Using Separate Brake Lights and Turn Signals on a European Trailer with US Chevy Silverado

Published 08/13/2015

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Question:

Hi, my name is Miguel from Spain I am an electrician and work in the Naval Base of Rota for the US Navy since 1980. I installed a type 118158 converter to adapt a small and basic European trailer to a American vehicle Chevy Silverado. The installation was successful and it works perfect.But when activate the warning lights the converter don,t separate both lights left/right and activate only the brake lights and blinking. My question either if this converter work that way, or don,t give output by separate when connect the warning switch. I dont won,t both brake lights blinking on red color because the european trailer is amber color two side left and right. There is any modification or solution that i dont know.

asked by: MIGUEL B

Expert Reply:

The issue is that trailers in the US use a combined lighting system where the brake lights and turn signals are on the same circuit. European trailers have a separate circuit for each function. The wiring harnesses for US spec vehicles will take the separate brake light and turn signals and combine them for use with a US trailer. If you plug in a European trailer then it would function like a US trailer.

To fix this issue you can install a converter on the European trailer. Converter # 118158 will install on the trailer. The green input wire is for the combined right turn and brake lights, yellow is for combined left turn and brake lights, and white is ground (earth). On the output side the red wire will be brake lights only, green will be right turn only, and yellow will be left turn only.

expert reply by: Michael H