Is the Orange CHMSL Wire Used to Install a Trailer Brake Controller on a 2013 Chevy Silverado

Updated 08/12/2013 | Published 08/10/2013

Question:

I have a orange wire that says chnsl on white tag for brake control wiring not sure what this means?

asked by: Terry M

Expert Reply:

The orange wire you found is the CHMSL circuit. This is the center high mount stop light wire. It is not used by a brake controller so you can tape it up and stow it out of the way. The wires that you will need with be 12 volt power, output to trailer brakes, input from brake switch or stoplight circuit, and ground.

On a brake controller the black wire is 12 volt power, white is ground, blue it output to the trailer brakes, and red is input from the brake switch.

On the vehicle the wires should be connected as follows:

Red/Black striped tow pkg to black controller wire
Blue tow pkg to blue controller wire
Lt blue/white striped tow pkg to red controller wire
White tow pkg to white controller wire

expert reply by: Michael H