Pair this converter with an isolating diode kit to get the signal lights needed for flat towing. Designed for use on towed vehicles with amber turn signals that are being flat towed by a motorhome with combined brake and turn signals.
Features:
Specs:
Note: You will need to install isolating diodes with this tail light converter to prevent electrical feedback when flat towing a vehicle. Vehicles with separate turn signals and brake lights will need a total of 6 diodes.
California residents: click here
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (59 Customer Reviews)
Pair this converter with an isolating diode kit to get the signal lights needed for flat towing. Designed for use on towed vehicles with amber turn signals that are being flat towed by a motorhome with combined brake and turn signals.i used this on my trailer so that i was able to use taillights with separate (amber) turn signals, it works like it is supposed to, BUT it doesn't work with LED tails bc it drops the brake wire voltage coming out of the convertor to 10v causing the brake light LEDs to not function properly; i solved this issue with a voltage regulator (10-32v in - 13.8v out) so if you've got a little wiring knowledge or are using incandescent taillights then it will work great for you.
Matt M - 06/03/2020
Works great for stop/turn/ tail lights with yellow signal capability on my sled deck, only issue is when hazards/brake lights activate there is a short flash of yellow before the electronics take over. Great solution for the price.
Jesse - 11/19/20211 Tail Light Converter - C56196 : i was a little confused, but finely figured it out. 2 Tail Light Isolating Diodes (Qty 4) - 48955 : i was told i would need these (their for towing a vehicle, not a trailer) etrailer salesperson should had known that(they were told) wasted money, cost to ship back
I used this product to wire the center, high-mounted brake light on a pickup truck camper shell. I used the wires from the rear brake lights. All I can say is that it works like a charm. It does exactly what it's supposed to do.
Mark P - 01/28/2021The instructions were straight forward and easy to follow the system works perfectly and accomplished exactly what I was trying to do.
we used this on an 83' mack semi project. we needed to use the new LED lights we purchased and since the new lights have a dedicated brake wire, this kit worked out great.
It works as described under normal circumstances, but I have one problem with the hazard flashing. Using it makes the brake lights light up on my trailer and not the turn signals like on the car. I still have to do some research on that issue.
HH - 08/17/2018I found a camper shell for my Ranger that had an LED brake light, but it had never been wired up before. Before I found this product I had simply spliced a connection into one of the vehicle's brake light circuits. While this DID work, it also meant that it would flash the turn signal from the side that I wired it into (I used the left side; Ford used amber turn signals on the Ranger from 1993 to 1999, but mine is a 2011). This would have confused anyone behind me whether I was slowing down, turning, or both with too many flashing lights at once. This tail light converter was the solution to this problem. An ordinary converter (3-to-2 wire) will NOT work b/c it can't be wired in backwards (tried it before on a similar project). Same for this one (it even says it on the labeling) except it works in the opposite direction (2-to-3 wire). I wired it in the same way as just the light itself, & nothing happened. Eventually I found out it needed power from the left AND right brake lights for it to function. EUREKA! Everything lit up when I pressed the brake pedal. I also found out that the hazard flashers run through the brake light circuit in the converter after being separated from the turn signals--the brake light still flashed along with them (but ONLY them); the same thing happens with the high-mount stop lamp on my Wells Cargo trailer, so I can live with that. Had to find extra wiring to reach the right side though. Only suggestions are to make the the input wires longer & explain in the instructions that you need the left AND right inputs for the converter to run properly. Otherwise an excellent product!
Used it to wire up a third single brake light bar on a teardrop trailer. Works well. OEM trailer lights are LED which necessitated the choice of this controller over the standard controller. Written and graphic wiring instructions posted by etrailer were easily followed, and so far, after a year of use, no issues. Thanks.
