pasusan
PA
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Joined: 05/13/2009
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I know brake controllers have been discussed ad nauseam... And I have done a couple of searches but didn't find what I was looking for.
We have a Hensley hitch and we've been using our old Voyager brake controller. We're thinking of replacing it with a Prodigy or P3.
What is the difference between the 2?
Do you always need to adjust between highway and city driving?
And if so which one is easer to adjust?
Trip Pics
Susan & Ben ~
84 Bronco & 90 Award Classic 23 joined with a Hensley Cub
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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Get a MaxBrake or a SmartBrake and you will have no problems. Operates smoothly and much better than P3 or Prodigy. They do cost more, but how can you put a price on safety.
ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with one miniature Schnauzers, one standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
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Cdn Colin
Barrie
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Joined: 10/23/2009
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The P3 will have newer technology and more features. I'm not sure if the Voyager has "boost", but the P3 does. The P3 is top of the line for Tekonsha, the Voyager is closer to the middle of the pack (according to the diagram on the back of my Prodigy box).
Have fun.
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bsimonds
Winnsboro, TX, USA
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Joined: 05/27/2004
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I have the TruControl brake controller and it works well in all conditions without any changes for low speed or high speed braking.
Bill Simonds
'07 Maxlite 28RL by R-Vision
'08 Armada LE 4X4
Hensley Arrow hitch
TruControl brake controller
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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We went from a Voyager, which we threw in garbage after first long trip, to a Prodigy which we love.
Voyager adjusts TT brakes sort of like it's based on change in angle since install settings. Prodigy adjusts TT brakes based on instantaneous change in angle between time just before TV brakes applied, to just after. Thus makes no difference whether you are going up hill, down, or on the flats.
Voyager did not compensate for hills, a real issue in Colorado, Prodigy does.
Voyager always jerky at slow speed just before stop, Prodigy smooth.
When Voyager adjusted for highway speeds it overreacts at slow speeds. If adjusted for slow speeds, braking very poor at high speed.
IMO throw Voyager in trash, you'll be glad you did.
Just my opinion after using both on same trailer with same tow vehicle.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely Australian Shepherd
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox, 3620# UVW, 4800# loaded
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Paul B
Daytona Beach, Florida
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Joined: 09/10/2004
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If a prodigy is set right it is as smoothe as silk. I actually have to look at my controller to see if it is working. No re-adjustment needed. And mine is an older model prodigy. Great customer service by the way.
Paul B
2001 Excursion-Powerstroke Diesel
2000 Honda CRV
2006 Flagstaff 31' - 7.5k lbs.
2004 Two Honda EU2000i's/parallel cables/extra fuel tank
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crappie_fisherman
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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pasusan wrote:I know brake controllers have been discussed ad nauseam... And I have done a couple of searches but didn't find what I was looking for.
We have a Hensley hitch and we've been using our old Voyager brake controller. We're thinking of replacing it with a Prodigy or P3.
What is the difference between the 2?
Do you always need to adjust between highway and city driving?
And if so which one is easer to adjust?
Both are made by Tekonsha. The P3 is their newest offering out there which doesn't necessarily mean 'Best'...but 'Different' in some ways.
To me the biggest real 'differnce' is the fact that the P3 gives you an output on appiled CURRENT over just voltage. The advantage with seeing actual supplied current is that as brakes wear you can actually monitor when things are to the point that an adjustment is needed since current is CUMMULATIVE. Meaning what you see on the display is the sum of all 4 brakes current that is being supplied by the controller. Voltage on the other hand will be constant under varied current loads up to the point that the current demand forces the voltage to dip...
While I have a Prodigy and have been extremely happy with it...the P3 feature of displaying current is something I think I would find useful from a diagnostic standpoint...meaning this...
Each time before I depart on a trip I always drive 5mph and manually pull the brake over ride lever on the Prodigy to do a 'drag' test...to insure that the trailer brakes are working properly...doing this and monitoring the current output would always tell me if the current output has changed drastically (i.e. say one magnet is getting weak for some reason...so the sourced current would change by up to 1/4...now if ALL the magnets are getting weak or all the brakes need adjusting...well...the current would still show you a marked changed in the sourced current)...doing this test with the Prodigy only shows me sourced voltage...and that voltage will only go up to the 'max' I have set on the thumbwheel...
