Ahhhh....I see.

So, if it isn't hooked to the brake pedal like the Jordan, how does it know how much braking power to apply?

 

Now you got it Hoss, the inertia or surge of the vehicle when applying the brakes causes the unit to apply the brakes on the trailer. With the Jordan, a little cable connects to the brake pedal and the cable applies the brakes on the trailer. Therefore when needing to slightly drag the brakes on a long hill, the Protegy will go on for a second or so and then back off because there is no real inertia of stopping the vehicle. With the Jordan, applying the pedal will apply the amount of brakes that the pedal is pushed, as long as you need them. On a panic stop, both units work well. The problem with the surge units is that the easier you drive the less control you have over the trailer brakes, unless you manually use the lever to apply the trailer brakes. I personally use the brakes as little as possible, downgearing and adding slight brakes as I stop. So the JOrdan works out much better for me. Four of the brake units on the trailer are the originals, the truck brakes have been changed very recentily for the third time. It has 241,000 miles on the setup. I might add that the truck drums and roters are all original.

 

So, basically, the Jordan makes the trailer brakes work just like the truck brakes....as in, the more pressure you put on the pedal the more brakes are applied to the trailer.

This makes more sense to me than an inertia style trailer brake. Sounds like with the Prodigy (or any other inertia brake), the truck has to start stopping before the trailer does. With the Jordan, they both start stopping at the same time. Am I right??

 

actually, if the controller is set up properly (doesn't matter which type) the trailer will start applying brakes before the truck does. not much sooner, just enough to keep the trailer from passing you. I can vouch from a long ago experience that keeping the truck in front of the trailer is the preferable mode of travel.

 

I can see how that would be achieved with the Jordan, but if the Prodigy relies on inertia then how could it possibly start stopping before the truck does? It would have to be able to read your mind or something to do that. Am I missing something?

 

the prodigy has 3 levels off boost that will apply a percentage of total brake voltage as soon as you touch the brake. My old pos controller was jerky at slow speeds and is smooth now and when I had to lock up the brakes they were there.

 

AHHHH......so the Prodigy doesn't rely SOLELY on inertia then. I see now.

 

The Prodigy has the boost setting on it. When you step on the brake and the brake lights come on it applies the brakes for a few seconds according to the amount of boost set. After those few seconds it goes basically to the inerita controll. So if you hit the brakes the trailer brakes will come on each time that amount set. In actual practice when you are comeing to a stop, the trailer brakes will come on and after a couple of seconds, will fall to 1 or 2 on the meter on a light braking. In wet or other slippery weather especially when the trailer is light, if the boost is set too high, wheels lock up on the trailer. On mine I need max braking when loaded heavy, so back off the lockup when unloading. A couple of times forgetting to switch the boost off and had the trailer try to pass me on a wet freeway exit. NOt a good feeling to see the snow poles going down. Does give you a chance to see if all the marker lights are working At least on one side.

With all the disadvantages the Prodegy can be used effectively and safely, by using the manual lever for slow stops and makeing sure that the features are always set properly. Use the manual lever while making monor speed adjustments coming down a big hill.

Thing with the Jordan is that once set up right, you never touch it except for setting the lockup for a different trailer or load situation. There is no boost since you are manually applying the trailer brakes with the brake pedal. What I like about it the most is that in any given situation you know how much brake will be applied and can look at the ampmeter to verify that. It will also tell you if a brake goes out. Mine will read 17 amps normally on full apply, if I look at it and it says 14, I have a brake not functioning. A bad ground will show up as the amps dancing around. Those figures are for three axles, a two axle trailer will be lower.

 

Yes!

 

You're right....and I think it's a Jordan.

 

Lifetime warranty on the Prodigy!!!
Mine has been on for a year now.
It works great, alot and I mean alot better than my old voyager.

 

Limited Lifetime warranty.

 

Please define.

 

My point exactly.

 

Limited Lifetime Warranty = It is warrantied til it breaks then the warranty ends It's lifetime is over...