How to Determine What Color Wire is Used to Activate Trailer Brakes for Breakaway Switch

Updated 08/03/2017 | Published 08/02/2017

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Replacement Breakaway Switch for Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kits

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Hook Probe Circuit Tester

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Question:

I have 1996 horse trailer trying to hook breakaway box they say hook up white wire help I have no white wire what should I do

asked by: Jim

Expert Reply:

A breakaway switch, like the # 3802348, will have 2 wires that will need to be hardwired for installation. One of the wires will connect to a power source and the other will connect to the wiring for the brakes (which is probably the blue wire that you are talking about).

Since wiring does not necessarily have a universally accepted color code you will simply need to find what color wire is run to your brakes. You can trace the wiring from the brakes on your horse trailer to the trailer connector to find out which color wire your breakaway switch will need to be connected to.

If you are using the # 3802348 breakaway switch, you'll have two wires to connect, a blue and a black. Basically, the blue wire will connect to the blue wire that's on your battery box and the black wire will connect to the trailer brake wire from your trailer connector to the brakes.

Another possible option is to use a Circuit Tester # PTW2993 to test which pin on your vehicle connector sends the power from your brake controller (put the brake controller on the highest setting and use the manual override). The corresponding pin on your trailer connector will have the correct wire color connected to it. I have attached a few photos that demonstrate where the typical wiring is for 6-Way and 7-Way connectors that you can use as a reference. Please note that on some 6-Ways the 12V Power and Brake Controller Output locations are switched.

expert reply by: Jon G