The P3 however does have a somewhat more complex user interface...the Prodigy has one button (Boost) and one thumbwheel (voltage setting)...once you set your voltage setting you should NEVER have to change that unless you adjust your brakes (I check my settings after adjusting the brakes...i.e. redo the initial setup mode per the manual), change brakes or get a new trailer...now the Boost button...I will change based on mountain passes or campground driving...meaning this...when I am decending a very steep mountain pass...I will up the boost one level to give the ability to simply lightly tap my brake pedal (i.e. light circuit) and activate the TT brakes for a couple of seconds (the duration of the Boost cycle)...this small tap on the brakes keeps speeds nicely in check without having to heat up the TV brakes. And when I am in campgrounds...I will normally turn boost OFF to stop with any jerky stops...changing boost is as simple as touching the blue button and cycling thru Boost0, Boost1, Boost2, Boost3...it is simply a toggle position with each button push on the Prodigy...on the P3...I believe toggling thru the Boost settings is a little more involved with menu selects...tradeoffs...
So from a user input standpoint...the Prodigy is a breeze...very simple.
Another feature I like and one that kept me out of trouble this past June is the trailer connect feedback...not all brake controllers out there alert you that your 7wire plug is NOT connected...the Hensley TruControls come to mind here...but the Prodigy shows .C. when the trailer wiring is connected to the TV...the first "dot" before the C is always there but the last "dot" .C. tells you that you have SOME level of boost engaged and the C tells you that you are Connected!...so anyway I had just left Ben and Jerry's factory in Vermont and had to make a very tight turn to get out...I'm driving down the road and about 1/2 mile from getting on the interstate and I notice that my Prodigy is showing . . but no C  ...I immediately know that my plug has come out...so thankfully I can pull over and reconnect the trailer and the associated brakes that connection brings!...
I know people on here SWEAR by the Brakesmart...everything I have read about it tells me it really is that good...but I just have not gotten into a situation (yet) where I felt the Prodigy was inferior...the Prodigy goes for around $100, the P3 maybe a little more and the Brakesmart about $400...now mind you I pull with a Hensley Arrow too just like you...the most IMPORTANT thing for those of us that pull with the HA is to make sure the TT brakes LEAD the braking somewhat...this will eliminate the possibility of the ... (geez I hate to type it)... the possibility of the "Bump"...proper Brake controller setup is critical to proper and safe towing with a Hensley or ProPride Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) hitch...
The way to properly set up a Prodigy for this is to have the Boost on some level depending on how heavy your TV is to your TT...that is covered in the Prodigy/P3 manual...
Sorry for the long winded response...
I guess it comes down to your preference and desire for features out of the Prodigy or P3...I think if I were in the market today...I would go P3 for the added information the sourced current display gives me...but the ease of use and simplistic but effective Prodigy is sure hard to argue against (IMO).
Good luck and let me know if something I have written isn't clear.
Joe.
DH, DW, 2 DD's
2005 Excursion V10 w/4.30's
- Hensley Arrow
- Prodigy
- Rear Hellwig
- RAS
- Front hitch
- Bilsteins
- SCT Tuner w/5-Star Tunes
- Aeroforce Gauge
2007 JayFlight 31BHDS (3 women & 2 slides...it helps!  )
Mini & the BEAST
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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Joined: 08/23/2005
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Joe you did it now. You mentioned the bump!
I like the Prodigy because of the boost feature. The boost enables the TT brakes to lead the TV brakes and avoid the notorious bump.
I do not believe Brake smart or the Jordan have a boost function but I maybe wrong on that.
The boost feature and the HA work very well together. For the most part when the Prodigy is set properly there is no "bump".
There are more sophisticated and possibly better brake controllers on the market. However the Prodigy has worked flawlessly for me. I have felt no need to seek out a better controller.
01PSD X,06 Trailvision31BHDS,Edge Evolution
4"exhaust,AFE,C-Betr,Tornado
CE L.E.D,air bags,TomTom,Atwood 3500
Hensley,Prodigy,exhaust brake,Swift Hitch
14'PortaBote9.9hp,6"PVC,Thule,Combi-Cam
Toppoprails,16"wheels,Sherline,Maxx Air
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crappie_fisherman
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Lantley wrote:Joe you did it now. You mentioned the bump!
Yeah...I did...and I twitched when I did...but you...YOU mentioned it THREE times! I'm rubber and you're glue and it just bounced off me and onto you...nah nah nah nah boo boo 
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pasusan
PA
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Joined: 05/13/2009
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You guys are tooo cute! 
Only it's *stuck to* you, not *onto* you.
Thanks so much for responding with something meaningful!
...And... I don't know *why* people apologize for long posts. If you have something to say that takes a bit - go ahead. And *I* for one appreciate it!
Thanks again!
....Bump.... (not doing a regular post bump, but a Hemsley bump)
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