When drivers try to connect a trailer themselves, they sometimes have difficulties with the contacts. Equipping trailers with electrical appliances is a necessity that allows regulating traffic regulations. Trailers that are equipped with special LED technology, which allows you to signal vehicles moving behind about turning, stopping and other manipulations, significantly reduce the risk of accidents and other conflict situations on the roads.
In order for everything to work correctly when connecting the trailer, the owner of the vehicle must pay special attention to connecting the lighting devices. But if the car owner has never attached a trailer to his car before, he may have difficulties. As a rule, the main difficulties when connecting a trailer are associated with lighting technology. To avoid possible difficulties, you should know several important points about the pinout of the trailer socket and the principles of its connection to the connector on the car itself.
What is pinout: definition of the term
Before you try to connect the terminals of the trailer to the car, you should know what the pinout of the trailer socket is. In simple terms, this is a diagram of electrical connectors. It allows you to correctly connect the trailer socket to the electrical socket on the car.
Not all drivers are aware that the pinout of the socket may vary for each make and model of car. In addition, some car enthusiasts change trailer lights, therefore, the pinout of the new socket in this case may also become different.
Most trailers for passenger cars are attached to the vehicle using a towbar. This is a special device that not only allows you to securely fasten the trailer to the body of the car, but also allows you to evenly distribute the load on the rear of the car. To correctly connect the trailer and the vehicle, you need to pay attention to the pinout of the trailer socket.
If the components are not connected correctly, the brake lights, left/right indicators, or other LED commands at the rear of the trailer will not work. This is fraught with possible accidents and problems for the trailer owner who was unable to connect the parts correctly.
conclusions
Now all that remains is to properly connect the trailer to the car and enjoy the result. If you notice a new type of socket or a complete disappearance of the models shown here from the shelves, please let us know. And don't forget to share the article with your friends!
Sources
- https://PricepInfo.ru/spravka/raspinovka-rozetki-farkopa/
- https://AutoTopik.ru/jelektrika/kak-podkljuchit-rozetku-pricepa.html
- https://www.asutpp.ru/raspinovka-rozetki-farkopa-pricepa.html
- https://pricepclub.ru/remont-i-obsluzhivanie/podklyuchenie-rozetki-pritsepa-legkovogo-avtomobilya
- https://avtoshark.com/article/repairs/electronics-repairs/podklyuchenie-rozetki-farkopa-k-avtomobilyu/
- https://elektro220v.ru/oborudovanie-dlya-avto/shemy-podklyucheniya-pritsepa.html
- https://DriverTip.ru/zhizn/pravilnoe-podkljuchenie-rozetki-pricepa-legkovogo-avtomobilja.html
Where to find a trailer hitch
Connecting a trailer socket yourself is a simple procedure if the car owner knows the pinout of the socket and has an idea of how to manage the contacts. To ensure that the trailer is securely fixed and does not create an excessive load on the vehicle, it is recommended to use a towbar.
For most models, this element is included in the basic kit. But for older cars (for example, 1980 and earlier), the presence of a towbar with the ability to connect electrical appliances is unlikely.
To find and use a tow bar, use the manufacturer's instructions. It will indicate what type of fastening is recommended to use when using a trailer, and whether the towbar is included in the package.
Trailer connectors: types, connection methods
Not all models have a towbar, with which you can not only securely attach a trailer, but also drive a car. But if the car is equipped with this device, it is highly advisable to use it to transport a trailer. This way the driver can be confident in the strength of the additional structure and its maximum maneuverability.
The towbar consists of a metal base and a “filling” of contacts, which, using a special socket, are connected to electrical appliances on the trailer and controlled remotely by the driver of the car.
In Russia, 3 common schemes are used to connect the trailer socket to the cargo transporter:
Socket according to Rosstandart. It is a connecting device on which 7 connecting contacts are located, each of which is responsible for performing a specific task.
Socket according to foreign standards. In the Russian Federation there are only 7 contacts on the socket for a towbar, while foreign manufacturers have more of them - 13 pieces.
Special connector, custom-made or making a tow bar yourself.
Despite the fact that the seven-slot socket on the towbar is considered “Russian,” such devices are also actively used in America. Foreign sockets with 13 pins can be considered a rarity. Basically, they are found among owners of mobile homes.
Knowing the wiring diagram for a car trailer socket, you can easily connect all the parts correctly in order to properly control the rear marker devices. It is not recommended to guess which pin to insert where without having any idea about the layout of the circuit. At best, this can lead to the lights not working when using a trailer. At worst, it could cause an accident due to poor trailer control.
Is it possible to find out the owner by the car number
To connect the equipment, the motorist will need:
- standard set of tools;
- soldering iron;
- terminals for connecting cables;
- heat shrink or regular electrical tape.
Before starting work, it is necessary to turn off the power to the machine’s on-board network. To do this, you need to remove the terminal from the battery.
It is advisable to work with the wires that are included with the towbar electrical kit. If other cables are used, you need to check whether they are multi-core. It is mandatory to use a copper version with a minimum cross-section of 1.5 square meters. mm. For land - from 2.5 sq. mm.
Typically, connectors or terminals are included to eliminate soldering from the assembly process. In any case, you need to make sure that the isolation of the connections is reliable and only then connect.
Terminals are very helpful for people who don’t have a soldering machine at home or don’t know how to use it
To make the towbar connection as reliable as possible, you will have to use additional devices. Modern models are equipped with special reinforcing plates. If they are not included in the kit, it is advisable to purchase them separately. For fixing, holes in the housing with a diameter of approximately 13 mm are used. The towbar itself is secured through the plate and nut.
When working with wiring, you need to achieve good insulation, otherwise moisture will get inside, which will have a destructive effect on the tow bar and the entire system. And the main rule is that in order to assemble everything correctly and without errors, you need to carefully study the instructions before starting the main work.
