Butt Connector Recommendation for Wiring up Brake Assemblies on Trailer

Question

Question:

I bought 4 of these electric brakes and mounted them last weekend. I was planning to get these wired up but do not know what size connectors I should use. Can you please tell me the gauge wire on these brakes as my boat trailer is located quite a distance from my home. I need to purchase the waterproof connectors to make the final connection to the brakes and would like to take them out with next time I travel to where my boat trailer is stored.

asked by: Glen G

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Expert Reply:

The wire gauge used in assemblies like the part # AKEBRK-7R-D is surprisingly thin at 16 gauge.

The heavier gauge the wire the better. We recommend 10 gauge wire like part # 10-1-1 (sold by the foot), for wiring up the brake output circuit. Since the wire is so long it's important to go with a thicker wire to reduce resistance even though the brake magnets use thinner wire. Especially since the wire gets teed off and ran to multiple brake assemblies.

If you went with 10 or 12 gauge wire to the assemblies you would want to use butt connectors like part # 05732-2. These are large enough for 10-12 gauge but can still be clamped tight enough for 16 gauge wire.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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Answer 1

If your trailer has 7 wires running all the way back to the brakes, then yes, you can tap into the existing wiring. Each of your new brakes will have two wires for the brake magnet. One wire is for 12 volt power to the brake magnets and the other…

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Answer 2

Dexter "highly" recommends using a bump stop of some kind when installing their over under kits like the #K71-385-00 that you referenced. It is not an absolute requirement but if you do not have much suspension travel currently it might be…

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Answer 3

In order to properly move your axle below your leaf springs you will not flip the axle. The reason for this is because there is a bow to the axle that if was reversed would give you terrible wheel alignment. What you would need to do is install the…

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Answer 4

The Timbren Trailer Suspension Enhancement System part #TTRA1032 is my recommendation for a set of bump stops or jounce bumpers for a Dexter 7K Axle. These Timbrens will do a great job of compensating for off-center loads, reduces body roll when…

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Answer 5

Your StarCraft trailer would have to be overloaded and/or you would have to hit a pretty severe bump for the leaf springs to deflect beyond what they are designed for. SInce there is a chance this could happen, albeit a small one, having some extra…

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Answer 6

There is no specific torque rating for the castle nut that holds your hub in place. We recommend tightening the castle nut down until it stops, and then backing it off to the next notch wheel the tang washer will fit into the castle nut. Over…

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Answer 7

You can still use a heat shrink butt connector like part #DW05745-5 to join the 3 wires coming off the main harness part #H20046 when are installing the brakes on your trailer.

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Answer 8

If you are referring to two white wires from the brake magnet that are coming from the rear of each electric brake assembly, then it would not matter which wire is connected to ground and which wire is used for the brake feed. The magnet that…

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Answer 9

I'm not sure which brake adjustment tool you have but on our PT #W80630 there are two sides that can be used. The end with the 90 degree bend is designed for adjusting electric brakes on drop axles like yours, which will allow you to access that…

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Answer 10

I think you are going in the right direction. I would definitely replace the 14 gauge wire going to the trailer brake magnets with 10 gauge wire or larger. Usually larger than 10 gauge is hard to get into the trailer connector though. I would also…

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Answer 11

After you've packed the bearings and assembled everything, carefully slide the hub assembly onto the spindle and install the outer bearing. Install the spindle and tang washer and run the spindle nut down finger tight, then rotate the hub back…

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Answer 12

Lets start with your 1994 GMC 1/2 Ton Truck. You will need to start with the #118315 4-Way connector. Once the 4-Way is installed, see instructions link, you will need the Brake Controller Installation Kit, #ETBC7, and a brake controller. I recommend…

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Butt Connector Recommendation for Wiring up Brake Assemblies on Trailer

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