Trailer connectors in Australia
A number of standards prevail in Australia for trailer connectors, the electrical connectors between vehicles and the trailers they tow that provide a means of control trailer lamps, and in one case, trailer brakes, and also sometimes, manufacturer-specific non-standard functions.
| Example | Description |
|---|---|
 |
Socket |
 |
Pin |
The Australian market generally uses its own version of the European connectors, as well as its uniquely own contacts.[1][2]
The only connector used on the Australian market that is fully ISO standard conformant is the 7-pin ABS / EBS plug.
Since Australia has vehicles from both the North American market and the European market there is a mixture of 12V and 24V.
7-pin trailer connector (AS 4735) for heavy duty vehicles
This connector is based on both SAE J560 and ISO 1185 and is providing either 12V, 7 x 40A or 24V, 7 x 20A. The voltage varies from vehicle to vehicle.
| # | DIN | Signal | Colour | Rec. cross-section | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm² | AWG | |||||
| 1 | 31 | Ground (-) | White | 10 | 8 | |
| 2 | 58 or 58L | Clearance lamps/Outline marker lamps, Side marker lamps, identification lamps | Black | 4 | 12 | |
| 3 | L | Left Turn Signal | Yellow | 4 | 12 | |
| 4 | 54 | Stop lamps | Red | 6 | 10 | |
| 5 | R | Right Turn Signal | Green | 4 | 12 | |
| 6 | 58 or 58R | Tail lamps, registration plate lamp | Brown | 4 | 12 | |
| 7 | Reversing lamps or +12V via ignition lock | Blue | 6 | 10 | ||
Round trailer connectors Type 1
These connectors are based on ISO 1724 in 5-pin and 7-pin versions, but with some difference in the wiring.
Round 7-pin trailer connector Type 1 (AS 2513)
In this pinout for an ISO 1724 connector, the position light pin is used for electric brakes (Pin 5, 58R), which means that if you connect a trailer with electric brakes to a towing vehicle wired according to ISO 1724 and turn on the position lights the trailer will be braking. Pin 2 (54G) is in the Australian wiring standard the reversing light, which is a minor problem.
| # | DIN | Signal | Colour | Rec. cross-section | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm² | AWG | |||||
| 1 | L | Left Turn Signal | Yellow | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 2 | Reversing lamps, control current to block surge brakes when reversing. | Black | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 3 | 31 | Ground connected to chassis | White | 2.5 | 13 | |
| 4 | R | Right Turn Signal | Green | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 5 | Electric brake control | Blue | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 6 | 54 | Stop lamps | Red | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 7 | 58 | Tail lamps, clearance lamps/outline marker lamps and registration plate lamp left side | Brown | 1.5 | 15 | |
Round 5-pin trailer connector Type 1
This 5-pin connector has been superseded by the 7-pin (AS 2513), but can be found on older vehicles. Note that pins 1 and 4 are missing. Pin placement is identical to the 7-pin ISO 1724 with the absence of these pins. This means that you can connect a trailer with a 5-pin connector to a 7-pin socket or the other way around, but since the pins are wired in a different way the result may be far from what was expected.
| # | DIN | Signal | Colour | Rec. cross-section | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm² | AWG | |||||
| 2 | L | Left Turn Signal | Yellow | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 3 | 31 | Ground | White | 2.5 | 13 | |
| 5 | R | Right Turn Signal | Green | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 6 | 54 | Stop lamps | Red | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 7 | 58 | Tail lamps, clearance lamps/outline marker lamps and registration plate lamp | Brown | 1.5 | 15 | |
Round trailer socket type 2
Round 7 pin trailer connector type 2
| # | DIN | Signal | Colour | Rec. cross-section | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm² | AWG | |||||
| 1 | L | Left Turn Signal | Yellow | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 2 | Reversing lamps | Pink | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 3 | 31 | Ground | White | 2.5 | 13 | |
| 4 | R | Right Turn Signal | Green | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 5 | Electric brake control | Blue | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 6 | 54 | Stop lamps | Red | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 7 | 58 | Tail lamps, clearance lamps/outline marker lamps and registration plate lamp | Brown | 1.5 | 15 | |
Round 6-pin trailer connector type 2
| # | DIN | Signal | Colour | Rec. cross-section | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm² | AWG | |||||
| 1 | 58 | Tail lamps, clearance lamps/outline marker lamps and registration plate lamp right side | Brown | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 2 | L | Left Turn Signal | Yellow | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 3 | R | Right Turn Signal | Green | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 4 | 54 | Stop lamps | Red | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 5 | Electric brake control | Blue | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 6 | 31 | Ground (-) for pin 1 - 8 | White | 2.5 | 13 | |
Rectangular trailer connectors Type 3
| # | DIN | Signal | Colour | Rec. cross-section | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm² | AWG | |||||
| 1 | L | Left Turn Signal | Yellow | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 2 | Reversing lamps, control current to block surge brakes when reversing. | Black | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 3 | 31 | Ground | White | 2.5 | 13 | |
| 4 | R | Right Turn Signal | Green | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 5 | Electric brake control | Blue | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 6 | 54 | Stop lamps | Red | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 7 | 58 | Tail lamps, clearance lamps/outline marker lamps and registration plate lamp | Brown | 1.5 | 15 | |
| 8 | 30 | +12V permanent | Orange | 2.5 | 13 | |
| 9 | 15 | +12V via ignition lock | Pink | 2.5 | 13 | |
| 10 | 31 | Ground | White | 2.5 | 13 | |
| 11 | Rear fog lamps | Grey | 1.5 | 15 | ||
| 12 | Spare | Purple | 2.5 | 13 | ||
The image of the 7 and 12 pin flat plugs are from the cable entry view (and possibly the images of the round connectors too). Please see reference [2] (VSB1 section 14) for front image. Reference [1] Narva wiring diagrams also have the diagrams cable entry view. If you want the front view images in colour see [3]
Some trailer manufacturers will wire non-standard features through non-standard pins. Auxiliary power, breakaway sense or hydraulic brake pump should never be wired to pin 2, even if the trailer does not feature reverse lights.