Easy Way To Remember Wiring Of A 7-Way 'RV' Plug (RV Standard)

Become a Patron: / myrvworks
Parts and Tools Links: myrvworks.com/...
Service Manuals: myrvworks.com/...
myrvworks.com
Certified Mobile RV Technician, Darren Koepp, teaches you how to remember which pin is which when you are troubleshooting a faulty 7-Way RV plug.
Note that there is a 'Traditional' color-code spec and an 'RV' color-code spec. Darren will be explaining the 'RV' color-code spec NOT the 'Traditional' color-code spec.
Here is a great article on etrailer that does a great job presenting the different specs between the 6-pin and the different 7-way standards: www.etrailer.c...
If you are in need of RV Repairs in the Olympic Peninsula area of Washington state, submit a service request on our website at myrvworks.com today!

[@DarrenMoore71]

Thank You, Thank you, Thank you! Out of all the videos I looked at no one explained it better than you. This saved me. The wiring diagram that came with the plug is totally useless. It might be easy if you hand the old plug still connected but mine ripped off...so just the bare wires. The only difference is I didn’t have a ground (white wire) still worked great without it. Thanks.

[@dannymckinnis6050]

Thank you. I tried many ways to make mine work and watched a bunch of videos. After watching yours fixed the plug right away.

[@-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.-]

This man is not just wise, he is a sage.

[@jessemcbride6567]

Thanks for all the correct ways to do repairs

[@ajk9591]

Thanks my man!!! Sheesh, spent hours testing, trying different color codes online…..on the 4th try I used your color code and now my camper lights are correct!!!!! Beware of all the wiring diagrams on google!!!! AJK

[@musicfan6575]

Very smart and useful approach. Thank you for posting.

[@Ryan-cs6en]

The paint pens are a great idea for reference. great video. hope your super busy in PA. I'm in Sequim working on rvs and I'm slammed I'll send em your way if i don't have time to do it all! And boy it's been a hot few days!

[@dgross53]

Thank you! Your video saved me in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. Lost my pigtail and needed to replace it myself, hour video took us over the finish line.

[@stanjarmolowicz]

Thanks Darren , this is most helpful way to clear head about wires and trailer connectors . However i'm worry about fact that sometime you feel like da RV .. and you admit that -HONEST MAN ! Myself i'm bit less honest when comes to times that i would let anybody know about switching identities even for second . i know how to keep secret and i won't tell nobody that yesterday i was a refrigerator and day before i was a John Deer Tractor .

[@Cdepisos]

Thank you so much. I wouldn't have had the confidence to try it myself without your video.

[@terrywilson5954]

That sure is easier to remember than just a diagram.. I don't move my trailer as I live in it, but now I have something I can share with others. A thumbs up as usual, and I'm already subscribed.

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Terry, Thanks for the comment and it is good to have you here! More video's coming out soon!

[@cirrus820travelers9]

Nice! A very simple explanation needed to replace rv plug we drug several (100+) miles!

[@shaunbloedow4023]

Very helpful with color coordination!

[@davidk3277]

At 5:15, you called the center terminal (yellow) your "auxiliary". I believe the center (yellow) is your backup lights. The black terminal (constant 12 volt, that charges RV battery), is sometimes called auxillary.

[@silverwater5338]

I was having trouble wiring the plug for my camper and came across this, great video and super simple ! Got the job done, thank you.

[@kenmatthews6476]

Great help. The repair shop put the pigtail insert upside down so blue wire was in the position of green wire. Thanks for the color visual.

[@tysonmurphy7521]

Easiest to understand by far. Thanks.

[@MyRVWorks]

Hope it helps. Thanks for watching. Happy camping.

