brake wiring

[corvettetonybone]

I have a 59 airflyte and I am rewiring the running light harness as well as the brake system wiring. My harness is a standard four prong connector with four wires and one ground. The confusion I am having is the brake wiring system and how it ties together. My axel has a two wire harness that connects to each electrical backing plates and a two wire harness that runs to the hitch, however it is not connect at either end. Also I have the emergency breakaway unit with two wires that are not connected either. Can somebody please tell me exactly where each wire is to be connected correctly and how it ties into the harness. Thanks Tony

[61 Shasta]

Tony, Your 4 wire standard 4 prong connector is actually 3 wires and a ground. ie, left turn/right turn, running lights and ground. The brake lights are activated through the same wires as the turn signals so you don't have a separate wire for them. Now, each of the wires from the backing plates have (as you stated) 2 wires. One of these wires from each side (and it don't matter which one) ties together to the ground wire. The other wire from each side needs to go to a brake controller on your rig. So, you need to upgrade the plug from a 4 prong to a 6 prong connector, install a brake controller and run wires on your rig accordingly. I won't comment on the break away controller because there are some differences with these units that could require different configurations of wiring. There are several web sites to help you with the wiring on your rig. I recently configured my 08 Jeep Liberty to accept a 4 wire feed to its lighting system so I could tow it behind my motor home and I got all of my help from simply typing in "towing a jeep liberty". Good luck

[vikx]

I agree, but would use the more common 7 way connector. (easier to repair/replace almost anywhere)

A Junction box at the front of the trailer is a very handy way to connect all the wires you need to. You can run the brake wires, tow wires and grounds into the box and connect to the 7 way cord.

Keep in mind the 4 way color code and the 7 way color code are not the same. (green and brown are reversed, for instance)

Use the universal 7 way code: Green is Tail and running lights, Brown is Right Turn, Red is Left Turn, White is Ground, Blue is Brakes and Black is the Hot Charge wire. Yellow (middle wire) is not normally used. The colors are stamped in the 7 way connectors and make it easy to wire correctly.

Do NOT follow eTrailers wiring codes! Their 7 way is wrong and you will have a mess on your hands...

The break away has two wires. One should go to a 12 volt power supply, the other connects to the blue brake wire. When the "plug" is pulled from the break away, power is applied to the brakes stopping the trailer. (that would be if it ever came loose) As 61 Shasta said, do some research before connecting it.

[vikx]

Here's a junction box near the tongue. It's mounted under the trailer...

Attachments:

[vikx]

Here's a 7 way molded cord with the correct gauge wires:

Attachments:

[vikx]

Here's a bird's eye view of the J box, 7way and connections:

Attachments:

[vikx]

And finally, a working display. Hope the photos help.

Attachments:

[pathfinder3081]

Good working layout vikx.. I had to copy and paste that on.. Thanks as I am getting ready to pull the hub and see what the brakes look like under there. They have not been hooked up since I had the unit. I'm a ready to fiddle abit with it this weekend, throw some electricity to it and see if hums for me.

[corvettetonybone]

Thanks to all, Excellent information! To Shasta 61....My connector is three male and one female plug but there are five wires. (green, yellow, green/brw stripe, yellow/brw stripe, and white). ?

[corvettetonybone]

Vikx, the photos and info is fantastic !

[61 Shasta]

vikx, Excellent Info and I'm sure will be appreciated by all! Don't know what I was thinking when I said 6 prong connector, I stand corrected.

[vikx]

Hey 61, the 6 will work too! It's just easier for me with the 7 way. I used to run only 6 way (horse trailers) and finally switched everything to the 7.

Sorry, didn't mean to correct you, just add to the ideas.

[vikx]

Corvettetonybone,

I'd switch the connector for sure. Never heard of a 4 prong plug with 5 wires??

[vikx]

Here's the parts I use:

Attachments:

[61 Shasta]

vikx, I have run across the 4 prong connector with 5 wires, I had forgotten. It was on a trailer I was wiring up for someone. I don't remember the wiring configuration but I do know that it had 2 wires coming out of at least one of the pin's. I just taped it to its partner and let it go. Didn't give it much thought at the time.
I guess when I made the comment about the 6 vs 7 pin connectors I was thinking mine were 7, however, all of mine are the 6 wire configuration, motorhome, stock trailer, etc. so I wasn't offended by your feedback. Again, thanks for all of your excellent information.

[vikx]

Thanks for the info. I'd like to see one of the 4prong/5wire plugs. Wonder why? I know some vintage trailers use separate wires for the clearance lights and tails...

