Hopkins 47284 Reliance Digital Trailer Brake Control: Time-Based, 4-Brake Capacity, Plug-In Connector
The Hopkins 47284 Reliance is a time-based digital trailer brake control for trailers equipped with electric brakes, in a plug-in connector version rated for up to 4 brakes. It gives the driver an in-cab control for setting trailer braking power and for checking connection status from the driver seat.
Key Features
- Digital display shows trailer brake power in increments of 5%, from 5 (lowest power) to 99 (highest power)
- Power adjustment button on the front of the unit: the "-" side decreases power sent to the trailer and the "+" side increases it
- Diagnostic display codes: E1 means the trailer is not connected; E2 means the trailer electric brake wire (blue) is shorted or a magnet is defective
- Manual slide control accessible while driving, with the mounting location chosen so the display can be viewed and the manual slide easily accessed
- Can be mounted in any direction
- Time-based braking, per the Hopkins brake control comparison chart
Specifications
| Brand | Hopkins Towing Solutions |
|---|
| Manufacturer Part Number | 47284 |
|---|
| Product Type | Digital trailer brake control with plug-in connector |
|---|
| Braking Type | Time-based, digital |
|---|
| Brake Capacity | 4 brakes |
|---|
| Power Output Display | 5 to 99, shown in increments of 5% on the digital display |
|---|
| Circuit Protection | 20 amp circuit breaker or in-line fuse on the positive battery lead (manual installation step) |
|---|
| Wiring Gauge | 12 gauge for electric brakes and power; 16 gauge for the stoplight switch and ground |
|---|
| Wire Functions | White: ground, negative terminal (-) on battery; Blue: trailer electric brakes; Black: positive terminal (+) on battery; Red: cold side of stop lamp switch or brake light |
|---|
| Mounting | Mounts in any direction; bracket attaches under the dash |
|---|
Compatibility
This control is installed universally: the Hopkins manual gives a universal hard-wired installation procedure, plus vehicle-manufacturer wiring codes for FORD 94-07, CHEV/GM 99-06, CHEV/GM 07-08, DODGE 97-02, DODGE 03-07, NISSAN and TOYOTA. For vehicles with a factory tow package, brake control function wires may exist under the dash, and a vehicle-specific Plug-In Simple brake control quick connector can be plugged into the factory tow package plug. Hopkins prints no per-vehicle year, make and model fitment list for the 47284 itself.
Important Purchase Notes
This MPN is the version supplied with a plug-in connector; the manual notes the control is supplied either with a quick connector plug or with bare wires exiting the back of the control, depending on version. The manual's mounting steps reference the included mounting hardware: a mounting bracket, 2 Phillips screws (bracket to dash) and 2 slotted hex screws (control to bracket). No formal boxed kit-contents list is printed in any located manufacturer source.
Common Applications
Controls trailer electric brakes on trailers equipped with electric brakes, up to the stated 4-brake capacity.
Why Buy This Part
Settings are easy to check at a glance because the power level is shown numerically on the display, and the same display surfaces the E1 and E2 warnings described in the FAQ below. The manual slide stays within reach on the road, and the unit does not require a single fixed orientation, which helps when dash space is tight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 47284 a time-based or proportional brake control?
This model uses time-based operation, not proportional operation. Hopkins places the 47284 in the TIME BASED group of its 2016 guide comparison chart.
How many trailer brakes can this control handle?
The manufacturer manual title states a 4-brake capacity for this control.
What do the E1 and E2 display codes mean?
E1 appears when no trailer is hooked up. E2 warns of a problem on the blue brake wire, such as a short or a faulty magnet. When a trailer is connected normally, the readout instead shows the current power level.
How is this control installed and mounted?
Hopkins provides two paths in the manual: hard-wiring for a universal fit, or using a vehicle-specific quick connector if the vehicle has a factory tow package plug under the dash. Once fitted, the unit itself has no fixed orientation requirement.
Hopkins Towing Solutions is the towing electrical brand of Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation, which has manufactured towing and trailering products since 1953.
