curt VENTURER User manual

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For use with 12 volt negative ground systems only
For trailers with two to six brakes
Read, follow and save this guide for future reference
51110-INS- R1 •
VENTURER
VENTURER BRAKE CONTROL
INSTALLATION AND USER GUIDE

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This package includes:
(1) Brake control module with quick plug
(1) Mounting bracket
(4) Mounting bracket screws
One or more of the following may be needed to complete installation:
•Brake control connection harness, supplied with the tow vehicle (if equipped)
•CURT quick plug - custom connector for specic vehicles. See catalog for availability
•CURT part# 51515 - male quick plug with pigtails
•CURT part# 51500 - brake control wiring kit
Key Features
•Display shows brake force output
•Mount anywhere in your vehicle
(Dependable solid state electronics require no leveling)
•Electronic activation ensures smooth stops
•No internal moving parts
•Fully-adjustable power and time (sync)
•Provides automatic and manual trailer braking
•Manual control lever activates brake lights
•Compatible with electronic systems (anti-lock brakes and cruise control)
•Self diagnostic - continually monitors trailer connection and checks for short circuits
•Displays brake system disconnect

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Controls and Components
1. Display
2. Sync adjustment
3. Output adjustment
4. Manual control lever
5. Quick plug connector
3
2
4
1
5

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Disconnect Indication
Should a trailer disconnect occur, either unplugged or wiring
failure, the status LED will glow steady red. It will remain red
for approximately 10 minutes or until the connection is restored.
If the disconnection was not a result of intentionally unplugging
the trailer, check and repair wiring to the trailer brake system.
Output Control
The output control establishes the maximum
amount of power available to the trailer brakes.
As the output control is moved to the right, more power will be available
to the brakes when the brake pedal is pressed or the manual control is used.
The output control should be adjusted during initial setup, when trailer load
changes, when different trailers are used or to adjust for a change in road conditions.
The output setting is shown on the display when a trailer is connected
and the brake pedal is pressed or when the manual control lever is actuated.
The output setting is shown as one to eight green bars.

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Sync Control
The sync control is located on the left side of the brake control unit and is
responsible for adjusting trailer brake aggressiveness. The trailer brakes become
more aggressive as the switch is moved toward the front of the tow vehicle.
The sync adjustment has no effect on the manual control. The sync control
should be adjusted for individual driver preference or changing road conditions.
The sync setting is shown on the display when a trailer is connected, the brake pedal
is pressed or when the manual control lever is activated and the sync control is moved.
The sync setting is shown as one to eight bars with a ashing green status LED.
Manual Control
The manual control lever is located on the front left of the brake control unit.
It only applies to the trailer brakes. Manual control is used during initial setup
and in situations where a slow reduction in speed is desirable.
When the manual control is pushed to the right, the control begins to apply
the trailer brakes. The further to the right it is pushed the harder the brakes
are applied until the maximum set by the output control is reached.
The output setting will be shown on the display and can be adjusted when using the
manual control. The manual control activates the tow vehicle and trailer stoplights.

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Display
The display shows the output setting when the control is activated.
It is used to setup and monitor the brake control.
BLANK DISPLAY
Not activated by
either brake pedal
or manual control
Ready
No trailer connected
Brake pedal or
manual activation
Trailer disconnect
See display modes
error conditions (pg 7)
Output: 1 to 8 bars
Trailer connected
Brake pedal or
manual activation
Sync setting, 1 to 8 bars
Trailer connected
Brake pedal or
manual activation
Brake circuit overload
or short
See display modes
error conditions, (pg 7)
SINGLE GREEN SINGLE RED
GREEN BARS
GREEN BARS WITH FLASHING GREEN
FLASHING RED

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Error Conditions
Troubleshooting Guide
Condition Display Probable Cause Probable Solution
Blank display with
brake pedal pushed
or manual control
activated
Blank Tripped circuit breaker,
no battery connection
B+ or ground
Check battery
connections
Repair battery
connections
Loss of trailer
connection
Single Red Trailer unplugged,
failed wire to trailer
Check tow vehicle
to trailer connectors
Check and repair
brake circuit wiring
Flashing red with
brake pedal pushed
or manual control
lever activated
Flashing Red Brake circuit overload
or short
Conrm six brake
maximum load
Locate short circuit
and correct

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Front
Front
Front
Mounting the Brake Control
NOTE: Avoid mounting the brake control module near a CB radio or other RF transmitter.
Vertical
Horizontal
Any angle

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1. Determine a suitable mounting location.
Mount the unit securely to a solid surface where it is easily accessible to the driver.
The area behind the mounting location must be clear to prevent damage while drilling.
2. Hold the mounting bracket in the position selected
and mark hole locations through the slots in the bracket.
3. Using a 1/8" diameter bit, drill holes in the marked locations.
4. With a philips screwdriver, secure the bracket in place using the two
screws provided. Be careful not to strip the holes by over-tightening.
5. Mount the brake control unit in the bracket using the two
screws provided, as shown in the illustration on page 8.
Wiring
NOTE: Removal of factory supplied quick plug may void warranty.
Most pick-ups and utility vehicles are equipped with a plug from
the factory that allows quick brake control installation. Check the
owner's manual for plug availability, location and installation.
If the mating plug supplied with the vehicle is no longer available, a CURT
quick plug can be used. See the CURT catalog for application information.
For tow vehicles not equipped with a factory brake control plug,
we suggest the CURT brake control wiring kit, part# 51500.

