Trailer and wiring controller

What does a controller actually do when hooking up a trailer? Can I
not just hook up the proper wires to the proper bike lights and go down the
road? What am I missing here?
Thanks in advance!!

Dray:yes::yes::yes::yes:

depends on the "controller" you pick. Some just have isolation between the trailer and bike so a short will not fry the bike wiring. Some have a computer in them and monitor the power to what is happening and the flashes the lights and that type the only wires connected to the bike physically is power and ground. The turn signals and brake lights ect are all computer controlled.
The big part is that the bike and trailer are not physicality connected.

O.K., evidently my little Pea brain is still a foggy on what a
controller does. Especially the part about only power and ground
going to the trailer. If frying the bike wiring is a problem, could
you just make sure everything is well insulated and run low draw
leds for the lighting with inline fuses. All my vehicles have a canbus
system and controllers are not used on any of my trailers. I guess
part of my confusion stems from the fact that a friend does not
use a controller on a 2015 RT trailer set up and has had no problems.
Has he just been lucky in dodging a major bullet?

Thanks again in advance!

Dray:yes::yes::yes::yes:

First the Canbus has nothing to do with trailer wiring. The trailer module does not communicate using Canbus and there are no Canbus wires connected to the trailer module or trailer. The module has nothing to do with trailer mode. The trailer module is not a smart device. No mini computer in it. Just a series of relays. BRP uses an off the shelf module from Hopkins that is used in some of their trailer harness kits for cars and trucks.

The module serves 2 purposes, isolation and conversion.
Isolation. The trailer lights are powered directly from the vehicle electrical system and separately fused. If a short happens in the trailer wiring. The fuse for the trailer will blow and the lights on the vehicle will continue to function normally. If the trailer was wired directly to each vehicle circuit and a short happens. The fuse would blow for that function and that function would no longer work on the vehicle. Also the extra load on the vehicle will cause a hyper flash because of the extra current draw.
Conversion. The Spyder like many modern vehicles have separate light for brake and turn signals. In North America it is still common and legal to combine brake and turn signal lights together on trailers. In that case the wiring needs to be converted and the module does that function.

O.K., now I be clear on everything. I need to get a control module
before doing anything else.
Thank you Much.

Dray:yes::yes::yes::yes:

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