Is it ever just "plug and play"?

When my dad and I picked up my new Cobra trailer in March we were
prepared for everything, and that's what we got. The trailer's wiring
did not even match the factory's diagram. My dad (who is a retired
electrical engineer) could not figure out how it ever worked in
Germany.

Take a complete set of tools and spare widgets.

~ted/2NO

Back in 2002 I sent the kind folks at Cobra a note explaining that for
something like $30 in parts they could make any trailer headed for the
US plug and play.

Simply plug in an adapter to convert "euro" to the typical "flat four"
connector and flip a single switch at the back of the trailer. It only
would take 60 seconds at the port for the new owner to be driving away
and the lights would work. I suggested they just add $200 to each
trailer as "standard" and no one would ever bring up this subject again.

You can generally buy a what-ever-you-have-on-your-car to a what-ever-
you-have-on-your -trailer adapter at trailer stores. At least from
the car to a four-flat system.

A few suggestions if you rewire.

1) Go to a 4-flat system as that seems to be the most (least?) common
denominator, at least here in the US.
2) Go to LED lighting as they don't have nearly the corrosion issues
that incadescent lighting does.
3) Slather Dow Corning #4 dielectric grease on external connectors and
light bulb sockets to prevent corrosion and keep out water.
4) Use crimp connections instead of wire nuts or solder.

My $0.02.

Good luck, John

The glider isn't always plug-and-play, so we shouldn't expect the
trailer to be either!
Starting with a tow vehicle that has tail lighting of the modern
international standard, not the 1950s 4-wire system illegal in most of
the world, makes the job easier. US auto manufacturers only stay with
the ancient way because it involves less wire. Intentionally having
only one working brake light while turning is a strange concept.
Then decide which "large connector" you'd like on both. The US 7-pin
is quite common, but ones installed at the dealer seem to get wired as
a 4-wire system and most are plastic. I use the 6-pin round "redondo
de 6 polos", which has a metal chassis but unfortunately comes without
the 6 chickens.
With the extra pin(s) you can hook up reversing lights or interior
lights.
Build adapters to and from everything you can imagine, then perhaps
add adapters to bare ends, spade connectors or alligator clips, and a
roll of electrical tape to your kit. Keep the appropriate set in the
tow vehicle and the other set in the trailer.
If you make the adapter from your vehicle to European round,
electrically it'll be plug and play at the docks.
As mentioned before, LED lights are the way to go. Couldn't find
them in the US due to the abundance of stone age trailer lighting. The
most convenient place I found red/amber LED lights was ebay in
Australia. The same LED lights are available at many parts suppliers
there, but they may not ship overseas. The square ones I have are a
couple of mm smaller than the round hole in a Cobra trailer, so some
home made parts are needed to cover the edge of the holes up. An
example of the lights and cost:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-x-LED-STOP-...7 C240%3A1318
Of course you can find "buy now" ones too.
Jim

On Dec 3, 8:15*am, JS wrote:
The glider isn't always plug-and-play, so we shouldn't expect the
trailer to be either!
* Starting with a tow vehicle that has tail lighting of the modern
international standard, not the 1950s 4-wire system illegal in most of
the world, makes the job easier. US auto manufacturers only stay with
the ancient way because it involves less wire. Intentionally having
only one working brake light while turning is a strange concept.
* Then decide which "large connector" you'd like on both. The US 7-pin
is quite common, but ones installed at the dealer seem to get wired as
a 4-wire system and most are plastic. I use the 6-pin round "redondo
de 6 polos", which has a metal chassis but unfortunately comes without
the 6 chickens.


It's "POLOS", nor "POLLOS" ... viva la diferencia!
Uri

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE..........
TELL US IT WAS REAL plug and play....................
It would be nice to learn it functioned properly....
after all this is the year 2008 ano domini
man was on moon, long ago.

else;
try plug and pray, before touching anything



At 21:57 01 December 2008, Gary Emerson wrote:
Back in 2002 I sent the kind folks at Cobra a note explaining that for
something like $30 in parts they could make any trailer headed for the
US plug and play.

Simply plug in an adapter to convert "euro" to the typical "flat
four"
connector and flip a single switch at the back of the trailer. It only
would take 60 seconds at the port for the new owner to be driving away
and the lights would work. I suggested they just add $200 to each
trailer as "standard" and no one would ever bring up this subject
again.