Adapter Availability for Converting European Trailer Wiring for Use with 4-Pole U.S. Connector

Question

Question:

I have a 1998 Land Rover Defender with a European 7-Way Trailer Connector, but would like to rewire it so that it can connect to at least the 4-way trailers here in the US. I can get the ground and indicators to work, but not the regular tail lights. Oddly, the Defender has 10 wires. Do you have an adapter that would work? I thought connecting the 5and7 wires to the tail light brown on the 4-way would work... but it does not seem to.

asked by: Alistair

0

Expert Reply:

We do offer a range of wiring adapters for U.S. standard trailer wiring to convert from, for example, 7-way to 4-way, 5-way or 6-way wiring. These various connector types are shown in the linked article on trailer wiring.

However, European trailer wiring does not combine multiple functions on one wire like U.S. wiring. U.S. 4-pole trailer connectors combine stop and turn signals on one wire; the yellow wire carries stop and left turn; the green wire carries stop and right turn. Since your wiring has these functions separated out, you'll need a converter to combine them.

You can use a passive converter like # C56175 to take in separate stop and turn signals and combine them for the trailer's 4-pole, but a better option is a powered converter which will provide some protection for your vehicle wiring from overload due to power demand from the trailer's lights. If your trailer uses high-efficiency LED-type lights you may be able to get away with a passive converter like the # C56175, but a better and safer option is to use a powered unit like # 119250KIT.

Part # 119250KIT is a complete kit that includes a circuit tester, which is needed to confirm the function carried by each wire on the vehicle. Once you have confirmed which wires on the Defender carry the stop, turn and taillight signals you can connect these to the red, yellow/green and brown wires on the converter. You'll also need to run a power wire from the converter up to the engine compartment for connection to the battery hot terminal through the supplied fuse holder.

I have linked a second article that covers how to route the power wire.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

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Answer 3

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Answer 7

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