Trailer Brake Controller Installation in 2013 Ford F-150 XL with Factory 4-Pole Wiring
Updated 03/28/2018 | Published 03/27/2018
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Question:
Apparently my 2013 Ford F150XL with the factory installed 4 way plug does not have the blue wire and the orange wire connected to the harness in the rear of the truck. I understand I need to run the blue wire to my brake controller. My question is, do you absolutely need to run the wire that would normally connect to the 12v orange wire to the battery for the 7 way? Is that wire mainly used to power lighting or accessories etc. in the trailer? Thanks.
asked by: Paul G
Expert Reply:
In 7-way wiring one of the 6 circuits does provide 12V power for a trailer, to either top off its battery while you travel or to power devices on the trailer if it does not have its own power source. This circuit is carried on the pin at the 1-o-clock position as you view the trailer socket. Please see the linked photo.
A trailer brake controller does NOT require that 12V auxiliary power circuit be present at the 7-way but it does naturally need its own 12V operating power which it gets directly from the battery.
A brake controller's black power wire connects to the battery + terminal through a 30-amp circuit breaker like # PK54530 to deliver its operating power. The controller's blue output wire then connects to the pin on the 7-way at the 5-o-clock position. Usually the blue and orange wires are found on the driver-side frame rail.
In your factory-4-pole-equipped F-150 installation of a controller like the Prodigy P3 # 90195 can still be done via harness # 22292 and hardwiring kit # ETBC7. This kit includes part # 37185. An install video is linked for you.
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