Wiring Information (FYI)

All wiring should be checked by a certified technician to make sure
that the product is properly installed ! ! !

Standard & Power Taillight Converters
Today's vehicles have more electronic features than ever before. New advancements include on board computers, cruise control, ABS brakes, air bags - systems that require more electrical power and more protection.

When you connect a trailer to a modern vehicle with sophisticated electronics you need to be aware that these features can also lead to more potential problems. Failing to use the proper wiring system for your tow vehicle can have many unfortunate consequences. An inadequate wiring system can cause an overload, resulting in blown fuses and potentially damaging sensitive, and expensive, electronic devices on your tow vehicle.

The following information will help you select the appropriate wiring system for your towing needs. As you will see, that selection is dependent not only on the tow vehicle, but also on the trailer that is being towed. The information in this online catalog is believed to be correct. However: Car and truck manufactures may change their system at any time. Be sure to carefully review any information in your Owner's Manual regarding trailer wiring.

4, 5, 6 and 7 Wire Systems
Until recently most domestic vehicles used a single red light for both brake and turn signals (one bulb per side). This is referred to as a four wire system and is compatible with the way trailers are wired in North America. Most older vehicles with a four wire system require only a 4-pole flat connector tapped directly to the vehicle's wiring harness to safely operate the lights on a conventional trailer.

Most foreign vehicles and an increasing number of domestic vehicles have both a red brake signal and a separate amber turn signal (two bulbs per side). This is referred to as a five wire or "International Wiring System". Tow vehicles with a five wire system require a standard or power taillight converter to make the tow vehicle's wiring system compatible to the wiring system on the trailer.

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	COLOR WIRING


4 PIN WIRING	6 PIN WIRING	7 PIN WIRING

Standard Taillight Converters
A standard taillight converter must be used to connect a tow vehicle with a five wire system (amber turn signals) to a trailer with a conventional four wire system. This type of converter is wired directly into the tow vehicle's wiring harness and gets its power from the same circuits that are used to power the tow vehicle's taillights. This does cause an increased load on the tow vehicle's electrical system.

This type of converter is adequate for towing most small trailers that have only a single set of taillights, using a tow vehicle that does not have highly sensitive on-board electronic devices such as a lamp-out module. As always, refer to your Owner's Manual for information on your vehicle.

All taillight converters sold by BAGE Company are a high efficiency transistor type.

Power Taillight Converters
In addition to converting a five wire system to a four wire system, power converters use a specially fused heavy gauge "power" line to draw electricity directly from the vehicle's battery. This eliminates the load placed on the tow vehicle's own taillight circuits by conventional trailer wiring and standard converters.

Power converters also almost completely isolate the circuitry on the tow vehicle from the trailer. Only a tiny signal gets through to identify which of your trailer lights should be on to correspond to the lighting system on your car or truck. This relieves the tow vehicle's circuitry to handle the functions such as brakes, etc. for which it was designed and will not create an overload condition to interrupt any of these functions.

Circuit Guardian
This is a unique power converter that provides the ultimate in power handling capability and electrical protection for your car or truck. It performs the same functions as the power taillight converter, but has two additional features:

It is designed to handle increased power loads (caused by large trailers with many lights) with minimal voltage drop. In addition to providing protection for the car or truck, it has a solid state device to protect itself from overloads or shorts in the trailer wiring. If a conventional power converter is connected to a trailer that has a short in its wiring the converter may burn out, but the Circuit Guardian will not.

T-Connectors
T-Connectors are available for most truck, sport utility, and minivan applications. They have an O.E.M. compatible plug that attaches to existing connectors in the tow vehicles wiring harness. This provides the easiest installation possible - no cutting or splicing. The T-connector for your vehicle provides everything required to complete a conventional 4-wire flat trailer connection - the converter or power converter required for your vehicle is built into the T-connector.

When To Use a Power Converter
Power taillight converters should be used on tow vehicle's that have sensitive electronic options such as lamp-out module that could be damaged by the loads caused by a standard wiring system. Vehicles where the electrical system is not robust enough to support additional loads also require power converters. Refer to the Suggested Wiring information on the products page and your Owner's Manual.

Power taillight converters should be also be used when towing a trailer with large number of lights. Refer to the Taillight Converter Guide.

Power converters may also be used on tow vehicles with a conventional four wire system where the conditions listed above apply. Instructions are provided with the power converter for proper installation with a four wire system.

Installation Tips
Tapping into the tow vehicle's wiring harness can be accomplished in a number of ways. The simplest is to install a T-connector which is pre-wired and connects directly into your wire harness.

The second is to install a standard or power taillight converter using wire taps that easily pierce the wire insulation and individual wires on both the connector and the vehicle. Wire taps are especially suited for installations where the wiring harness is inside the trunk of the vehicle, or similar protected area. Weather proofing for exterior use can be accomplished by sealing the ends with silicone.

Stripping of wires followed be soldering and heat shrink tubing provides a very secure joint. Electrical tape can be used but should be inspected and replaced at periodic intervals.

Always ensure that ground wires are connected properly to both the vehicle and trailer. Do not rely on the hitch coupler and ball to provide a ground connection. The best way to provide a proper ground is to ensure that the wires on both the trailer and the tow vehicle are bolted firmly to the steel of the chassis or to the ground wire of the vehicle.

All taillight converters end in a standard four pole flat connector. You can achieve a clean professional appearance by adding a 4-pole knockout plug to connect the 4-pole flat to the trailer hitch.

All taillight converters and T-connectors can also be used in conjunction with pre-wired 6 way and 7 way connectors if you are towing a trailer that has brakes or additional electrical requirements.

TYPICAL Trailer Wiring System
Shown is a diagram of a typical electrical wiring on a trailer.
Diagram shows a 4 pin connection and 5, 6 and 7 wire connections can be added when brakes are added to the trailer as well as other auxiliary connections like voltage for accessories on the trailer.