call I appreciate the feedback and awareness.

I’m a trade qualified diesel fitter and fully understand how much of a disaster it can be when interfering with electrics which is why I’m
Asking.


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Yes I think you are wise as VW recommend you dont fit them but if you are going to, do it right

Tell the guy to take it back and swap it for the Elite and kit and simply plug it in Hes paid best part of $60 k for the truck so whats $350 for the proper brake controller. His towbar was probably over $1k as well

That type of model was old school 10years ago when the proportional ones became available and they really are much better

jn089
23-04-2019, 09:00 PM
Definitely agree mate I have one in mine and works great


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Hillbilly
23-04-2019, 09:27 PM
Definitely agree mate I have one in mine and works great


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Just make sure they get an ELITE not the standard one

winchy
24-04-2019, 07:55 AM
Ok mate fair call I appreciate the feedback and awareness.

I’m a trade qualified diesel fitter and fully understand how much of a disaster it can be when interfering with electrics which is why I’m
Asking.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI can reccomend this guy Pragmatic Racing - VW Amarok and Motorsport Electrical Looms (http://pragmaticracing.com/).
He makes plug n play looms for Amaroks.
The interface plugs are tucked up in the drivers footwell above the pedals usually wrapped in black tape. Unfortunately the German built Roks don't have them, but all Argie built ones do.

jn089
24-04-2019, 07:57 AM
Thank you winchy I will look him up


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wetaline2
24-04-2019, 12:26 PM
Prodigy P2, takes power from battery (fused), brake sense from trailer plug. Doesn't interfere with canbus & vehicle elec. system.

Hillbilly
24-04-2019, 12:38 PM
Prodigy P2, takes power from battery (fused), brake sense from trailer plug. Doesn't interfere with canbus & vehicle elec. system.

They are all the same 4 wires all wired up identically also you should NOT use a fuse in the power line You should use a auto reset circuit breaker. If you use a fuse and it blows you wont have any brakes from unit A resettable breaker will.

I had a Prodigy for several years.

jn089
26-04-2019, 02:28 PM
Mate do you need to cut and solder the brake sense line or this will interfere??? trailer plug terminal wont be big enough to fit 2 wires will it??

Hillbilly
26-04-2019, 04:03 PM
Mate do you need to cut and solder the brake sense line or this will interfere??? trailer plug terminal wont be big enough to fit 2 wires will it??

If you have to ask questions like that its obvious you havent done many installations.

Which wire are you talking about If its the BLUE wire it goes in pin 5 ALWAYS You will get two wires in the one socket as they arent very thick.

I think you should be getting an auto lecky to do this or it may end in tears

It should be like this for almost all makes and includes yours

Wire Up Your Tow-Pro Elite - Wiring Diagrams | REDARC Electronics (https://www.redarc.com.au/wiring-diagrams/wire-up-your-tow-pro)

You can take the signal on the red wire from the trailer connector you can either put both in or cut the red just before the connector and solder them together

OR you can do it properly and get the towing module for the AMAROK which is the proper thing to do.

A lot of work to install a lesser than ideal controller

jn089
26-04-2019, 04:30 PM
“Wetaline2” said to use the brake sense line from the trailer plug which I would think was pin 6 red wire yeah?

Do I splice into this and solder as there wouldn’t be enough room to fit another wire in the same pin in the trailer plug would there? Or would I cause dramas cutting and soldering ?

As for the blue wire on every car I’ve ever fitted a controller too there is always a length of blue wire along the loom somewhere to connect the controller output to the plug (pin 5)

I do apologise if I seem painful but I have not seen the car yet and I want as good idea as I can get so when I get the car I can go for it and not bugger anything up! I’m very much a perfectionist






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Hillbilly
26-04-2019, 04:47 PM
“Wetaline2” said to use the brake sense line from the trailer plug which I would think was pin 6 red wire yeah?

Do I splice into this and solder as there wouldn’t be enough room to fit another wire in the same pin in the trailer plug would there? Or would I cause dramas cutting and soldering ?

As for the blue wire on every car I’ve ever fitted a controller too there is always a length of blue wire along the loom somewhere to connect the controller output to the plug (pin 5)

I do apologise if I seem painful but I have not seen the car yet and I want as good idea as I can get so when I get the car I can go for it and not bugger anything up! I’m very much a perfectionist

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DONT USE A LOOM WIRE FOR THE BLUE RUN A NEW DECENT THICKNESS WIRE as stated in the Redarc instructions.
Only a rank amateur would use a piddly little loom wire as they arent heavy enough for the current and brakes will be useless and are the last thing you should even think about using in a VW DONT cut into the looms.

