Talk:Trailer connectors in Australia

new trailer connector standards for Australia

A new Australian standard now applies to trailer connectors: <AS 4177.5-2004>, (well it's the latest I've found on saiglobal.com, anyway.)

There is some confusion, ambiguity and/or lack of convention (care?) and plain wrong, in this article and various other web sites (narva.com, campertrailers.org et al.) concerning this topic; mainly as to how one should view the orientation of plug/socket when applying the numbering order and colour coding, colour and number assignations and does one apply the colour codes when viewing the plug/socket from the cable terminations (the 'cable entry'), what I call the BACK or REAR of the plug/socket (as at narva.com.au), or does one apply the numbering/colour codes whilst looking at the actual slide in slide out, electrical contact surfaces part of the fully assembled plug/socket, that which is usually visible and what I call the FRONT of the socket/plug? Numbers may be moulded into the connector at the termination end or REAR but may be poorly moulded and barely visible...it's a start and most people will look for colour pics and diagrams for this knowledge.

Here are the standards:

<AS 4177.5-2004 Table 1 P 6> says LH turn yellow 1

                                 Reverse                 black     2
                                 earth                   white     3
                                 RH turn                 green     4
                                 service brakes          blue      5
                                 stop                    red       6
                                 park/clearance/tail     brown     7

<AS 4177.5-2004 P 15 Fig.B3 & B4> show 7 pin flat connectors both plug and socket. They are viewed and numbered from the FRONT e.g. looking at the male pins in the SOCKET and with the mounting/anchoring lugs DOWN and the dust cover hinge on TOP, opening UPWARDS, they are numbered L to R thus; 4 7 2 3 5 6 1. The PLUG with the external moulded lug UPPERMOST, (this must engage with the hinged lid/dust cover on the socket and with the offset centre pin in the socket, can only engage one way) and when viewed from the FRONT (not the cable end), is numbered L to R thus; 1 6 5 3 2 7 4. Round connectors are no longer the standard (flat connectors are), but should have the same convention applied when orienting and numbering the plug/socket. N.B. Unlike popular representations around the "net", the 7 pin, round (type 2) does NOT have the six pins (surrounding the centre 7th pin), evenly spaced within the 360 degrees; there is a wider than "normal" spacing opposite the locating key or keyway (key=>plug, keyway=>socket) from which to reference the numbering and thus colour, for wiring correctly. IF one is looking at the SOCKET from the FRONT and the keyway is at the TOP, this wider space between two of the six non-central pins, will be at the BOTTOM, (in any case, opposite) and the numbering of the pins shall be as follows; 1st pin ANTI-clockwise of this wider space (counter-clockwise for you yanks), is yellow 1. and continuing AC-W black 2, white 3, green 4, blue 5, red 6, centre pin brown 7. Viewing the PLUG from the FRONT is: 1 to the left of th wider space and continue clockwise with brown 7 in the middle.

I hope I have made life a little easier for someone.... Lindsay B. Cargill120.145.130.185 (talk) 06:04, 14 March 2015 (UTC)

Unfortunately the above text is not easy to follow without access to the standards document. So I can neither agree or disagree with the text. As for definition of FRONT versus REAR, I'd prefer "Connector Side" and "Wiring Side" if necessary since Front and Rear - does that refer to the vehicle perspective or connector perspective?

Maybe I should have added a disclaimer that color codings are recommendations and that they shouldn't be trusted since not everyone uses the same color coding. Especially on vehicles/trailers for multiple markets. Ehsnils (talk) 07:05, 14 March 2015 (UTC)

Round 7-pin trailer connector Type 1 (AS 2513)

While refitting an old connector of this type today, I found that the reversing-light wire was black, as per the WP diagram, not pink as per the text alongside. I have changed that text accordingly. However, I notice that the same apparent error applies (below) to the Round 7-pin trailer connector Type 2 (AS 2513). Perhaps someone with relevant knowledge and skills could look at this. Bjenks (talk) 09:48, 27 October 2016 (UTC)

Western Australia

Western Australia uses type 2. There are 7 pins, but its different to any of the drawings - the spacing of the bottom two pins is not the same, as the above commenter notes.

I will edit if I can find a reference. (Rob wall) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 119.18.23.10 (talk) 09:50, 1 October 2018 (UTC)

States

Can anyone expand or shed light on what i've heard that flat plugs are mostly used in NSW and QLD and round plugs are mostly from Vic? I've heard it from a few people but I don't know if it's just an urban legend or anything. 124.169.128.220 (talk) 21:41, 15 March 2019 (UTC)

Caravans

Caravans use(d) the reversing light pin (2) on the 7-pin flat as a permanent power line.

As caravans did not usually have a reversing light, the reversing light circuit (pin 2 on the 7-pin flat plug) was used to provide 12V to the van. The main use was to power a 3-way fridge (240VAC/Gas/12V) while traveling. Due to the great voltage drop on the thin (1.5mm) cable this was not very efficient. More modern caravans use a 12-pin flat plug with 12V switched by the ignition (via a relay and 30A fuse) on pin 8 (Supreme) or 9 (Jayco) for the fridge using 10mm cable with a matching earth return on pin 10. The tow vehicle should have the same size of cable and they should connect directly to the battery/relay. This avoids the car battery being drained by the fridge during a break in travel.

It is important to check the usage of the high current pins (8/9/11/12) before connecting a car to a caravan as there is no definitive standard and there can be unexpected results. Unless adequate size wiring is in place there can be overheating or fires!

Other pins are used by some caravans for "brake-safe" systems to charge a van brake battery and to detect failure of the connection. As modern cars have rear proximity sensors (reversing alarms) that would detect a caravan or trailer, 12-pin sockets are available with switches (normally open or closed) that disable the sensors when the socket is in use (ie. cover open). Some caravans have Anderson Plugs for the fridge, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and to charge internal deep cycle batteries as these can carry more current than the large pins on the 12-pin flat plug/socket.

(I can't find a direct Jayco link for this yet!) https://www.brisbanecamperland.com.au/getmedia/b05d3414-9ad2-402e-9544-e5923ce98b3e/JAY-12PIN-FI-Jayco-Tow-Vehicle-Requirements-Issue-3.pdf.aspx or https://www.expandasdownunder.com/attachments/12-pin-wiring-diagram-pdf.33240/

                             Pin 9  Fridge

Supreme & Leader Caravans https://www.supremecaravans.com.au/mysupreme/downloads/11

                             Pin 8  Fridge
                                 9  Brake-safe Remote
                                11  Break Safe charging
                                12  Fridge Sensor

— Preceding unsigned comment added by Arffred (talk • contribs) 05:07, 5 July 2019 (UTC)