Adapter:

Adapters are used to fit different sockets (7- or 13-pin) to the trailer connection. The term short adapter indicates an especially compact type of construction.

Charging line (L, L1):

In accordance with DIN/ISO 11446, contact no. 10 of the 13-pin socket is intended as the charging line for the trailer battery. Most of the 13-pin electrical systems come equipped with an appropriate connector (min 2.5 mm2 cross-section, max 20 A).

This charging line is connected via a cut-off relay to the vehicle battery. As soon as the ignition is turned on or the motor starts running, it can be used for a 2nd battery or a refrigerator in the trailer.

Central Plug:

Connections available in the vehicle that can be used for connecting the trailer wire set.

Check Control:

Check Control (abbreviated as CC) refers to the equipment in a vehicle that monitors the lights and indicates any malfunctions. These are optical or acoustic indicators that may be integrated with info displays or dash computers. Since trailers hitched to these vehicles should be operated separately from the rest of the vehicle lighting, many electrical kits feature CC or are expandable in order to prevent damage to the vehicle electronics. Electrical kits with a CC interface require a CC expansion kit in order to function with a CC system. See the notes in the catalogue.

Continuous positive (D, D1):

In accordance with DIN/ISO 11446, contact no. 9 of the 13-pin socket is responsible for supplying continuous power directly from terminal 30 of the battery.

Most of the 13-pin electrical systems come equipped with an appropriate connector (min 2.5 mm2 cross-section, max. 20 A) and corresponding earth at contact no. 13.

Control Light (C2):

These are frequently used indicator lights that drivers use to monitor the trailer turn signals, as vehicle regulations require. These are usually green indicator lights that are controlled by the flash unit. The indicators must be situated within the drivers visible range; with some vehicles, these are already installed in the dashboard or they need only be retrofitted. These indicate to the driver whether the trailer turn signals are properly functioning and work together with the original indicators. The function of the existing C2 control light needs to be coded free for various models.

Crimp Socket:

A crimp socket generally refers to sockets where the contacts are already crimped to the wire set and prefabricated in a contact holder. In this model, the especially flat versions (40 mm) are available.

Data Bus (CAN):

Designates a particular digital mode of data transmission in the vehicle. Usually most of the control units are connected with each other via the data bus and exchange the necessary signals. In some vehicles, the trailer control unit is also connected by the data bus to the vehicles onboard electrical system. This type of transmission is often also known as CAN (Controller Area Network)! The two lines, CAN High and CAN Low, are generally laid out in the vehicle, twisted with each other.

Disabling the acoustic parking system (E):

The acoustic parking system is sometimes referred to as APS, parking distance control (PDC), Parktronics, or EPH (in Germany). This parking system monitors the distance behind the vehicle for example and potential obstacles are indicated optically or acoustically whenever the driver switches into reverse gear. To avoid incorrect information, the acoustic parking system should be turned off when operating with a trailer. When hitching and unhitching the trailer, APS can be disabled and enabled automatically using the control unit. Many vehicles are equipped with an appropriate switch in the cockpit.

Important note:

When mounting permanently attached hitches, the ball may be located in the sensor range. Whenever the desired function of the acoustic parking system is ensured in this combination needs to be checked in each case. A correction to the problem is provided by the removable model of the trailer hitch, if it is available and the ball tow bar is respectively not disassembled when not used.

Disabling the rear fog lights (acc. German traffic regulations):

In accordance with ECE R48, the rear fog light of the towing vehicle can be disabled when towing a trailer. When attaching racks (e.g. bicycle racks) with lighting units, they have to be turned off in order to reduce glare. This is automatically disabled and enabled on the towing vehicle as needed in one of the following ways:

 

• By a mechanical disconnecting contact in the socket or also

• By a microswitch,

• By an additional cutoff relay,

• Automatically by the control unit as soon as the trailer is detected.

Enabling the trailer monitoring:

The monitoring of the trailer turn signal is prepared in the vehicle’s on-board electrical system and needs to be enabled (coded) after the installation of the electrical kit.

Installation Instructions:

The installation instructions provide general information on how to install the electrical system or attach the trailer hitch for the given vehicle. The description is provided in text forms, diagrams and/or photos.

LED Lights:

A new type of lighting in vehicles that consumes significantly less current and can switch from dark to light state quicker. In vehicle-specific E-kits, these special features are taken into account.

Legal Requirements:

Throughout Europe, the regulations are specified by EC guidelines. In many countries, the natural regulations are currently still valid.

Thus in Germany, the rear fog light switch-off is for instance still specifically regulated (refer to “Disabling the rear fog lights”). There are also regulations on the turn signal monitoring that deviate. All Westfallia E-kits take the nationally valid regulations into account. In Germany for example, only E-kits are currently still offered that generate an error message in case both turn signal lamps on a trailer fail.

Load Current Relay:

At least 4-pin relay with increased connected load (e.g. 70A) and larger flat pins. Use in the command centre, e.g. with Volvo.

Microswitch:

Small switch, partially built into the socket, that is used for functions such as rear fog light switch-off or trailer auto-detect.

7-pin socket in accordance with DIN/ISO 1724:

Simple connection (N version), not watertight, sufficiently fulfils the original legal requirements. It is not possible to include continuous positive or reverse lamp signals, because all of the lines are already in use, refer also to the wiring plans in the catalogue. As of 1st January 1991, reverse lamps are mandatory on all vehicles and racks (e.g. bicycle racks) with reverse lamps also have to include all of the other light signals, thus meaning that the 7-pin socket is no longer sufficient.

