Does anyone follow wiring standards anymore?

[belfert]

I bought a trailer to pull behind my bus.  It was a total wreck and I have put as much money into it as I paid for it.

The trailer is basically finished except a few wiring details.  I decided to test the marker lights before reinstalling the plywood sidewalls.  No go when I hooked up the brown wire and ground to a battery.  I traced things back and discovered the green wire seemed to go to the marker lights.  The marker lights, but not the tail lights, worked when I hooked up the green wire.  Green is supposed to be for right turn, not marker/tail lights.

Doesn't anyone follow wiring standards?  I will admit I used black wire to hook up the trailer brakes instead of blue as the color code designates.  I didn't realize I would have to replace the wire due to corrosion and all I had is black wire, but I will mark it with blue tape.  I ripped out all the wiring  (except the brakes) and will replace it tomorrow after a trip to the store.

[luvrbus]

What are calling standard ever saw a bus with all white wires the NJT Eagle were

good luck

[Eagle Andy]

And you think you got problems    this is going to be a real treat lol

[Van]

Snip! Snip! Snip! Viola!

[cody]

picky picky

[Eagle Andy]

Naw Iam just waiting for the right moment to strike a match lol

[Mex-Busnut]

Green is supposed to be for right turn, not marker/tail lights.

Doesn't anyone follow wiring standards? 

So while we are on the subject, excuse my ignorance: What are the proper colors for wiring the trailer?

Thanks in advance!

Dr. Steve

[zubzub]

Hey Andy I'll match that one



and raise you twice

[belfert]

Green is supposed to be for right turn, not marker/tail lights.

Doesn't anyone follow wiring standards? 

So while we are on the subject, excuse my ignorance: What are the proper colors for wiring the trailer?

See http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

The important part is having the right wires connected to the right place on the plug.  I guess the color of the wires on the trailer itself are not important as long as the plug is right.  In my case, it was getting difficult to make sure all the lights worked when the wrong color code was used.  I decided it is easer to just start over.

[gumpy]

See http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

Well, that's one of the best trailer wiring sites I've ever seen, but in all honesty, I don't think there is a "standard". This just happens to be the colors they use.

Besides, who had 7 different colors of wire in multiple gauges?  You can buy multiwire cables, but even those don't necessarily match the colors in the chart shown.
Case in point: http://order.waytekwire.com/productdetail2/M50/WT703/TRAILER%20CABLE%20ABS%20GREEN%20JACKET/ and http://order.waytekwire.com/productdetail2/M50/WT701/TRAILER%20CABLE%207%20CONTACT/

They're close, but there's no purple, and the chart doesn't show the most common color of all, black.

The best bet is to know how to trace a wire with a meter... or start over and pull new wire.

Suggest you label wires while you are in there, so you don't have to do it again in a few years.

[Eagle Andy]

Holy wire nut BatMan You win 

[belfert]

The colors for the standard 4 way flat trailer connecter are very standard.  The 7 way connector may not be as standard, but the 7 way plug with wire I bought at Northen Tool matches the colors from that website exactly.  The second cable from Waytek has the right colors.  The first cable is for trailers with ABS per the description.

What I am planning to do is to buy a 4 way trailer cable that is long enough.  They are only 16 AWG instead of my preferred 14 AWG, but the trailer lights are all LED now.  I will also label the cables at the junction box with my heat shrink labeler if I can find it.  I only need to wire the lights.  The brakes and battery connections are already done.

[rv_safetyman]

Brian, as I recall, you have towed before.  If that is the case, you already have the 24V-12V and 4 light to 3 light converter.  If not, you will need to get all that assembled or get one of Craig's systems.

Thanks for the great wiring link.

Jim

[Jeremy]

If it helps, this is the standard here:




Usually the towing vehicle is fitted with two 7-pin sockets when it's used to tow a caravan - one is wired as above, while the other one is used to provide reversing lights (which aren't included on the standard socket), as well as provide circuits to charge the caravan battery, power the fridge etc. Because this is a bit of a fiddle there are now 13-pin 'Euro plugs' available, which combine the two

Jeremy

[Busted Knuckle]

Jim,
Brian has a Dina! And they already use 12 V for the lights and such!
  BK