Trailer sockets - their role and application
Cable harness with 7-pin and 13-pin socket - differences
Participation in road traffic requires compliance with legal regulations regarding road traffic. Each driver is obliged to equip his own vehicle with the necessary accessories and parts. Lamps are a perfect example of elements that significantly affect road safety. Their type and quantity are regulated by traffic law. According to them, the towed trailer must also have adequate lighting. Driver must purchase a wiring harness. Manufacturers of this type of parts offer 7-pin or 13-pin sockets or universal sockets. Choosing the right accessory can be quite a challenge. The driver must know that proper mounting of the socket is crucial for safety on the road. Towing an additional vehicle requires meeting of proper conditions.
The main differences between the cable harness with 7-pin and 13-pin socket are the number of pins/pins in the socket and the number of wires. You should know that a truck trailer weighing more than 750 kg must have a 13-pin trailer socket, because then it is possible to operate the reversing light, which is necessary in this type of trailer.
What trailers can be connected to the 7-pin or 13-pin socket?
The seven-pin socket for tow hook (seven-pole or seven-pin) is based on seven wires. The seven-pole electric harness supplies the basic lights of a light trailer (up to 750 kg) or a bicycle rack - indicator lamps, fog lamps, position lamps and brake lamps.
The second type of 13-pin trailer socket (thirteen-pole, thirteen-pin) is dedicated to towing a trailer weighing more than 750 kg, a caravan or a bicycle rack with a reversing light. The thirteen-pin socket can be divided into two types: a cable harness with eight wires and a cable harness with twelve wires. A thirteen-pin, eight-wire socket powers the brake light, reversing lights, direction indicators, fog light and position lights. The thirteen-pin socket with twelve wires powers the direction indicators, brake light, reversing light and position lights. In addition, in accordance with applicable legal standards, one pin in the cable harness is empty.
The twelve-wire socket allows you to charge the caravan battery, as well as connect the permanent plus cable. This solution allows you to connect a refrigerator in the caravan. When the tow hook is monted, you should know that the 13-pin electrical harness is suitable for transporting larger trailers, caravans or bicycle platforms. But if the trailer requires a seven-pin socket, it is enough to buy a special adapter that enables you to connect a 7-pin accesory to the thirteen-pin cable harness.
What should you consider when you buy a trailer socket?
When you buy a socket for a trailer, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the socket. The accessory must be solid and durable, therefore it must be made of high-quality materials. In addition, the socket should have a cable about two meters long to enable free installation. The socket must also be divided into two bundles, and then it will be possible to connect to both sides in the vehicle. The thickness of the wires is also important - the thicker they are, the more solid they are.