I used twin 6mm automotive wire from controller to plug and to each set of brakes as my van was 3 tonne. I still think you should get a tradesman who is familiar with the make to do it properly

I wouldnt do my own VW let alone anyone elses and Ive wired up more than my share.

wetaline2
02-05-2019, 01:20 PM
Hillbilly, Apologies if it sounded like I used a single-use blade fuse, definitely not. Let me explain but stress that if you are unsure what you're doing get an autoelec to install for you.

Red wire. From battery +ve to controller with 20A auto-reset circuit breaker in-line.
Black wire. From battery -ve to controller.
Brake sense wire - From controller to 7 pin trailer plug, soldered to the brake light wire going into the 7 pin.
Blue electric brake wire - From controller to 7 pin trailer plug electric brake pin.
The 4 wires are new wires with 30-40amp rating through existing vehicle grommets.

Zero problems towing and same install on my other car (subaru) also.

Hillbilly
02-05-2019, 01:31 PM
Hillbilly, Apologies if it sounded like I used a single-use blade fuse, definitely not. Let me explain but stress that if you are unsure what you're doing get an autoelec to install for you.

Red wire. From battery +ve to controller with 20A auto-reset circuit breaker in-line.
Black wire. From battery -ve to controller.
Brake sense wire - From controller to 7 pin trailer plug, soldered to the brake light wire going into the 7 pin.
Blue electric brake wire - From controller to 7 pin trailer plug electric brake pin.
The 4 wires are new wires with 30-40amp rating through existing vehicle grommets.

Zero problems towing and same install on my other car (subaru) also.

Yes I know what to do I wired all the extras in my Landcruiser and Caravan myself

However Im unsure of where you got all your connections for the 7 pin from because VW insist on a towing module be used so as wires are not piggybacked onto existing circuits

wetaline2
02-05-2019, 03:42 PM
"All your connections for the 7 pin"... There's only 2 connections.
1) The brake sense between euro plug and 7pin - Vehicle doesnt detect this in its electrical system. Signal only sent to controller when trailer brake lights actuated, vehicle just thinks its part of trailer/trailer brake lights.
2) Pretty sure the blue electric brake wire from controller went to an empty 7pin brake pin - hence no connection to cars electrics, just the controller.
Note: I have a 13pin euro and genuine vw towbar/wiring. From the Euro plug I have a VW supplied 13 pin to 7pin adapter cable.
Note: I originally had issues with the vehicle displaying an electrical fault (globe out) warning whenever I connected a trailer - VW blamed low voltage LED globes and wouldn't help and said to change trailer lights to non-led. Ended up making up an LED load box an plugged the 7 pin adapter into it with a 7 pin out of it - VW weren't happy with that idea but working fine for years now with no more faults. New 2019 models still cant handle trailers with LED lights...

Hillbilly
02-05-2019, 03:59 PM
"All your connections for the 7 pin"... There's only 2 connections.
1) The brake sense between euro plug and 7pin - Vehicle doesnt detect this in its electrical system. Signal only sent to controller when trailer brake lights actuated, vehicle just thinks its part of trailer/trailer brake lights.
2) Pretty sure the blue electric brake wire from controller went to an empty 7pin brake pin - hence no connection to cars electrics, just the controller.
Note: I have a 13pin euro and genuine vw towbar/wiring. From the Euro plug I have a VW supplied 13 pin to 7pin adapter cable.
Note: I originally had issues with the vehicle displaying an electrical fault (globe out) warning whenever I connected a trailer - VW blamed low voltage LED globes and wouldn't help and said to change trailer lights to non-led. Ended up making up an LED load box an plugged the 7 pin adapter into it with a 7 pin out of it - VW weren't happy with that idea but working fine for years now with no more faults. New 2019 models still cant handle trailers with LED lights...

The blue wire goes from controller to Pin 5 ALWAYS

Yes you only need the red from Brakelightsas you say I usually got it from a brakelight wire in the cab but would be hesitant on a VW.

Shame you need so many connections Always gives more things to go wrong doesnt it,