[@thomasross7421]

Awesome explanation of what each wire pin does

[@jackiewagner8657]

Appreciate it man I watched 2 other videos and no luck but your way you explained it was easy and simple

[@jstar1000]

here is a cool tip for you and everyone else watching. If you take a 10 amp blade fuse (not sure the best amp fuse to use but you will know) you can stick it in the black (12v) and Green (trailer lights) or whatever color is for your trailer running lights openings and it will light them up. I do this at night as its just cool to have all the running lights on at night and sets your RV out from everyone elses. Before you go in for the night you can just pull the fuse out to turn it off. They actually make a device for this purpose that plugs into the end of the 7 way with a switch but its like $30 or so. The fuse is much cheaper of course. If you use the correct size fuse then its safe and protected from getting stupid as the fuse will just blow ands shut off the lights. Boom! my RV tip! lol.

[@JohnHitchcock-x6p]

He's going off what the plug says I go off what I know black is hot to charge and red is reverse tho

[@Sadie04074]

Thanks, I used your video today with success!

[@rickl6697]

Great idea, thanks. Where would you recommend finding the paint pens.

[@kevinjervis916]

Thanks! Great easy to follow video! I've been working on old RVs for Playa Slumlord LLC that rents to Burning Man attendees but haven't learned a lot of the electrical systems yet, this was a great video!!

[@bobpulford3288]

Thank you for helping me understand! I was lost.

[@DarrenKoepp360]

Hi Bob, Glad it helped!!! Cheers, Darren

[@justinsermersheim9220]

This helped out tremendously. Thank you!

[@MrLike2surf]

Thanks. I just subscribed to your channel because you make great videos.

[@MyRVWorks]

Thank you for watching. I have many more on the way.

[@martinkoche4375]

Yes you are a great teacher appreciate you and your help 👍👍🙏

[@roundsm18]

Problems with trailers... plagues RV and Equipment/Trucking mobile service all the same. Except in my world the center pin is backup lights and usually purple. Last crazy one I got someone replaced the pigtail and they went and matched wires by color instead of function. So the running lights were blue and they wired them to the blue trailer wire, then turned on their headlights on the way back from a job at 55. It was a great show.

[@MyRVWorks]

Darren is starting up a new company where he will be making tools for techs. One of the tools he has designed is what he is calling the RV Light-show. The user will connect the 7-way to this test box and select the wiring standard (Cargo trailer or RV). That will change the colors of the LED's when the individual circuit is energized from the text box. He is also making a version of that tool that will pair to a smart phone so you can walk around and energize the different chassis circuits while you are working on them. At last count he told us he was up to 30 different tools he will be developing. Very exciting times. Keep an eye on his new website as he works with our web developers and tool makers and starts adding tools: www.t3interface.com Happy Camping My RV Works Media Team

[@roundsm18]

My RV Works, Inc. The current production tool that does that is a box called the Mutt. Its designed for exactly that purpose. If he can beat the cost of them that would be awesome, cause they’re still a bit steep.

[@jackdanko2486]

Thank God somebody finally explained that right. I installed a new plug and went by the wire colors and that was totally wrong. You’re way it was exactly right on my truck and trailer.

[@RVingwithG]

You got lucky. On 99.9% of all trailers; the yellow is the left turn and break and green is the right turn and break and brown is the running lights. Blue is trailer Breaks Red is +12volts Black is Reverse …

[@jh5881]

World's best RV Repair Man!

[@djc6323]

Oh my goodness THANK YOU! It worked

[@frankmarti8984]

I just want to say thank you so much for your time and all the information you give us

[@chrisdewalt2489]

This video was a huge help thank you so much for the upload

[@patwhite8656]

Hello I been watching your videos great job very informative thank you. I'm working on a new light bar for better visibility and wondering if there is a easy way to hook light to light alarm so I don't forget them on . I have a sea Breese national any help would be appreciated.

