15 ram factory brake controller

[Kenny kustom]

Over on CUMMINS forum, there is quite some action regarding the factory brake controller not putting out the voltage it should.

Just the 15.

Has anyone else had any issues with it?

There was even a voltage chart, referencing the factory controller against other controllers and the voltages they put out.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[mud yapster]

Mine seems to work real good towing 18,000 lb. triple axle 5er. I haven't checked the voltage output at the different settings. Can you post the voltage chart so I can check mine.

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Over on CUMMINS forum, there is quite some action regarding the factory brake controller not putting out the voltage it should.

Just the 15.

Has anyone else had any issues with it?

There was even a voltage chart, referencing the factory controller against other controllers and the voltages they put out.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

I am a member of the Cummins Forum and I would take what every is posted on that site with a grain of salt!

The only forum for the Ram trucks that is worth anything is "Turbo Diesel Register. Com". This site is free to read anything that is posted; but if you want to post you need to be a member. I have been a member since Nov 07, and this is will worth the cost of membership to me. On the left hand side which is the members only side, there is a PDF that is called "Buyers Guide 2015" and this should answer any questions that you have about your truck.

Just my $0.02

[Kenny kustom]

I do not have the factory controller.
I have a P3.
There's one, complicated reason, I would like to install the factory controller.
But, not if its not working well.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[drittal]

We've been dealing with this on DODGE RAM FORUM - Dodge Truck Forums.

It started with a couple members having large fifth wheels push them into intersections towing with 2015 Ram. One of them has a scope and a 2013 Ram as well. He scoped voltage output and found at a rest with gain 10 and slider at 100% the 2015 had a Pulse Width Modulation duty cycle of 70% of the 2013 and Prodigy brake controller. He then built a test rig and went to his office parking lot and tested all the Rams his co-workers would allow him to test and found ALL the 2015 Rams with ITBM were 70% of 2014 and older Rams.

He took it in to Ram, they didn't even have anyway to test or diagnose an issue. They rigged up a blower motor per Ram instructions and since the motor turned when brakes were engaged they said it was fine and his trailer brakes were at fault.

He goes to camper dealer and they test the camper brakes and they are found to be in 100% working order.

So he starts digging deeper and writes a report on the issue to turn in to NHTSA.

After repeated attempts to get an answer from Ram as to why the ITBM works at 70% he finally gets an engineer who explains the ITBM is designed to put out only 70% of power at speed below 30mph. This "Feature" is not expected to remedied before the next redesign if at all.

Where this really comes into play is those with large axles and brakes. They need something like 9v to function 100%. With this duty cycle reduction they are effectively seeing 7v.

[drittal]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Attachment 97151

These are the measurements by the member I am talking about.

Up to 30mph you can see how the 2015+ Ram ITBM puts out 70% of earlier models.

[drittal]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

I do not have the factory controller.
I have a P3.
There's one, complicated reason, I would like to install the factory controller.
But, not if its not working well.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

Stick with P3. I have to use 7-7.5 gain around town and cannot lock up the trailer brakes at all when attempting to set the trailer brakes per Ram Owners manual.

For comparison, when we towed my trailer with my dad's 2012 Ram we set the ITBM at 4.5 gain.

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by drittal

Stick with P3. I have to use 7-7.5 gain around town and cannot lock up the trailer brakes at all when attempting to set the trailer brakes per Ram Owners manual.



For comparison, when we towed my trailer with my dad's 2012 Ram we set the ITBM at 4.5 gain.

I probably will... But here's the back story.

When I had my 2014 2500, I built a plug to go into the trailer brake connector on the truck.
It was basically a short, between the trailer brake output and ground.
When inserted, and remote start, the engine brake would come on, to assist warm up.

This only works with the factory controller.

Peanuts.. I know. But considering it.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[snapper]

hello Guys. I have a 2015 Ram 2500 mega cab and tow multiple trailers. Just a side note. My truck has a light brake setting and a heavy brake setting and as stated above TOWING in cities I have it set on the light brake setting and on highway speeds I set it on heavy. You do notice a difference between the two. The heavy brake setting activates the brakes more aggressively which you need on the highway to slow down faster . in the city under the heavy brake setting the trailer brakes tend to lock up. So the light brake setting is ideal for that type of driving. I hope that help you guys out.

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by drittal

Stick with P3. I have to use 7-7.5 gain around town and cannot lock up the trailer brakes at all when attempting to set the trailer brakes per Ram Owners manual.



For comparison, when we towed my trailer with my dad's 2012 Ram we set the ITBM at 4.5 gain.

So, you do witness a decreased output compared to previous years..


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[drittal]

At speeds below 30, yes.

Because of pulse width modulation, a standard multimeter will read somewhere around 7v-7.4v, but in reality if you scope the output you will see 12v output but only 70% of the time, vs roughly 98% of earlier model years.

According to Ram output above 30mph is normal. The member that has been doing all the testing with his scope will not be able to check this until spring now.

He currently uses a P3 despite having an ITBM.

[drittal]

[Twistedpairs]

Originally Posted by drittal

Stick with P3. I have to use 7-7.5 gain around town and cannot lock up the trailer brakes at all when attempting to set the trailer brakes per Ram Owners manual.

For comparison, when we towed my trailer with my dad's 2012 Ram we set the ITBM at 4.5 gain.

I was just at the RV stealership for that reason (brakes not locking to find optimal gain). They wanted to charge me $50, since they "had to hook it up to the simulator" which showed no problem with trailer brakes. That left my TV, a 2015 Ram. They tried telling me my 7K trailer (wet) was too heavy to lock up but they had an adapter I could purchase to create more resistance which would cause the integrated brake controller to put out more power. I asked 2 questions. If my trailer at 7K wet was too heavy to lock up, how do semi trailers lock up their brakes since they are tens of thousands of pounds and 5 months ago on my Lincoln that I paid them to install the Prodigy brake controller on (CW's idea, under warranty she said) I couldn't lock them up either, per the Prodigy instructions. They dropped the fees and said it is unsafe to lock up the brakes on your trailer on the highway. Keeping the report so if I do get in an accident and they determine its faulty trailer brakes, I have proof I addressed the issue.

[drittal]

Semi's use air brakes.

[btritschler1437]

I'm familiar with the above discussion, having experienced lack of braking at low speed. I read where a RAM engineer suggested to change the setting to "heavy electric over hydraulic". I made that change and set the gain to 6 or 7, now no problem, works well. RV is 16,300 lb CC, ck 38.

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by btritschler1437

I'm familiar with the above discussion, having experienced lack of braking at low speed. I read where a RAM engineer suggested to change the setting to "heavy electric over hydraulic". I made that change and set the gain to 6 or 7, now no problem, works well. RV is 16,300 lb CC, ck 38.

I heard that suggestion as well.
Makes sense.

I wonder.. During the initial testing, what setting was being used on the trucks?


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[drittal]

Heavy electric gives a stronger initial application. Same full power.

As a side note when I tested voltage with my Meter I had MORE voltage on light electric at gain 10 and 100% slider. Over a full Volt more.

[emm-dee]

Would changing to the 2014 controller help? The Ram part number for the '14 is 82213474. Compare that to the '15 controller part number. I'm sure the wiring will be the same and you could hook up and test before swapping the units. They're easy to access but hard to remove.

[btritschler1437]

I doubt it. I have a '13 with this anomaly.

[Todouble]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Attachment 97151

I do not have the factory controller.
I have a P3.
There's one, complicated reason, I would like to install the factory controller.
But, not if its not working well.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

The new ram 3500's don't come std with brake controllers???