Trailer connectors in Europe

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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[edit]

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.

  • 7-pin connectors (ISO 1724)
    7-pin connectors (ISO 1724)
  • 13-pin connectors (ISO 11446)
    13-pin connectors (ISO 11446)

NEN 6120—Connectors based on ISO 1724[edit]

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.

  • 13-pin trailer connection of type Multicon Feder
    13-pin trailer connection of type Multicon Feder
  • 13-pin trailer connection of type Multicon WeST
    13-pin trailer connection of type Multicon WeST

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

# DIN Signal Colour Rec. Cross-section Notes
mm2 AWG
1 L Left Turn Signal Yellow 1.5 15
2 54G +12V from battery or Rear fog lamps Blue 1.5 15
3 31 Ground connected to chassis White 2.5 13 [NEN6120 1]
4 R Right Turn Signal Green 1.5 15
5 58R Tail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp right side Brown 1.5 15 [NEN6120 2]
6 54 Stop lamps Red 1.5 15
7 58L Tail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp left side Black 1.5 15 [NEN6120 2]
8 Reversing lamps, control current to block surge brakes when reversing. Pink or Red/Black 1.5 15
9 30 +12V permanent Orange or Brown/White 2.5 13
10 15 +12V via ignition lock Grey 2.5 13
11 Spare Black/White 1.5 15
12 Spare until 2012 when it became the trailer detector pin if grounded in the trailer Light Grey 1.5 15
13 31 Ground (−) for pin 9 and 10 Red/White 2.5 13 [NEN6120 1]

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. ^ a b Pin 3 and 13 must not be joined in the trailer[5] to avoid interaction between circuit types and over current if one ground pin isn't working.
  2. ^ a b Pin 5 and 7 must not be joined in the trailer[5] to avoid problems in vehicles with separate circuits for left and right side.

Connectors of DIAB/VBG-typ[edit]

These connectors are specially developed by sv:Djurle Industri AB (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[6][edit]

Connector DIAB P12

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.

# DIN Signal Colour Rec. Cross-section Notes
mm2 AWG
1 31 Ground (−) for pin 1–8 White 2.5 13
2 L Left Turn Signal Yellow 1.5 15
3 54 Stop lamps Red 1.5 15
4 58L Tail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp left side Black 1.5 15 [DIAB_P12 1]
5 58R Tail lamps, clearance lamps and registration plate lamp right side Brown 1.5 15 [DIAB_P12 1]
6 R Right Turn Signal Green 1.5 15
7 Reversing lamps, control current to block surge brakes when reversing. Pink 1.5 15
8 Rear fog lamps Blue 1.5 15
9 Spare
10 Spare
11 Spare
12 30 +12V permanent Orange 2.5 13

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. ^ a b Pin 4 and 5 must not be joined in the trailer to avoid problems in vehicles with separate circuits for left and right side.

14-pin[7][edit]

14-pin standard connector
14-pin extra sealed connector of ADR type
# DIN Signal Colour Rec. Cross-section Notes
mm2 AWG
1 31 Ground (−) for pin 1–3 and 5–12 White 2.5 13
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 58L Tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp left side Black 1.5 15 [VBG_14 1]
6 58R Tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp right side Brown 1.5 15 [VBG_14 1]
7A Reversing lamps Pink 1.5 15
7B Rear fog lamps Blue 1.5 15
8A Spare
8B Spare
9 Spare
10 Spare
11 Spare
12 30 +24V permanent Orange 2.5 13

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. ^ a b Pin 5 and 6 must not be joined in the trailer to avoid problems in vehicles with separate circuits for left and right side.

17-pin[7][edit]

17-pin standard connector
17-pin extra sealed connector of ADR type

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

# DIN Signal Colour Rec. Cross-section Notes
mm2 AWG
1 31 Ground (−) for pin 1–3 and 5–12 White 2.5 13
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 58L Tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp left side Black 1.5 15 [VBG_17 1]
6A 58R Tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp right side Brown 1.5 15 [VBG_17 1]
6B Spare
7A Reversing lamps Pink 1.5 15
7B Rear fog lamps Blue 1.5 15
8 Spare
9A Spare
9B Spare
10A Spare
10B Spare
11A Spare
11B Spare
12 30 +24V permanent Orange 2.5 13

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. ^ a b Pin 5 and 6A must not be joined in the trailer to avoid problems in vehicles with separate circuits for left and right side.

22-pin[7][edit]

DIAB 22-pin connector

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

# DIN Signal Colour Rec. Cross-section Notes
mm2 AWG
1 31 Ground (−) for pin 1–3 and 5–12 White 2.5 13
2A L Left Turn Signal Yellow 1.5 15
2B Spare
3A R Right Turn Signal Green 1.5 15
3B Spare
4A 54 Stop lamps Red 1.5 15
4B Spare
5A 58L Tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp left side Black 1.5 15 [VBG_22 1]
5B Spare
6A 58R Tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps and registration plate lamp right side Brown 1.5 15 [VBG_22 1]
6B Spare
7A Reversing lamps Pink 1.5 15
7B Rear fog lamps Blue 1.5 15
8A Spare
8B Spare
9A Spare
9B Spare
10A Spare
10B Spare
11A Spare
11B Spare
12 30 +24V permanent Orange 4–6 9–11

The following supplementary information exists for the connector:

  1. ^ a b Pin 5A and 6A must not be joined in the trailer to avoid problems in vehicles with separate circuits for left and right side.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Wiring Plan 13 pin Multicon and Multicon We-ST" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  2. ^ "Multicon Feder Manual".[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Multicon WeSt Manual".[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Haynes Trailer Wiring" (PDF).
  5. ^ a b "HELLA ELECTRICAL PLUG-TYPE CONNECTIONS" (PDF).
  6. ^ Monteringsanvisning DIAB P12 (in Swedish). Djurle Industri AB.
  7. ^ a b c "VBG Connector 14 / 17" (PDF).

Symbol Guide[edit]

Example Description
Socket
Pin
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