Can a 7-Way Blade Connector Be Used For Only The Trailer Brake ConnectionsNo Lights?

Published 09/25/2021

Question:

Yes I just purchased a 7 way from you guys . Can I use this plug just to make my electric brakes work . There will be nothing else hooked up to the plug ? If so I have a white and black wire coming from trailer brakes ! What colors off the plug should I hook up ? Black to black white to white or should I hook the black wire to the blue wire off the plug? Thank you

asked by: Willie P

Helpful Expert Reply:

Yes, you can use a 7-way for only the 2 circuits if that is all that is required. The 7-Pole Round Connector # H20044 has a 12 gauge blue wire that is the output for the brakes. The 10 gauge white wire is the ground wire for the 7-way connector. It is important that your trailer brakes are connected to these circuits to work properly in a 7-way female connector.

The 2 wires coming from the trailer brakes are not labeled as positive and negative terminals so unless one of the wires is grounded to the chassis you can connect the wiring in either orientation on the blue and white wires of the 7-way. Personally white to white makes the most sense but again be sure to check if either wire is already grounded to the axle or chassis first.

If you have a breakaway battery for the brakes it needs to also have the black wire connected from the 7-way to charge the battery when connected. The battery ground would also connect to the white wire on the 7-way connection.

expert reply by: Bud M