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WIRING DIAGRAM
IMPORTANT: Make sure that both positive and ground connections are made directly to
the tow vehicle's battery. Connecting to existing wiring or chassis ground, other than the
battery terminal, may damage vehicle circuits and could lead to trailer brake failure.
Mount a 30 amp, auto reset, circuit breaker as close to the battery as possible.

PA G E 11
IMPORTANT: When passing wire through sheet metal, always go through an existing
grommet, add a grommet or use silicone sealer to protect the wire from sharp edges.
Feed two 12 gauge, or larger, wires, one white and one black, from the mounted brake
control to the battery area. Using a ring terminal, connect the black wire to the 'aux' side
of the circuit breaker. Leave the white wire for connection later.
Using a 10/12 gauge butt connector, attach the black wire from the 'aux' side of the
circuit breaker to the brake control's black wire. Using a 10/12 gauge butt connector,
attach the white wire from the battery area to the brake control's white wire.
Run a 12 gauge, or larger, blue wire from the tow vehicle's
trailer plug 'brake' terminal to the brake control. Using a 10/12
butt connector, connect this wire to the brake control's blue wire.
Connect the brake control's red wire to the cold side
of the tow vehicle's stoplight switch using a wire tap.
NOTE: When making the stoplight switch connection on Ford / Mercury vehicles,
do not connect to the red wire with green stripe. Connect to the light green wire only.
For 1989 - 1991 Ford E and F series vans and trucks with anti-lock brakes, nd the
crescent shaped connector located on the steering column. The connector has two
rows of wires, the wire needed is the light green wire, second from the end in the
outside row. See the view shown in the wiring diagram on page 10.

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For all other vehicles, use a test probe to nd the cold side of the stoplight switch. Probe
the switch wires until a wire is found that is only on when the brake pedal is pressed
IMPORTANT: Once a cold side wire is found, test to ensure that the wire is not grounded
when the pedal is in the up position. If the wire is grounded, the brake control unit will be
destroyed when manual control is used.
Reconnect the tow vehicle's negative battery terminal and attach the white 10 gauge
wire previously positioned near the battery to the negative terminal using a ring terminal.
Using 12 gauge, or larger, stranded wire and a ring terminal, connect
the 'battery' side of the circuit breaker to the positive battery terminal.
Secure all loose wires with cable ties so that they will not be damaged and reconnect
the battery. See vehicle's owner's manual for special re-connection instructions.
To test installation, without a trailer connected, push the brake pedal. A single green status
LED should light up on the display. If the green LED does not light or if any other LED does
light, see display modes error condition section of this guide (page 16).
Setup
Preliminary adjustments: With the trailer connected, press and
hold the brake pedal, the display will show the output setting.
Adjust the output control left or right until three green bars
are displayed. Move the sync control to near center position.

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Test Drive
In an open area, such as a large parking lot, drive forward and apply the trailer brakes
using the manual control. If the trailer brakes are weak adjust the output control to the
right. If the trailer brakes jerk or lockup adjust the output control to the left.
Repeat this step until rm braking is felt without lockup.
Once the output is set, drive forward and press brake pedal. The tow vehicle and trailer
should both make smooth stops. If the stops seems slow and more aggressive braking is
desired, move the sync control toward the front of the vehicle while holding the brake pedal.
If the stop seems too aggressive adjust the sync control toward the rear of the vehicle while
holding the brake pedal. Make several stops at various speeds and adjust sync until stops
are smooth and rm. Slight adjustment the output control may also be desirable.
Helpful Tips
Light pressure on the brake pedal will activate the trailer's brakes with no effect on the
tow vehicle's brakes. This is useful for gradual slowing on steep grades or before stops.
Periodic adjustment of the sync and output controls may be necessary to correct for
changing road conditions, trailer loading, brake wear and / or driver preference.
In some applications, when towing with hazard ashers on, the display will ash with the
hazard ashers. If the brake control is set aggressively this may be felt in the trailer brakes.

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Bench Test Instructions
Wire as shown below.
Bench Test Wiring

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Set the output control to maximum and set the sync control to minimum.
NOTE: If at any time during the bench test the red LED ashes, make sure that the blue
'brake' wire is not shorted to the 'negative' battery terminal or the white 'battery' wire.
Test Standby Condition
Hold the red 'stoplight' wire on the '+' battery terminal. The display should show
a single green LED. This indicates correct wiring and that the control is ready.
Disconnect the red 'stoplight' wire from the battery.
Test Brake Pedal Activation
Ground the light bulb to the 'negative' terminal of the battery.
Re-attach the red 'stoplight' wire to the 'positive' battery terminal.
The display should step up to eight green bars
and the bulb should start dim and slowly get brighter.
With the red wire still hooked up, slowly move the output control left. The display
should step down to zero or one green bar and the bulb should dim and go off.
Slowly move the output control back to the right. The display should
step up to eight green bars and the bulb should return to full brightness.
Move the sync control all the way forward.

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Disconnect and reconnect the red wire. The bulb should light brightly
with no delay, the display should step to eight green bars quickly.
Disconnect the red wire.
Test Manual Activation
With the output control still set at maximum, slowly activate the manual control slide button.
The bulb should start dim and get brighter and the display should
step up to eight green bars as the manual control is pushed.
While holding the manual control all the way in, slide the output control
left and right. As the output changes the bulb should go bright and dim
and the display should follow the bulb brightness.
If the brake control unit does not function as described,
return it for service or replacement.
NOTES