Wiring Trailer Plugs - STANDARD WIRING PRACTICE

[fool_injected]

An often asked question is how to wire trailer plugs.

This info is from DOTAR and are the Australian Standard

[v6hilux]

What about "6 pin round". My uncle Arthur would be lost without one!

[macca81]

what about 5 pin?

[fool_injected]

There are some odd plugs around from pre-standard days

The four plugs above are what are sold in shops today which meet the standard

[macca81]

well nearly... i bought a 5 pin from supercheap about 2 months ago... tho its not being used for a trailer so we didnt need all the wires

[v6hilux]

What about the 3 pin trailer brake plug?

[fool_injected]

I don't know, I just found the pics

I'd say (guess) the 12 pin plug would do the job
Using pins 5, 12 and probably 9 or 10

[me3@neuralfibre.com]

How do we get this stickied?

Thanx
Paul

[rodrocket]

is there any 12 core flex availiable or does everybody just use 7 core & run H/Duty cable for the others

regards
rod

[fool_injected]

I think this mob sells 12 core http://www.biasboating.com.au/
Not a bad supplier for electrical stuff
Sign up for the free catalog

[j-top paj]

Sign up for the free catalog

that catalog has heaps of good stuff in it

[zero]

is it acceptable to wire in a trailer plug from the wires at the tail lights or are trailer plugs supposed to be on a septate circuit?

[v6hilux]

is it acceptable to wire in a trailer plug from the wires at the tail lights or are trailer plugs supposed to be on a septate circuit?

In most cases, you can do it from the wires nearest to one of the tail lights and run a single wire for the other blinker across to where you are accessing the loom if your car has looms back down each side. Leave some room for movement, don't splice-in too close to the globe fittings.

This will not apply to newer vehicles with the BUS system.

[zero]

thanks, shouldn't be too hard then

[seaeagle]

5 PIN

2 left turn yellow
3 Earth return white
5 right turn green
6 stops red
7 rear lamps, clearance and side markers brown

7 PIN

1 left turn yellow
2 reverse black
3 earth return white
4 right turn green
5 service brakes or aux if needed blue
6 stops red
7 rear lamps, clearance and side markers brown

[sudso]

If they really wanted to standardize it they'd make it so all wires in the 7 pin (except for the back up and service brake wires) are wired the same configuration in a 5 pin plug. No need for adaptor leads then and no stuffing about when borrowing or hiring trailers.

[Shadow]

If they really wanted to standardize it they'd make it so all wires in the 7 pin (except for the back up and service brake wires) are wired the same configuration in a 5 pin plug. No need for adaptor leads then and no stuffing about when borrowing or hiring trailers.

They made 7pin the standard, and only tight arses kept using the 5 pin plugs.

[j-top paj]

got both on the GU makes things easier when hiring trailers


it came with the 5pin round but i added the 7pin because all my trailers are 7pin.

[bru21]

Real trucks run 13 pin plugs

[burls]

Just wondering what others have done for the charge wire for the backup battery?

[GUtripper]

Just wondering what others have done for the charge wire for the backup battery?

On my camper trailer I had a 6mm/50A wire running from the 2nd battery on the car (fused at the battery end) to the number 2 pin (round 7 pin plug) then to the battery bank in the trailer.
As we were driving it provided sufficient trickle charge to equalise all batteries, effectively controlled by the Piranha DBE180. Bear in mind we had the fridge in the car so there was zero draw on the camper batteries when we were driving along. If you have a fridge in the camper drawing constant current, you'd want something larger.
Never had an issue with that set up.

The proper set up would be via an Anderson plug and dedicated battery charging cables, say 50mm2.