12 inch Electric Brake Magnets

12-inch Electric Brake Magnets suit Dexter Brakes and AL-KO Brakes

Caravan standard 12-inch electric brake magnets are suited to all-electric brake systems except for older round magnet brake systems.

Brake Magnets and the difference between 10-inch and 12-inch

• 10-inch brake magnets have Green leads, except for Dexter Magnets, which have black leads.
• 12-inch brake magnets have white leads, except for Dexter Magnets, which have black leads.
• 12-inch magnets sold with green leads are 10-inch magnets with less copper wire and lower braking capacity.

How to check magnet wear

• Check the four small holes on top of the magnet.
• These holes are warning indicators that display magnet wear.
• Extreme magnets wear if there are no holes or fewer than four holes.
• When the face of the magnet hole has worn, then it is time to replace the magnet.

Magnet Wear Key Features

• Wear holes are at 3 pm, 6 pm, 9 pm, and 12.
• Magnets draw approximately 3.2 amps each.
• Wires can be connected either positively or negatively.

Magnets have polarity once connected. The face is either the north or south pole. If the positive and negative writes are transposed, it makes little difference to the braking efficiency.

Once worn, copper begins to become exposed. Subsequently, an open electric circuit will render the brakes inoperable.

Braking Tips

• Bed new magnets into position to achieve 100% braking efficiency.
• The magnet face has a shiny finish.
• This finish must be scuffed up during the initial stages of breaking before your magnets become 100% effective.

Why can’t I run the electric cable across my axle?

The voltage drop increases exponentially according to the length of the cable. Larger or shorter cable lengths defeat the voltage drop.

• Rundown each chassis rail = 6mtr @ 6.4 Amps per pair of magnets = 5.62mm cable size
• Run down the chassis trailer (inside) = 6 meter + 2 mete (8mtr) @ 6.4 Amps per pair of magnets = 7.5mm cable size

To escape voltage drop, run the cabling down the chassis rail.

What is the best Electric Brake Controller?

We recommend using a Tekonsha Primus, Prodigy, or a Chassis Mounted brake controller (Queensland and NT Only).

Do not power electric brakes from the brake light circuit for chassis-mounted brake systems.

Incandescent brake light circuits provide only 21 watts of power and perform the function of a control circuit for chassis-mounted controllers. If you have purchased a caravan or camper with brakes wired into the brake lights, the braking system works at less than 25% of its efficiency.

Wire all brake controllers from the battery. In most cases, the brake controller has a relay powered by the brake lights.

Brake Controllers using Brake Lights to Power Brakes.

Significant voltage losses occur if brake lights are used to power brake controllers, resulting in brakes operating at less than 25% capacity.

Brake magnets need 3.2A each. The manufacturer wires no vehicle to supply this load through rear tail lights.

It is permissible to wire chassis controllers from the onboard battery in the caravan.

Why do off-road magnets last longer?

• The steel magnet arm causes the steel magnet on a standard highway magnet to rattle, causing wear.
• The plastic insert on the off-road magnet prevents the same wear under the same conditions.

It has proven durable and reliable and will not let you down even in the most challenging terrain.

Difference between Highway and Offroad Magnets

• The Electric Highway brake kit uses a magnet retaining clip to hold the magnet into position on the magnet arm.
• Off-Road Electric brake magnet uses a RUBBER BAND to hold the magnet into position on the magnet arm.

The rubber band breaks on first use and relies on the return spring to hold the magnet.

The left-side and right-side magnets are not interchangeable.

• The left-hand side is the passenger’s side
• The right-hand side is the driver’s side

The purpose of the rubber band is to hold the magnet into position to allow drum installation onto the axle profile, then tighten.

If the magnet needs replacing or upgrading from a standard magnet, then it may be wise to replace the whole backing plate. 

Electric Brake Magnet Comparison

12-inch Electric Backing Plate prices here.

The magnet in the third image was a standard magnet used on corrugated.

All 12-inch OffRoad Electric Brake Magnets have a plastic insert that prevents the magnet arm from causing damage to the magnet from corrugated road vibrations. (Image 2).

As a result, offroad magnets continue to show no wear tens of thousands of miles on corrugated roads.

Safety Chain Checks

Necessary safety checks or tandem wheel caravans. With the chains attached to your vehicle, push your trailer back to the extremity of the chains.

Finally, did the pin on your breakaway kit disengage?

Caravan Electric Brake Magnets