[@DirectCurrent4u]

I just needed to know which one to disconnect so I am not trying to charge eight 12 volt lithium batteries off of my truck when I am traveling down the road! Thanks for sharing...👍

[@sellignomod83]

HI Darren,hope you are doing fine, I have my trailer tail lights that just wont light, although my turn signals, my break lights, my emergency light, my electric break all work perfectly. I had an issue with the connecting cable from the car to the trailer lately. It got tangled up with the hitch and caused a short somehow. Two fuses were busted in the truck fuse box. I replaced them. So I dont know were to look. I replaced the 7 pins cable. Do you have an idea for what I should look for? Thank you in advance an thank you for sharing your expertise, much appreciated. Best regards, Sellig

[@tracybrowner5121]

You made it so simple, love the video,

[@brucekellyhillyer7779]

Great video, easy to follow and very clear!

[@projet2907]

What does Auxiliary do? Thank you for this video, My Chevy Colorado plugs upside down. Re a that don’t know have blown my 30A trailer fuse trying to push it in. I guess the Aux would be the wire to put a switch on to keep the truck from drawing from trailer battery when the battery Voltage goes on low mode (12.1)? I would like to install that or I guess a Dc to Dc charger would resolve that!

[@danielalamo2075]

Where did you get your wire colors from? I started in the 70s with GM pickup trucks helping to repair trailer wiring issues on my family's dairy farm. We always just used same color as the trucks and I still do today. Only thing trailer brakes are sometimes red or blue depending on trailer. And 12 volt hot is usually red or black. But everything I have dealt with is green (usually dark) for right turn, yellow left turn, brown tail marker, and ground white. So I was just curious.

[@rileybennis4029]

Iam not sure why but when you look this up it claims his color codes are "standard". I always wired green for right, yellow to the left, brown for tail. Better remembered as green for the grass to the right, yellow for the line to the left, brown for the shit behind you. This is the standard for heavy duty air brake trailers but of course to make shit complicated they need to switch it u. A different industry.. Then blue for brake, and red or black for 12 volt hot. Which ever is left for your center pin or reverse lights.

[@sanjeevsingh8712]

Well Done and very useful video. Thanks

[@seanrinehart2253]

Once again, a great video. I wish I had come across this channel months ago. Thanks you for the video

[@gailjohnson6670]

Thank you. Blessings to you.

[@lostinmyspace4910]

I have one trailer tire that locks up when I go in reverse and not stepping on the truck brake. I had to remove the blue connector in the junction box to get rid of power to the brake. Now it doesn't lock up. Why is this happening? How do I fix it? Thanks, and THUMBS UP!!!

[@eesinc.9081]

My first time towing a travel trailer yesterday and I musta kicked out the 7 pin while backing up (badly). Dragged it around for a few miles and destroyed the plug completely. Felt like a brutal initiation into RV life. But thanks for this, I know next to nothing about wiring but this video seems like a great way to learn the right way. Love your teaching style too, very visual... Ok so, pretend I'm the trailer and here is my handle and here is my spout etc etc....

[@brendanwalsh1675]

Thank you! Simple explanation!!!

[@davidsizemore9906]

very helpful. MY QUESTION IS ...i share a 16' dual axle trailer with a friend . we both have chevys with a factory 7 pin outlet. he doesn't have a brake box in his truck because he hauls very light loads. i want to haul heavier loads. i DO have an E brake box installed in my truck. if i wire our trailer up with a 7 pin wire set up can we BOTH use it or will he have a problem because he DOES NOT have an E brake box in his truck? thanks a lot.

[@larryrobinson7492]

I have been a auto mechanic most of my life, 21 years in a Ford Dealership (Senior Master Certified) It is strange how these wire colors are totally different from normal trailer wiring. I knew there was a difference between like Commercial vs agriculture type codes but this is CRAZY. Normally with any trailer wiring YELLOW = Left Turn/Brake Lt GREEN= Right Turn/Brake Lt and BROWN=Tail/Marker lamps White is Ground and that is all unless you have electric trailer brakes which is BLUE And of course you Aux 12v+ but as a general rule you only need 3 wires for a trailer yellow, green , brown if you are grounded good through the ball (Redneck Way)

[@RVingwithG]

I’ve been watching videos all day and I agree 1000% I would hope that he would either take this video down or say this is his way and not the standard way.