The design of some vehicles does not allow the trailer to be attached freely. If difficulties arise during installation, it is advisable to remove the rear bumper.
Need to remember:
- It is not enough to simply attach a trailer to the bumper of the car. It is necessary, according to the rules, to connect the electrics of the towbar in order to power the paws installed on the trailer itself.
- It is not necessary to drag cables through the entire car - it is inconvenient and time-consuming. Near the rear lights of the car you can find a harness through which power is supplied.
- If you can't connect the trailer to the mains so that the lights work, you don't need to look for the problem in the towbar. You will probably need to purchase what is called an adapter, also called a matching unit.
If the car owner does not have experience in connecting a tow bar, it is advisable to contact the nearest service center; the specialists have experience and skills, and therefore the operation will be successful. But it won’t be difficult to learn how to attach a trailer yourself, the main thing is not to violate the instructions.
If you have no experience, it is better to contact a service center
How to connect a trailer, knowing the pinout of the socket?
There are 2 ways to connect a trailer with lights. The first one is called “regular”. Its feature is the quick connection of the plug to the socket. But this option is only suitable if the tow bar is equipped with a socket box. Another wiring connection option is more universal. It provides for connecting the wiring contacts and signal circuits on the car.
But if an on-board computer is installed on the car, problems with the operation of the lighting devices cannot be ruled out. Unfortunately, not all on-board computers “recognize” a large trailer connected in this way. Therefore, its management can be complicated by the appearance of information about a failure in the system.
Using the trailer socket connection pinout, connecting all the parts is quite simple. To do this, the left-turn contact of the socket is connected to the corresponding block on the plug, then the contact is connected to the fog light with the fog light on the towed equipment. The same applies to all the following contacts.
Although most vehicle models have identical pinouts for trailer models, unexpected difficulties may arise when connecting to a trailer. To avoid them, after connecting all the wires through the towbar connector, you must first check them on a tester. If the device works successfully, you can directly turn on the devices on the trailer itself.
American connecting chips
Many American standards differ from European ones, and trailer hitch socket pinouts are no exception. Here are two types for your reference: 7 and 4 pin connectors.
The 7-pin socket, used in the HOPKINS model range, as well as in other cars (Fig. 8), differs from the European standard practically only in design, which allows, if necessary, replacement with a European analogue.
American 7-pin towbar socket
Designations:
- Connecting side lights.
- +12 V.
- Starboard turning lights.
- Brake light control.
- Weight.
- Turning lights on the left side.
- Reverse signal.
Now let's consider a more complex option - a 4-pin connector (see Fig. 9). If you try to replace it with a European 7-pin socket, problems will arise.
4 pin connector
Designations:
- Weight.
- Control of side lights.
- Left side turn signal and brake light control.
- Starboard turn signal and brake light control.
As you can see, the difficulty is due to the fact that the turn signals and brake lights are controlled along the same line. There are two ways to solve the problem:
- Not entirely correct, but the easiest way: connect directly to the stops and turn signals. Note that in some cars the wiring may not withstand the additional load, so it is better to solve the problem in another way.
- This option is somewhat more complicated, but more correct: you need to completely extend the wiring under the European connector. For example, in a Chevrolet Tahoe, to do this you need to remove the instrument panel, find wires with separate signals for the turn signals and brake lights, connect to them by stretching the electrical wires from the towbar socket through the entire interior of the car. You can make the task a little easier if you take the signal for the brake lights from the rear fender; it is displayed there on almost all cars. In this case, you only need to pull two wires.
Features of connecting electronics using trailer socket pinouts
Knowing the connection diagram for a passenger car trailer socket, it is not difficult to establish contact with electrical appliances located in external devices. But there are some important points to remember:
1. Stripping the insulation. When connecting the wiring to the towbar connector, do not forget about their subsequent insulation. Incorrectly connected devices can cause a short circuit in the network, which will make it impossible to control electrical devices and can cause an accident. To provide maximum insulation to the bundles, you can use a three-meter polypropylene hose. It can also be replaced with a metal hose made of corrugated material. To secure the wiring harnesses, 30 clamps made of plastic material will be useful.
2. Coordination block. Unfortunately, if there is a built-in on-board computer, the procedure for connecting a trailer using a towbar is complicated. The on-board computer does not accept external electronic devices. And for the normal functioning of these devices, it is necessary to purchase additional equipment - a matching unit. It is also not always recognized by the beekeeper, but still allows you to control external devices using built-in computer technology.
3. Check with a multimeter. Experienced drivers who prefer to repair their cars themselves have long used a special device that allows them to measure current, voltage or resistance. Before you start connecting the contacts, you should check if there are any failed elements among them. A multimeter will do the job the fastest. If there are problems with voltage, then one of the wires should be replaced with a new one. Before working with a multimeter, you should check it by connecting 2 probes together and pressing “start”. A zero value should appear on the device screen - this is a guarantee that the device is working. Checking the connected contacts with a multimeter does not guarantee that all devices will work correctly. But it allows you to determine at the initial stages whether there is a short circuit in the internal network. Testing with a multimeter should be carried out in accordance with the recommended diagram, using a red and black probe to connect to electrical appliances.
It is strongly recommended not to try to connect the terminals without knowing the trailer socket pinout. If the car is equipped with a portable electronics control circuit, any connection error can lead to a short circuit, which will cause failure of individual elements.
Also, do not try to connect a 13-pin foreign socket to a 7-pin plug. Some “craftsmen” manage to connect contacts selectively, which leads to problems with electrical devices. Such actions can damage a number of elements, and for vehicles equipped with on-board computers, such manipulations with the pinout of the trailer socket are even more dangerous.
