Installing electric brakes on trailer -- wiring question

[pullin]

This is embarrassing, but it's been a long time since I worked on or installed electric brakes. There are two wires present in each brake assembly. Do I connect them as: one with power, the other ground? Or do I connect them both to power and assume the ground is provided through the brake assembly (metal bolted to the trailer).

I've got the assemblies mounted, with the new drums and wheels. I have the breakaway switch and battery mounted and know how those are wired. But when I crawled under the trailer and found two wires to connect, I honestly couldn't remember how they were used.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

 

[Scott Danforth]

one is power, goes to the brake controller circuit. the other is ground, goes to the trailer ground wires. never ever rely on trailer coupler for ground.

 

[alldodge]

Ground is white and brake power is Blue.

 

[ahicks]

Think of the brake magnet as a light bulb. It needs power and a ground, and doesn't care which is which.

 

[pullin]

Thanks everyone. I've finished wiring everything along the frame, but haven't dressed up and added the connector at the hitch yet. I have to wire it to a 7-wire Bargman to use the truck's brake controller. Scott Danforth, I took your advice and drilled new anchor points for the ground wires near each wheel. These are attached to terminals which are bolted to the frame. I drilled a new ground anchor point at the tongue, and replaced the old ground wire with a new one to connect to the new Bargman (and then to the truck). The old anchor wire was looking kind of iffy. It's solid metal from the ground attachment at the wheels to the attachment for the ground at the connector. (Hope this makes sense).

I gave up for awhile due to the heat, and I was beginning to hurry (and make mistakes). I will resume the project next weekend when I can get out in the morning and work on it. Will report back on results.

Again, thanks to everyone for responses.

 

[roscoe]

I don't even use the frame as a ground.
Nothing better than running duplex wire to and from the brakes.