Trailer Brake Controller Wiring Question

I installed a Tekonsha P2 brake controller using a wiring harness from eTrailer that attached to the Toyota factory harness.



Installation was a breeze, and it works great.

As wired, the brake controller always has power.

My question is, should I wire a switch (a 20 A switch or switch/relay combination) so the controller is only powered up when I am using it, or is it preferable to leave it on all the time?

I had it switch on my other truck, and it worked fine. It has been wired on this truck for about 8 months, and works fine as well.

 

It should be wired to have power only when the key is on. If you don't tow much just disconnect the controller. If you are afraid of loosing it or rather leave it in then put a power switch in. I don't see any reason it would hurt it.

 

I think that the brake controller will shut off eventually, after 15 minutes or so. My sister's Tacoma had the factory harness and hers shuts off after a while. She has the Tekonsha P3 though, so it is possible that the P2 is different. In my Tacoma I didn't have the factory harness so I installed a relay so that my brake controller would turn on/off with the ignition.

 

Mine turns itself off, direct connection to the battery.

 

My P2 is also wired through the factory harness, and is always hot. The controller turns itself off after 15-20 minutes.

 

Yep, besides the LED's on the front there's going to be pretty much 0 amp draw unless you have a trailer connected. No reason to have it switched.

 

and even then there would be no draw unless the brake pedal was activated.

I've got the "lil brother" of the Prodigy controllers the Primus IQ in both my Runner and my Tacoma, the one in my Runner has been installed for 5 years, never an issue with battery run down, had more issue with my wife leaving the lights on and killing the battery....

 

Why is their still a white wire with a grounding ring on the prodigy set up?
Shouldnt the factory plug already be grounded? Thanks

 

It's ground for the controller itself not the brakes or trailer

Can't have too good of a ground, redundancy is good here

 

Thanks im ordering the prodigy