[@joehead1294]

You should never ground through the hitch ball, that is not an electrical conductor. As a matter of fact, when working on trailer electrical the only thing connected should be the electrical umbilical and nothing else.

[@joehead1294]

@@RVingwithG This video is the correct wiring for 7-way RV umbilical.

[@raptureready9502]

Finally a guy who knows

[@gimmeanathlon]

Whoah... Wolverine is working on trailers now?

[@soccerdad8374]

Nice job, very helpful.

[@Hundert1]

Very nice, thanks. How and where would you recommend tapping into this to install white reverse lights on the back of my travel trailer? Maybe my 7 pin has no reverse wire?? Can you recommend a good KZbin video that shows this install being done?? Thanks much

[@MyRVWorks]

To solve this riddle, I would start with the tow vehicle side of the connection. If you look at the socket, the center pin should be where the back-up lights are wired to. Not all OEM’s agree with this though and some do not even wire it but leave it to you to determine what that ‘Aux’ pin will be used for. In that case you may find a wire coming out of the back of the socket that is available for connecting to ‘something’. So, start with trying to determine if your tow vehicle has that center pin energized when the back-up lights are on. If not than you will need to add that wire from the back-up circuit on your tow vehicle to that center pin - tow vehicle side. Once that tow vehicle step is completed and confirmed, try to solve the riddle by connecting to your trailer. If still no back-up lights when the center pin is energized than you will have to wire your trailer back-up lights into that center pin on the plug. Hope all that makes sense. That center pin of the 7-way really is the best (and only available) pin to control that back-up circuit as the other 6 pins have pre-defined jobs to do. Cheers, Darren Koepp

[@berniefiorelli3501]

Yes I'm wiring a new progressive dynamics power converter /charger. I'm also rewiring my 7 pin cable on camper side and on my campers wiring diagram it calls for black hot from 7 pin trailer plug to be wired into the refrigerator and lights to camper or to the converter itself. Where would I wire in my black hot into my converter at to my black battery positive lug in my converter?

[@masonjustlikethejar201]

Sir, enormous thank you for your video ! You have saved my tail twice now!

[@angilajordan7184]

This was so helpful to my frustrated husband. Thank you. Off we go with our quad trailer to Brown’s Camp. Happy happy...very happy!

[@arroyofive9259]

Your video was the best one I found well done . Gave you a like and I subscribed thanks..

[@maksimlbk7533]

You r the best explained!!!!!

[@michaelcunningham2899]

Just found your channel. Love that demo. Thanks.

[@19Lawn70]

Thanks... that’s making it simple

[@azteca132525]

Fantastic. This is exactly the info I came here to find. Your great

[@skymiller530]

What is the brand and model of you tester? That sure would be helpful.

[@sonyaderhammer5915]

thank you

[@jim9214]

Awesome...thanks so much.... I like simple ways to remember things. Good on ya Bud!

[@DarronRansbarger]

Perfect explanation! Just what I was looking for.

[@kirkwesterveltoutdoors]

My Ford F250 is not detecting my trailer when I plug it into the truck. We think the problem is in the truck receptacle. What wire detects the trailer. Thanks Kirk

[@KINGSTONSPRIDE]

When I plug in my trailer my breaks lock up. Do I switch the black and blue wire pin positions?

[@gregbeever9448]

Great job explaining the 7-way plug. Very helpful. Thank you!!!

[@jmrichsonsr]

Great! Practical and useful. Thanks for sharing.

[@MyRVWorks]

Thank you! and you are welcome!!!!

[@DillonFinnegan]

You are the man

[@TerrydeAlaska]

Very nice, another electrical code to remember is Copper to Copper = short, Copper to iron = ground, Copper to air = open.....