7-pin socket in accordance with DIN/ISO 3732:

Simple connection (S version) as an extension to standard 7-pin socket for reverse lamps and continuous positive, pin connections not identical to standard 7-pin socket (sometimes used in GB).

13-pin socket in accordance with DIN/ISO 11446:

Simple connection, watertight with simple handling. Corresponds to automobile industry standard. Signals such as reverse lamp and continuous positive can be suitably transferred and reverse lines are available, allowing for additional options that are especially useful in camping applications.

Pole Reversal kit:

Is used if the switched signal, for instance of the rear fog light, is applied as a negative signal at the light, but is needed as a positive signal for the trailer and the switch-off.

Using the relay, the signals pole is reversed before the switch-off. The ame principle is valid for individual systems of the acoustic parking system. In addition, the circuit logic can be adapted using the kit.

Rear fog light switch-off relay:

Usually a 3-pin relay with special circuitry, without extra earth connection (e.g. Daimler E-class W/S210).

Socket West:

Special socket with 7-pin connection acc. DIN/ISO 1724 and 6 additional contacts for signals such as RFS, KI.30 etc.

Substitute light function (example Mercedes W203):

If there is a defect for example of a turn signal lamp on the vehicle, then the reverse lamp flashes as a substitute. The fault is indicated in the vehicle and ought not influence the function at the trailer.

On many current vehicles, the brake light is switched on and dimmed as a substitute light in case a side lamp fails. As a rule here, an error signal is sent to the driver.

Taillights dimmed:

If various brightnesses are shown by a signal bulb, then a dimmed signal is meant. The signals come from the vehicles on-board electrical system and can generate for example with a conventional 21 watt 1 thread bulb various brightnesses and thus show functions such as side lamp and brake light. This equipment usually requires special trailer control units that are included in vehicle-specific electrical systems.

Trailer Auto-detect:

The trailer auto-detect signals to the towing vehicle or control unit whether or not a trailer is hitched. This information is used to control the turn signals, acoustic parking system, and other control functions. A microswitch installed in the socket selects whether to transfer the information to the control unit or directly to the electrical system of the vehicle.

In the current version, an attached trailer is usually detected electronically by the electrical load of the trailer lighting and the required information is passed on accordingly.

Trailer control unit:

This is the designation for control units that partially or even completely supply the trailer lighting. This is controlled generally via the tail lights and the continuous positive to be attached to the control unit supplies the trailer. In the vehicles without Check Control, the turn signals and partially the rear fog lights are supplied via the control unit. In vehicles with Check Control, the entire trailer is supplied via the control unit so that the vehicle electronics are only loaded minimally. The original turn signals do not have to be replaced.

Turn Signals:

The flash unit, often referred to as a “Flash relay”, regulates the flash pulses sent to the vehicle and, if hitched, also to the trailer. Malfunctions are indicated by changes to the flashing rate of the control lights. In most cases, the flash unit is integrated with the main electrical system. It can however also be combined with the warning blink switch and other control units. For operation with trailers, the original flash units were replaced in most cases by flash units with C2 function and an additional control was installed. Flash units are available in a wide range of pin configurations, some of which require additional adapters in order to install a C2 flash unit.

TSP, Trailer stability program

system is known in the industry also by the following terms:

• TSP, Trailer-Stabilization-Program (trademark of Johannes Gubernath)

• TSM, Trailer Sway Mitigation

• TSA, Trailer Stability Assist
• GST, Gespann-Stabillisierung-Programm (in Germany)

This system monitors the drive situation of the rig by sensors on the vehicle. The vehicle detects after the connection of the trailer plug that the vehicle is in the trailer mode and monitors the velocity-dynamic movements that are relevant to this operating mode. In case the rig gets into to critical driving state, for example because of oscillation/fishtailing of the trailer, the vehicles systems support the driver until the rig returns to a stable condition. Such systems are offered by many automobile manufacturers now as an option or as a standard feature. The activation of the TSP is done by linking to the vehicles on-board electrical system using coordinated control units, usually by CAN bus.

Westfallia now provides a number of electrical cable looms with this safety-relevant system. Such solutions are marked in the catalogue with the comment “CAN”. If the vehicle is prepared with a TSP/TSM/TSA system, then it can be activated following installation of the Westfallia electrical cable loom, if necessary. Another important step for increasing traffic safety.

Vehicle-specific connection (S):

All of the vehicle connections are made using the available connections so as to avoid connection errors and save time. The wire lengths are adapted to the vehicle.

Westfallia-Tronic:

This is the designation for electrical systems that work with a trailer control unit and usually do not require modifications to the dashboard electronics. Faults in the trailer turn signal system are indicated by an increased flashing rate of the turn signal indicators in the vehicle. No additional C2 lights are required.

CAN electrical kits Advantages:

• Enables and supports new functions, such as rig stabilizing, pneumatic suspension and brake assistance, also for trailer operation

• Diagnostics capable

• Reduced installation effort

• OEM quality offers security in all situations

• Comprehensive product portfolio of vehicle-specific electrical kits

• In case coding/activation is required on the vehicle, this can be performed with, for instance, the KTS diagnostic devices and the software ESI (tronic) from Bosch. Technology:

• Connection to the vehicle on-board electrical system with Westfalia CAN bus module “UCC” or by the original manufacturer control unit.

• Control and monitoring of the lighting function with the active communication with the vehicle data bus

• All control units with e1 type approval