Trailer connectors in Europe explained

A number of standards prevail in Europe for trailer connectors, the electrical connectors between vehicles and the trailers they tow that provide a means of control for the trailers.

7 and 13-pin connectors

The 13-pin (ISO 11446) version being phased in is newer, provides more services than the 7-pin (ISO 1724), a more positive locking and also better protection against moisture and contamination.

NEN 6120 - Connectors based on ISO 1724

Multicon[1] Feder and Multicon WeSt (Welt Standard) connectors are precursors to ISO 11446 in a design that is intended to be compatible with ISO 1724. This means that if a towing vehicle has an outlet of this type it should be able to connect a trailer with a standard 7-pin or 5-pin connector according to ISO 1724, provided that the trailer coupling follows the standard and that the trailer plug casing is not made of metal since a metal plug will otherwise short the extra pins.

Both connectors have the same electrical wiring[2] [3] [4] and can be found primarily in the Netherlands and Germany.

DINSignalColourRec. Cross-sectionNotes
mm2AWG
1LLeft Turn SignalYellow1.515
254G+12V from battery or Rear fog lampsBlue1.515
331Ground connected to chassisWhite2.513
4RRight Turn SignalGreen1.515
558RTail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp right sideBrown1.515
654Stop lampsRed1.515
758LTail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp left sideBlack1.515
8Reversing lamps, control current to block surge brakes when reversing.Pink or Red/Black1.515
930+12V permanentOrange or Brown/White2.513
1015+12V via ignition lockGrey2.513
11SpareBlack/White1.515
12Spare until 2012 when it became the trailer detector pin if grounded in the trailerLight Grey1.515
1331Ground (-) for pin 9 and 10 Red/White2.513

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. Web site: Wiring Plan 13 pin Multicon and Multicon We-ST. 2013-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203514/http://www.pegabv.nl/images/gebruikshandleiding/instructionseng.pdf. 2013-09-27. dead.
  2. Web site: Multicon Feder Manual.
  3. Web site: Multicon WeSt Manual.
  4. Web site: Haynes Trailer Wiring.

Connectors of DIAB/VBG-typ

These connectors are specially developed by (DIAB) for severe conditions where snow, ice and salt are common. They can be equipped with an optional heating loop if necessary. Moreover, they are "self-disconnecting" to lower the risk of damage to the connector if the driver should forget to disconnect the plug when disconnecting the trailer or the trailer jumps off the hook.

The 14-pin, 17-pin and 22-pin connectors have the same physical dimensions, but different contact elements in the contacts.

These connectors occur primarily in Scandinavia, but vendors exist in the United States, Belgium and Great Britain, which means that they can be found outside Scandinavia as well.

Connections for these contacts listed as spare are free to use.

Maximum allowable current for ground contact is 25A.

12-pin DIAB P12[5]

This connector is designed for 12V electrical system where the standard ISO connectors are considered insufficient. The connector is designed in the same manner as the connectors for heavy vehicles, but is physically smaller.

DINSignalColourRec. Cross-sectionNotes
mm2AWG
131Ground (-) for pin 1 - 8White2.513
2LLeft Turn SignalYellow1.515
354Stop lampsRed1.515
458LTail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp left sideBlack1.515
558RTail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp right sideBrown1.515
6RRight Turn SignalGreen1.515
7Reversing lamps, control current to block surge brakes when reversing.Pink1.515
8Rear fog lampsBlue1.515
9Spare
10Spare
11Spare
1230+12V permanentOrange2.513

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. Web site: Wiring Plan 13 pin Multicon and Multicon We-ST. 2013-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203514/http://www.pegabv.nl/images/gebruikshandleiding/instructionseng.pdf. 2013-09-27. dead.
  2. Web site: Multicon Feder Manual.
  3. Web site: Multicon WeSt Manual.
  4. Web site: Haynes Trailer Wiring.
  5. Book: Monteringsanvisning DIAB P12. Djurle Industri AB. Swedish.

