Trailer connector 7 or 13 pin ?

[BlueGriff]

When seeking out a wiring kit for a new vehicle I have to choose between 7 or 13 pin connector. As far as I can figure out there is an imminent rule change requiring trailers to have reversing lights which will use the 13 pin standard. Anybody know if that will be applied retrospectively or only for trailers built after the date and when the change is ?

Basically I need to fit 13 pin and change the trailer or stick with 7 pin.

[Radical]

Where have you heard about that rule change?

[Wrxbart]

All I know is that the 13 pin plugs are now mot tested?

[red21]

The change from 7 pin (12N &12S) to ISO 13 pin trailer sockets has been on the cards for new tow bars and trailers wiring for a couple of years (By 2008) and is standard fitment in main land Europe for a while.
It's only our reluctance & that 85-90% of towbars fitted in the UK are still the 7 pin wiring system it just haven't caught on yet!!
When the change does come it will be quick & panic will follow despite prior public/trade notification.
The ISO 13 pin is a better concept but until it becomes common place it's the owners choice.

http://www.rightconnections.co.uk/vi....php?page_id=5

[BlueGriff]

Thanks for that Rich, I had found that site but not that page.

The guy who was trying to sell me a more expensive 13 pin kit rather than a 7pin one suggested it would be a requirement in 2013.

As I understand it on a Can Bus equipped car you buy a box which connects somewhere to the bus, reads the data and turns on whichever light is appropriate on the trailer. As per the older system there are still individual cables to the lights but they are fed by the electronics in the Can Bus interface rather than directly off the loom. It seems that usually the interface detects a bulb failure and conveys that back on the bus to the instrument display to tell the driver.

If you have 13pin which includes reversing lights and use an adaptor to connect a 7 pin trailer you would think it would flag up a fault as the reversing light would not be connected.

[grahamb]

Maplins sell this for canbus cars.