Does what it says it does. Internally, it uses a relay that triggers when both turn signal inputs are activated, so there is a pulse on the output when hitting the brakes, or when the cautions are activated. I used this to install turn signal / marker light combos on my trailer. This stops the brake light functionality from lighting up the turn signal portion of the marker lights, but there is still a brief pulse or strobe when the brakes are hit, or the cautions are activated. I would have personally used a mosfet in this unit instead of a relay, as the switching and signal processing would be orders of magnitude faster with no pulse or strobe effect. So, it does separate out the brake lights from the turn signals, but not 100%, more like 95%
Purchased a set of European style taillights for a trailer rewire I was doing. Got everything wired in and couldn't get the taillights to work properly due to they had a 5 wire configuration, after some research found that over seas the turn signal and brake signals are separated on trailers, in the states ours are combined on one signal wire, thus they're wasd no way to make these lights work, until I stumbled upon a forum and there was a link to etrailer and what do you know here's this little black box that does what I need. I ordered it but yet was hesitant cause I really didn't think it would work. Once installed all works perfect. I stil got to use my taillights I wanted on my rewire and everything works just as normal.
It’s great
This item is exactly as advertised. I use it to convert a U.S. Spec vehicle with red turn signals to pull a E.U. trailer with the yellow turn signals and works like a charm. I have ordered several times from this company and continue to receive excellent service from the ordering processing all the way thru to the delivery. Would recommend both this product and the company to anyone asking.
Scott - 06/25/2019Does exactly what it says, converts from combined turn signal/brake light to separate turn signal and brake light circuits. I am using it to pull a Bushtec motorcycle trailer (with separate brake light circuits, 6-conductor flat connector) with a motorcycle (with combined signal and brake light circuits). I just hooked it up in conjunction with a circuit isolator I already had wired in to a 4-condoctor flat harness tonight and it works. So now I have the 4-conductor connector for a rack I use instead of a trailer sometimes and the 6-conductor connector for the Bushtec trailer. The only drawback I have found is the third brake light on the spoiler of my trailer dims if I am braking and signaling a turn at the same time. It does this each time the signal flashes. But for the price, I'm happy with it.
The CURT 2-to-3 wire conversion kit was easy to mount and install. Upon fist glance, there seemed to be an issue with the quality of the plastic box, and where the seems did not meet. However, the longevity of the part is yet to be seen. The converter was marked clearly, and instructions were good. I used the converter for a Swedish boatwashing machine that was imported into the USA. The European style connector was removed, and the CURT conversion kit was wired in. After wiring up the inputs and outputs as labeled on the part itself all lights worked independently just as they should. Great product with ez to understand instructions and works as it should.
I recently purchased a new CanAm Spyder and had a trailer hitch installed to pull my small camping trailer. The Spyder output cable has combined brake and turn signal connections while my trailer has a separate turn signal and brake hookup. After calling Etrailer and speaking with Rick about my problem he suggested I use the C56196 converter. This small unit was exactly what I needed and it works perfectly.
As always, shipping was faster than quoted. Excellent. Ordered on Tuesday and arrived on Thursday. I used this to isolate the brake/turn signal for installation of a third brake light on a teardrop camper. Easy installation, clearly marked wiring. Worked as expected.
I bought this product 2 years ago and installed it on a portable wire harness for transporting oversize loads and is still going strong. I just purchased a backup but doubt I will need it. GREAT PRODUCT!
Awesome quick service -
I built a generator rack on the back of my travel trailer and added additional break, running, and turn signals. Using this device I was easily able to use the existing 4 pin connector on the back of the travel trailer to wire up all my new lights.
The tail light converter works as it should - make sure that the ground wire is connected solidly then you'll be fine . Specially on boat trailers that could cause issues. The ground wire is the first to corrode and suddenly nothing is working any more. I greased all the ground wire connectors- also on the vehicle side ....
The Curt 56196 works. Use this device to provide separate L Turn / R Turn / Brake output from typical 1950s 4-pin trailer wiring, still in use over half a century later.
Used converted to add blindspot lights on side of RV. Works great.
C56196 is great to separate combined brake & turn signals. I could find it only at etrailer. I used the backup lights as the new turn signals. I put a b.u. light on bumper.
This is a well made product. I failed to order the required diode kit for the application I was using it for, so it did not work right away. I have ordered the diode kit and fully expect everything to be great. The customer service is extremely good and friendly. They really want to make sure customers are taken care of.
Do you have a question about this Tow Bar Wiring?
Info for this part was:
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.