14-pin[6]

DINSignalColourRec. Cross-sectionNotes
mm2AWG
131Ground (-) for pin 1 - 3 and 5 - 12White2.513
2LLeft Turn SignalYellow1.515
3RRight Turn SignalGreen1.515
454Stop lampsRed1.515
558LTail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp left sideBlack1.515
658RTail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp right sideBrown1.515
7AReversing lampsPink1.515
7BRear fog lampsBlue1.515
8ASpare
8BSpare
9Spare
10Spare
11Spare
1230+24V permanentOrange2.513

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. Web site: Wiring Plan 13 pin Multicon and Multicon We-ST. 2013-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203514/http://www.pegabv.nl/images/gebruikshandleiding/instructionseng.pdf. 2013-09-27. dead.
  2. Web site: Multicon Feder Manual.
  3. Web site: Multicon WeSt Manual.
  4. Web site: Haynes Trailer Wiring.
  5. Book: Monteringsanvisning DIAB P12. Djurle Industri AB. Swedish.
  6. Web site: VBG Connector 14 / 17 .

17-pin

This connector is used in cases where a 14-pin connector is insufficient

DINSignalColourRec. Cross-sectionNotes
mm2AWG
131Ground (-) for pin 1 - 3 and 5 - 12White2.513
2LLeft Turn SignalYellow1.515
3RRight Turn SignalGreen1.515
454Stop lampsRed1.515
558LTail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp left sideBlack1.515
6A58RTail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp right sideBrown1.515
6BSpare
7AReversing lampsPink1.515
7BRear fog lampsBlue1.515
8Spare
9ASpare
9BSpare
10ASpare
10BSpare
11ASpare
11BSpare
1230+24V permanentOrange2.513

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. Web site: Wiring Plan 13 pin Multicon and Multicon We-ST. 2013-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203514/http://www.pegabv.nl/images/gebruikshandleiding/instructionseng.pdf. 2013-09-27. dead.
  2. Web site: Multicon Feder Manual.
  3. Web site: Multicon WeSt Manual.
  4. Web site: Haynes Trailer Wiring.
  5. Book: Monteringsanvisning DIAB P12. Djurle Industri AB. Swedish.
  6. Web site: VBG Connector 14 / 17 .

22-pin

This connector is a further development of the 17-pin connector for cases requiring support for many functions.

DINSignalColourRec. Cross-sectionNotes
mm2AWG
131Ground (-) for pin 1 - 3 and 5 - 12White2.513
2ALLeft Turn SignalYellow1.515
2BSpare
3ARRight Turn SignalGreen1.515
3BSpare
4A54Stop lampsRed1.515
4BSpare
5A58LTail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp left sideBlack1.515
5BSpare
6A58RTail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp right sideBrown1.515
6BSpare
7AReversing lampsPink1.515
7BRear fog lampsBlue1.515
8ASpare
8BSpare
9ASpare
9BSpare
10ASpare
10BSpare
11ASpare
11BSpare
1230+24V permanentOrange4 - 69 - 11

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. Web site: Wiring Plan 13 pin Multicon and Multicon We-ST. 2013-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203514/http://www.pegabv.nl/images/gebruikshandleiding/instructionseng.pdf. 2013-09-27. dead.
  2. Web site: Multicon Feder Manual.
  3. Web site: Multicon WeSt Manual.
  4. Web site: Haynes Trailer Wiring.
  5. Book: Monteringsanvisning DIAB P12. Djurle Industri AB. Swedish.
  6. Web site: VBG Connector 14 / 17 .

See also

References

  1. Web site: Wiring Plan 13 pin Multicon and Multicon We-ST. 2013-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203514/http://www.pegabv.nl/images/gebruikshandleiding/instructionseng.pdf. 2013-09-27. dead.
  2. Web site: Multicon Feder Manual.
  3. Web site: Multicon WeSt Manual.
  4. Web site: Haynes Trailer Wiring.
  5. Book: Monteringsanvisning DIAB P12. Djurle Industri AB. Swedish.
  6. Web site: VBG Connector 14 / 17 .

Symbol Guide

ExampleDescription
Socket
Pin