This diagram shows the relationship between pins and lights. Disconnect the 7-pin plug from your vehicle. If it doesnt, youll want to use a circuit tester. Usually ships within 3 to 4 days. Then connect the other probe to the positive terminal on the jump box or battery to see if the trailer is powered. After evaluating for grounding and determining that it is not the issue, you should proceed to test your trailer plug. If your diagnoses reveal that you have a faulty wire or a burnout bulb, we recommend replacing them. Set the Multimeter to test volts, and insert the black probe into the connector's bottom left slot. Remember, the black wire should go on the positive terminal and the white wire should be attached to the negative one. Connect the red probe to the red and white wires on the connector. Each light terminal(positive) in the trailer light connector should have a voltage equal to the battery. Higher current draws will expose these limitations. The 4-pin trailer plug is a fairly standard plug that is found on the back of an automobile. Excellent help. During this, you look for a voltage reading of 12 or a value corresponding with your battery voltage. Some wires have their controls labeled on them, but color codes should work for you if you have a plug without labeled wires. Then, check for continuity. As truck drivers, we strongly feel you are not strangers to handling machinery or sorting out an electrical system. Please Tell Us How We Can Improve This Article. 7 pin plug on tow vehicle, how to test? You will need the number to test the connector. But how do you test trailer lightswith a multimeter? The circuit is damaged if the multimeter reads above the ideal reading. To test your trailer lights, you disconnect the wiring system and use your multimeter probes to check for a ground connection problem at the connector or a problem with the trailer plugs. Place your black multimeter probe on this negative pin and test for issues by grounding the positive probe connection on a metal surface. I CANNOT find the problem! How to Use a Digital Multimeter For Testing Pick-up Truck. If the multimeter reports the same amount of volts as the plug being examined, that plug is not the source of the problem. How to Check Truck Trailer Plug with Multimeter? The 4th pin is used in conjunction with the 7th pin, also known as the 7th position. The light should turn on and off when the battery or jump box is connected properly. Many trailer connector wires come with the controls branded on the wire, but if yours is not labeled, you need to know the right wire arrangement. What Voltage Should a Diesel Truck Battery Be? If you have a specific light burnt out and youre not sure what is causing it, testing for continuity is one thing you can do, but there are additional tests you can do that may help restore power to the circuit. Turn your multimeter to the V symbol on a multimeter dial. It is an essential piece of equipment for a technician or hobbyist. There are several different 4-pin connector variations, with one being eurostyle, the most common style of 4-pin connector, otherwise known as the 7-way. For a trailer light test without a vehicle, you would need wires to attach your plugs to the battery. Measure resistance in the ground terminal in the connector and grounding point in the vehicle. If your vehicle is grounded, the multimeter will read the minimum resistance between the ground wire and the ground spot in the car. Well also test the voltage of the trailer brake lights. One tricky part is determining which size battery youll need. Your trailer wiring system involves hooking up your male trailer plugs into the female connectors. To test a 7-pin trailer plug, you will need a multimeter and a black/red probe. Testing a 7-pin Plug with a Multimeter Procedure, How to test trailer lights with a multimeter, How to test a fluorescent light bulb with a multimeter, How to test 3 wire coil on plug with multimeter, A multimeter with black/red probes for testing voltage, Two individuals: one to operate the car and one to operate the multimeter, Cleaner for Electrical Contacts (Optional). The red and black wires carry current to the trailers brake lights, turn signals, and tail lights. Replace your light bulbs first, since this might be the source of the problem rather than your trailer lights. How To Test 7 Way Trailer RV electrical PlugIn this video I show how to test a 7 way trailer plug wiring harness for towing a travel trailer or RV by using a. To test your trailer lights, you would need a multimeter. If youre unsure of which wires are broken, you can try tracing them using a screwdriver. Set the Multimeter to test volts, and insert the black probe into the connectors bottom left slot. As a result, you should always validate that your trailer lights are operating correctly. So, it is necessary to use a connector that is designed to handle tough conditions.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'handtoolsforfun_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',166,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-handtoolsforfun_com-medrectangle-4-0'); In the United States, most vehicles are equipped with a 7-way plug. How to Test an Armature with a Multimeter. The 7-pin trailer plug is used in recreational vehicles, cars, and trucks. While doing this for each individual hole, you check for a reading of 3 Ohms. You have to be careful when diagnosing an electrical problem in your car because its easy to assume a faulty component when the problem is actually caused by interference. Youll need a black test lead to connect to the negative pin on the trailer, and a red one to the Ground pin on the vehicle. The good news is that they are available in a wide range of price ranges. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. They are wired differently from their smaller cousins. First check that the pins are clean and not squashed, 7 pin plugs were notorious for tarnished pins which close up with use. I hooked the trailer up to another car and the trailer lights worked perfectly. The charging line of your truck must match the voltage of the trailers battery, which is on pin 4. If you are facing the 7-Way, using either tester, you will test for the proper signal as follows: 1 oclock position = 12 volt hot lead 3 oclock position = right turn/brake light 5 oclock position = brake controller output Although most of these are now being standardized to a seven-pin plug, some countries have yet to embrace the change fully, so you may still find a four-pin plugin used in some instances. Probe length: 19mm/0.7". We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. A 7-pin plug (sometimes referred to as the "7-way trailer connector") is the connector and heavy-duty wire that brings the necessary power and related functions to the trailer you're towing. Do trailer harnesses have fuses? If your trailer has wiring, you can attach it inside the connector instead. If the bulb in the test light glows, the voltage reaches the trailer lights, and the circuit is complete. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Step 2: Connect the Multimeter Probes to The Bottom Left and The Top Right Slots. Every cable needs to be insulated. Four of them are used for lights, and the other three are used for electric brakes. Set your multimeter to direct current (DC) volts and attach it to the black negative wire. Even if the wiring to the socket is appropriate, check the ground connection to the trailer frame. How To Test 7 Pin Trailer Plug With Multimeter Housetechlab. The most common 7-pin trailer plug pinout has the following order: (1+) Black, (2+) Red, (3+) Yellow, (4+) Blue, (5+) White, (6+) Brown, (7-) Green. The multimeter will read volts to direct current (DC), so you have to connect the negative probe to the black search and the positive sign to the red search. Thanks ahead of time for the help. How Do You Check Pigtails with a Multimeter? The great thing is that usually, these steps will always identify the problem for you allowing you to DIY fix it yourself. After reading this article, you should know how to test trailer lights with a multimeter. Purchase a premium 7-pin trailer plug first. If the trailer light doesnt work when connected to the truck, it may be the wiring or the bulb. To test trailer brake magnets you will need a multimeter that reads amps and ohms. While testing the trailer plugs, you want to test the ground hole against the positive pins. (2). Use a MultiMeter to Troubleshoot Trailer Lights. When testing a 7-pin connector, you need to make sure you are testing the correct connector. The same goes for a four-pin. Measure resistance between ground terminals(negative) and all positive terminals. Then, using your multimeter, check the continuity of the pins. A trailer light connector can have 4-7 terminals depending on the manufacture and functioning. When tying a trailer to your truck, you should know how to test the seven pin plug wiring. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. To test with a multimeter, first you will connect the ammeter inline with the blue wire exiting the back of the brake controller or use the brake controller's diagnostic readings. The multimeter should show a reading of somewhere around 12 volts. Test each light to know the ones that are not working right, then be sure you do not have a burnout bulb. 2) Conect the test light clip to a known good ground. Disconnect the trailer from the vehicle and run a test to determine if the trailer lights function properly. For the right brake light, use the middle-right socket. The black one would be for a negative connection, while the red one would be for a positive connection. Simple, isnt it? Education: University Of Denver - Electric Engineering These are either simple or complex, depending on the method you eventually use. The next test you would have to carry out would be on the lighting connector to determine the problem with the wiring system. Most people know that the vehicle they are getting needs a proper-fitting trailer hitch. While most trailer lights have one contact and a separate ground supply, some do not. Touch the metal parts of your terminals together to make sure it works. When wiring a trailer, you must pay attention to the voltage of the plug. To test your trailer plugs, turn your multimeter to volt DC settings, then connect the black probe to the negative terminal and your other multimeter probe to one of the positive pins, and turn on the light controlled by that pin. I checked the 3 fuses related to the trailer; all looked fine. One of my career paths started as a general handyman, so I also have a lot of experience with home improvement I love to share. For example, to check for the right signal, you can remove the brake lights so the multimeter reads only the right lights you intend to test. These connectors and pins range from 4-way to 7-way and how you run tests depends on how many channels these connectors have. Attach a wire or alligator lead to the bulb base and then to bare metal. If youre able to do this safely, then you can plug in a working trailer light bulb. This way, youll be able to determine if the problem is a burnout bulb or a bad grounding connection. Take note of the reading. If the light still doesn't work, check the mounting bolts for the light to make sure they're making a clean contact with the trailer frame. Other orderings include the following: (1+) Red, (2+) Black, (3+) White, (4+) Blue, (5+) Yellow, (6+) Brown, (7-) Green. In general, testing a 7-pin trailer plug with a multimeter only takes a few minutes: The following things are required to test properly: The 7-pin trailer plug is challenging since it contains 7 connections in one place. Connector, you should know how to test trailer brake magnets you need... Experience possible check that the pins are clean and not squashed, 7 pin plugs were notorious for tarnished which... Connection, while the red one would be for a negative connection, while the red and white wires the. It works worked perfectly while doing this for each individual hole, you can plug in a wide of! 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