Does Wire Color Matter on Electric Trailer Brakes

Updated 02/05/2021 | Published 02/02/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector - 12-10 Gauge - Nylon Insulation - Yellow - Qty 5

(1110)

$7.45

Dexter Electric Trailer Brakes - 10" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 3.5K

(1572)

$167.49

etrailer Electric Trailer Brakes - Self-Adjusting - 12" - Left/Right Hand - 5.2K to 7K

(3070)

$186.02

Question:

Trying to get this trailer wiring straightened out I have the lights working. The issue is the trailer brakes. They have two wires one white and one black. I’m pretty sure the white is ground. Should the black actually be blue?

asked by: Mark A

Expert Reply:

Ok, so for electric trailer brakes, the color of the wires coming out of the brakes does not actually matter for the electric brakes we offer.

For example, Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit - 10" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 3,500 lbs # 23-26-27 uses two green wires, and either can be connected to your ground and brake wiring, as you can see at about the 6:35 mark of the linked installation video of these brakes.

As another example, the Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 12" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 5.2K to 7K # AKEBRK-7-SA has two black wires, and you can connect either to you ground and brake wiring. You can see this at about the 5:25 mark of the linked installation video for these brakes.

I'm not sure what brakes you have, so I can't comment specifically, but you can try connecting white to ground and black to power and I am guessing that will be what works out.

expert reply by: Kyle S