Roadmaster Invisibrake problems

[bighatnohors]

The InvisiBrake electrical system appears quite simple when removed from the tow'd lighting system.

1)The electrical consists of RED/BLACK power to the control unit from the tow'd battery (which does nothing at that point.)

2) WHITE wire to ground.

3) GREEN/YELLOW wires tied together and await voltage signal from the towing vehicle (motorhome/truck).

BROWN wire can be taped off - not used. (wish I could edit my original post)

The coach needs to supply a brake light voltage to trigger the Invisbrake.
The brake light "switch" is where one would tap into to get the trigger voltage on the coach.

One will still need a power supply from the coach to the tow'd battery,
a ground between the two vehicles, a turn-signal harness for left/right/stop/running lights and a braking signal wire from the tow'd to the coach.

Lots of parts, but easy enough when separated and explored.

[Sbrownstein]

Agree. Easy to get the brake only signal off the brake controller socket and send down the blye brake power wire to the 7 way. This also eliminates any concern for those who have Jake Brakes as that signal is independent of the chassis brake lights. You need to add another path for the brakes actuated signal coming back from the TOAD but the standard Invisibrake kit actually includes wire for this.

I also researched the Hazard Flasher issue and it appears that Invisibrake is programmed to ignore these signals once it determines the repetitive brake signal for a couple of cycles.

In fact, the manual states:the hazard lights use the brake light circuit, which is what activates InvisiBrake. It takes InvisiBrake three or four cycles to recognize that this is not a brake light signal. This cycle will start over each time you brake the motorhome while the hazard lights are on.

Now, using the pedal signal also eliminates this issue.

Frankly, with only the additional requirement of running an additional wire from the coach to the 7 way (you can use the backup light pin) this is probably a better installation than the standard one.

[bighatnohors]

I have not explored the Hazard Flasher issue yet.
However, I connected the system to the truck/coach using alligator clips (wires strung all over).
InvisiBrake worked as promised.

My system has a previously installed CoolTech wiring harness to operate the brake/turn signals on the tow'd.
I used that existing lighting system without any changes. The alligator wiring was simply to add and test the InvisiBrake system on the tow'd.

I did not test the tow'd feedback patch cord and signal. (this remains to be done)

My primary obsession now is obtaining a low profile 7-pin socket/plug/bracket for this system.

[Sbrownstein]

As I indicated in my post, your solution will not be susceptible to the hazard flasher situation if you connect the Invisibrake "brake" signal to the pedal switch in the tow vehicle using the brake controller socket This signal only goes high when the coach brake pedal is actually depressed and not merely when the tow brake light goes on via hazard or Jake brake.

I miscounted in my previous post since your are right, a 6 way doesn't have enough pins...as you indicate you need 7 pins on the TOAD.

The reason that I focus on the brake controller socket is because that is where I get my TOAD brake applied signal to feed back to the coach from the TOAD brake controller socket. You can get your invisibrake signal from the same wire in the coach brake controller socket.

The color code is pretty standard and you will find one wire that goes high only when the pedal is depressed.

i am sure that Roadmaster will have no problem with this signaling method.

[rlott2k]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

I tried the Invisibrake but my coach would turn on the brake lights when the exhaust brake was activated. Every little hill I went down the exhaust brake would activate and toad brakes would also. I wore out brakes on the toad. Did they ever fix this or is it still a problem.

Can you not adjust the load on the invisibrake ? There’s an adjustment knob.

[Sbrownstein]

Originally Posted by rlott2k

Can you not adjust the load on the invisibrake ? There’s an adjustment knob.

it does and perhaps those who have Jake Brakes had it set too high to begin with. However you need it set high enough to brake the TOAD in normal braking situations.

I don't have a Jake brake but everywhere I read that there is a setting in the coach to either illuminate the coach brake lights with the Jake brake or not. That would be the place to fix any problem.