Elecbrakes EB2 Plug + Play User Guide

1. What is a Brake Controller?

1.1 About Electric Brake Controllers

A brake controller is a device that manages the braking force applied to a trailer's brakes. It operates by varying its output based on the driver's application of the vehicle's brakes, a process known as proportional braking. The controller also allows users to adjust braking sensitivity and engage a manual override function that applies only the trailer brakes.

Braking Process:

• 1. The driver presses the brake pedal in the vehicle or uses the manual override.
• 2. The Elecbrakes EB2 unit is activated by the vehicle's brake light voltage. It measures the braking force and transmits it to the trailer.
• 3. The trailer brakes proportionally to the rate determined by the brake controller.

Important Safety Note: Depending on the mass of your trailer, an active braking system may be legally required. The EB2 is compatible with both electric and electric-over-hydraulic braking systems. Refer to the ADR38/05 standard for more information.

2. Installation

2.1 What You'll Need

Components required for installation:

• Elecbrakes Unit
• 4x Included Mounting Screws
• Drill
• PH2 drill bit
• Plug + Play Adaptor (ensure the correct adaptor for your installation is selected)
• A smart phone device (Apple iOS 15 or later, Android 10 or later)
• Car Phone Mount

Optional: An optional remote control is available for users who prefer not to use the mobile app. Refer to the Remote User Manual for more information.

2.2 Mounting Orientation

When mounting the unit to your trailer, ensure one of its sides or faces is parallel to the ground. See examples of installation options below:

• Option 1: Side of the draw bar (Approved)
• Option 2: Under the draw bar (Approved)
• Option 3: Top of the draw bar (Approved)

Important Considerations:

• Angle: Avoid mounting the unit on an incline.
• Connectivity: For optimal connectivity, avoid installing the unit behind large metal objects that could block the line of sight to the tow vehicle, such as a toolbox.
• Cable: When selecting a mounting point, ensure your cable is long enough to reach the unit's location before drilling mounting holes.

2.3 How to Install

Follow these steps for installation:

1. Fasten the unit to the draw bar using the provided mounting screws.
2. Connect your unit to the Plug + Play adaptor.
3. Plug the Plug + Play adaptor into the trailer's wiring plug.
4. Plug the Plug + Play adaptor into your tow vehicle's socket.

3. Connecting Your Device

3.1 Tap + Tow - Pairing The Device

Our Tap + Tow technology utilizes NFC (near field communication) found in modern smartphones to enable seamless device pairing, access to unit diagnostics, and advanced troubleshooting, all from your phone.

Pairing the Device:

1. Use Tap + Tow: Tap your smartphone to the Elecbrakes logo on the brake controller to download the Elecbrakes app from the App Store or Play Store.
2. Pair Unit: Tap the Elecbrakes logo again to pair your unit. Alternatively, you can add the Elecbrakes EB2 manually by tapping 'Add Device' in the app.

Important: When using a mobile phone, ensure it is securely mounted in a cradle.

If Using the Elecbrakes Remote: To connect the Elecbrakes remote, first download the Elecbrakes app. Under 'Settings', tap 'Allow EB Remote'. Refer to the Remote User Manual for more information.

Tap+Tow Not Working? If NFC is not enabled on your smartphone, Tap + Tow pairing will not function. Check your phone's settings to enable NFC, or search for the device manually within the app.

3.2 Checking Your Connection

The EB2 requires a constant power source to operate. Turning on your vehicle's headlights activates the tail light circuit, providing power to the EB2. Note that some vehicles' auto (italic) settings may not activate the tail light circuit.

Steps to check connection:

1. Start your vehicle and turn on your headlights.
2. Navigate to the home page on the Elecbrakes App.
3. Press the brake pedal.
4. Verify that a red circle is displayed on the app, indicating your unit is functioning correctly.

4. Setting Up Your Unit

4.1 Setting the Forward Direction

Important: For first-time use of the Elecbrakes EB2 unit, calibrate the forward direction by following these steps. During calibration, the EB2 unit will operate with default braking settings.

1. Drive forward to 40 km/h and apply the brakes firmly to come to a complete stop.
2. In the app, navigate to 'Settings' and tap 'Device'. You should observe a change from 'auto' to an angle reading between 0° and 360°.

Troubleshooting: If the angle reading does not appear in the app, repeat steps 1 and 2 before proceeding with further troubleshooting.

4.2 Adjusting Your Brakes

Once the installation angle is confirmed, you can adjust your brake response settings. The unit defaults to a response that should be tailored to your towing setup. You can configure different programs to suit various scenarios.

Your EB2 unit comes with default brake settings. It is recommended to adjust your brake response to meet your specific requirements. To adjust the minimum, forward, and reverse response, tap 'Settings' on the app.

• Minimum Response: Drive slowly (approximately 20 km/h) and apply the brakes as lightly as possible. The optimal minimum setting is typically when you can just barely feel the trailer braking. Make small adjustments until the desired feel is achieved.
• Forward Response: Drive at 40-50 km/h and brake firmly. The optimal forward setting is when the tow vehicle and trailer brake in unison. Make small adjustments until the feel of the forward brake response is satisfactory.
• Reverse Response: Reverse slowly and apply the brakes. Make small adjustments until the feel of the reverse brake response is satisfactory.

4.3 Using Manual Override

The manual override function allows you to manually engage the trailer brakes without activating the vehicle's brakes. This function can be used to help mitigate trailer sway.

• The 'When Tapped' value controls the manual override brake response. Set this value in the program screen under 'Override'. A good starting point is to set 'When Tapped' to match your forward response, and then adjust according to your preferences.

How to Use:

1. Tap the blue tick icon on the home page to activate the manual override.
2. Hold the red circle icon to increase braking force if needed.
3. Tap the red circle icon again to deactivate the override.

4.4 Managing Programs

You can set up to 5 user-defined programs. These programs are useful for various reasons, including:

• Variations in trailer weight.
• Changes in the environment.
• Individual user preferences.

How to Adjust Your Programs:

1. Ensure you are connected to the brake controller. Navigate to the 'Settings' page and select a program.
2. Rename the program and adjust your brake responses as detailed in the 'Adjusting Your Brakes' section of this guide.
3. Tap 'Home'. The edited program is now your active program and will appear at the top of the page.
4. To change the selected program, swipe to the right and choose your customized program.

Need Help?

Call the Elecbrakes customer service team on ? 1300 516 248.

Alternatively, check the FAQ page online at elecbrakes.com/FAQ.