07 5479 6652 info@amae.net.au

Hi guys, Briohny here from Accelerate Auto Electrics and Air Conditioning on the Sunshine Coast. Quite often we get asked what the difference is between the brands and models of electronic brake controllers that are on the market. Today we’re going to run through a few of the entry-level brake controller options.

Tekonsha Voyager

The Tekonsha Voyager may not be the fanciest brake controller in the Tekonsha line up but it is one of the most affordable and effective. Like other electronic brake controllers, the Tekonsha Voyager trailer brake controller senses when you start stopping and applies a steadily increasing amount of the force to the trailer’s brakes.

It is proportional and as such must be mounted horizontally but can be tilted vertically. The best thing about the Voyager is the price. It is Tekonsha’s most affordable brake controller. It is equipped with a colour-changing LED that goes from green to red as the braking force grows.

It will do up to four axles, the Voyager is super easy to use and comes with the brackets you need for fitting. I can tell you how many of these I’ve seen in vehicles over the years. Even though they are Tekonsha’s base model, in my experience they certainly are a quality unit. No frills and not the smoothest, but it won’t let you down.

Hayman Reese Sentinel 

Now let’s take a look at the Hayman Reese Sentinel. Again, the unit is nothing fancy but it is a no-fuss option for an effective electronic brake controller. Its simple operation, slim design and a wide range of mounting options make it the perfect choice for today’s towing vehicles. Since the Sentinel has no moving parts or pendulums to adjust, it can be mounted in virtually any position.

It comes with the mounting brackets and hardware. It’s a bit slimmer than the Voyager so in some applications, you might find it easier to mount. The Sentinel is a solid state brake controller. Because of this, it has no moving parts. What this means is that it is not proportional like the Voyager. Instead, it has an output thumb wheel on the top of it for the driver to adjust according to the conditions.

Both of these guys have been around for years and anyone who works on cars will tell you they’ve seen heaps of them and all with happy owners. Personally, I’d go the Voyager because of its proportioning capabilities but if you are looking for a budget controller that will probably outlast the car it’s in, then you can’t go wrong with either of them.

If you have any other questions about electronic brake controllers, comment below, give us a call on 1300 227 353 or email info@amae.net.au.

Although these entry-level electronic brake controllers are good for those on a budget, we always recommend the Redarc TowPro Elite.

Check out our review video to find out why… > > >

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