I'm thinking the extra wire in trailers operated the inside 12 volt light and clearance lights when parked. (tails stayed off)

Anyone?

[corvettetonybone]

I purchased the harness from an rv dealer and of course the colors are not the standard either. I did cut the end off and I am taking the advice using a 7way harness with a junction box (great idea!). I do need a little more help.
Vikx..you said the black is a charge wire which is correct according to the schematic, however how does that wire in ? do I just go direct to the positive on the house battery ? and will that charge it when the vehicle is running ?
Also to double check....one brake wire and one breakaway unit wire goes to blue brakes and the the other brake wire and breakaway unit wire goes to where ?
Thanks Tony

[corvettetonybone]

Also why the circuit breaker ?

[kto17]

Sept 25, 2012 19:17:02 GMT -5 corvettetonybone said:

Also why the circuit breaker ?

I'm going to guess its in lieu of a fuse. You always want to fuse or use a circuit breaker to protect the vehicle and trailer from each other. If the battery is not within a foot or two of this junction box with the breaker you should add a fuse within a foot of the battery. 12 volt power is not typically very dangerous but with enough amperage it can start a fire.

My guess is the breaker is cheaper than a fuse and some breakers can be reset.

I'm curious about Vikx's reason though because I'm a car guy and still learning the camper stuff and I'm about to redo the 12v the PO put in our Deluxe.

[vikx]

OK, I use a 20 amp self resetting circuit breaker for the hot side of the system. The battery hot and the 7 way hot go to one stud and the trailer hot going to the fuse block goes on the other. It's just good protection in case there's a short, battery gets hooked up wrong, etc. You can actually here them "click" on and off, on and off.

These little circuit breakers can and do fail; always good to have an extra. Thing is, if you're out in the boonies and it fails, you can just put all the wires on one stud and fix it when you get home... about 3 bucks apiece.

Basically, your 7 way charge line and the battery hot wire join in the J box by connecting to the breaker on the same stud.

Break A Way: One wire goes to the blue brake hot in the J box. The other goes either to the battery hot post or can connect to the breaker in the J box. (same stud as the charge line/battery hot) You will probably have to add length to the break a way wires.

The way it works is when the "pin" is pulled, it closes a circuit. The hot wire connects to the brake wire and the battery stops the trailer in case the trailer decides to go off on it's own.

Tony, I'm curious. You bought a 7 way from an RV dealer and it has different colors? Just curious, as I've had all sorts of trouble with folks following eTrailer's 7 way code. Their 4 and 6 way codes are correct but the 7 way is not. Too long a story for here.

[corvettetonybone]

Thanks vikx for your reply. Oh boy....a little confusion for me here but I will have to look at my system to make sense of it. Its difficult to explain what I have done and modified to my liking as my unit is not equipped with a fuse box. I feel like I may need to message or talk direct in more detail. I understand the brake away portion but confused with the hot/battery/circuit breaker connections.
As far as the harness, the 7 way is absolutely correct just like you said however I purchase a 25' four prong harness to run all new wire from the front to rear complete. That harness had five wires and was color code differently. I simply used the connections I needed and my own color coding.
Again thanks vikx and Im sure I will need more info. Tony~

[corvettetonybone]

Let me see if I have this correct.
7-way black goes to one side of circuit, the other side goes to trailer positive battery post.
then positive battery post to an in line fuse and the other end of the fuse to the 12v house wiring.
Will that work? That way it is protected from the wiring harness and also thru the house wiring.

7-way blk--->circuit--->positive battery--->fuse--->12v hot inside lighting/water pump etc.

The breakaway unit I understand.


Thanks vikx and to all for the input, Im in the final stage of this and want to make certain it is correct. Wiring problems down the road are something I want to avoid completely.

[vikx]

Tony, feel free to PM me for my email address. Always like to help folks.

Your way will work. Normally, the battery hot and 7 way hot go on the same circuit breaker stud, but having and inline fuse from battery to inside the trailer will protect just as well. The circuit breaker would then work as a safety between the vehicle charge line and the battery.

Be sure that the break a way isn't fused. It's meant to be hard wired to the battery for emergency braking.

[corvettetonybone]

Excellent vikx it makes sense to me now. I had to pencil out on paper the way you were explaining to me and I understand the theory behind the circuit breaker. I also understand the breakaway unit.
Thanks so much for your help and Im sure as my project continues I will need more assistance.
Tony~
p.s. if i need anymore help with this issue I will pm you...