[@RussellDuren]

Thanks Darren! Going to go see if my pigtail is following the rules.

[@silverstonehtpc6889]

I've seen other videos that use the same "remember" method, but the color of wires are different. Same functions though.

[@OVERTIMEAUTOMOTIVE]

Great video

[@markseagle6589]

Awesome job!

[@crystaledecarufel8627]

great video very helpfull thx for your time

[@wayneelledge4126]

made it easy thanks

[@gintmurphy8365]

thank you. i was wondering why my used pop-up trailer was not NOT braking during a gain test. "They" snipped my light blue.

[@jameshaney7011]

Thanks great to know, my marker lights quit working so now I know what to look for.

[@LilyandOllieTv]

yellow left turn green right turn Brown parking lights White ground blue electric brakes purple reverse light black or red 12v power! This is the right way of the wiring code this guy has been wiring things wrong

[@danlindeke4039]

need congress pass law so all trailer s the same. The width of RR tracks and truck kingpins are the same by law.

[@t.s.tractorworkstrickland5828]

I agree with your color code That man don't need to be making videos teaching people wrong

[@MitzvosGolem1]

lee tijerina some are different

[@JB-lr9lx]

lee tijerina you’re right. I was a tractor trailer mechanic and they use seven pin connectors. White ground Black tail lights Brown marker lights Yellow left turn Red stop lights Green right turn Blue auxiliary This was code from east coast to west coast, from the Arctic down to Argentina. You can see where the RV industry has adapted most of this. Brown and black were usually tied together

[@MyRVWorks]

@@t.s.tractorworkstrickland5828 What part of the video was incorrect? As a Certified RV tech I present repairs on RV's and the video I presented was for RVers and the colors I presented followed the 'RV' spec. Have a look at this article on etrailer and click on the box for 7-Way wiring. www.etrailer.com/question-136117.html Look closely at the wire colors in the center 'RV' spec and compare it to the 'Traditional' wire color spec to the left. I don't make the rules but as an RV repair professional I have to know the differences between the two specs and correct all the incorrect wiring that was done by those that are not aware that there are different specs for RV's... Again I don't make the rules but I do know there are differences between SAE and RV. I will be cutting a follow-up video where I will focus on the different 7-Way specs to help enlighten those that did not know that RV's were wired using different color codes. Cheers, Darren Koepp

[@alanosborne1947]

My question is lets say the wire color is not the same. I test each wire on TV looking for lt,rt,marker,hot,trailer etc. Whatever the function for that individual wire it still goes to the same position on trailer plug correct?

[@saimontonmedeiros1292]

Thanks a lot.

[@BrandonContracting]

Does this apply to all rv's? I have a 2008 StarCraft trailer

[@MrScottee411]

Yes you make our rv's work!

[@wintermachine]

I believe this is called Auto-Industry Standard and RV Standard. There are 2 ways to wire a trailer and if you look at what pins on the plug do what job the trailer plug does the same job regardless of which Standard it is wired to. I prefer the Auto Standard as the 4 wires from a 4 pin trailer plug do the same job from 4 pin to 7 pin.

[@EDGAR3570]

Very helpful thanks!!!

[@israelvega344]

Very nice job explaining this, damn I really appreciate you right now, thanks.

[@daviddion3731]

As usual, great job. Please advise, since the tester tool is female I can see how it would test the tow vehicle but how would it be used to test the RV cord since it is also female? Pls advise. Thank you.

[@tomoverholt5123]

The tester tool can only test the vehicle, once you know the vehicle works correctly then you plug the trailer into the vehicle and check for power to each light on the trailer with a tester light or meter

[@daktari3055]

I just bought a 2005 Rockwood pop-up trailer. I have a 2016 Nissan rogue. The harness on the Nissan is four prong and the 7 pigtail on the trailer don’t match. So what do you suggest I do to plug these two together?

[@ihateusernames96]

Question...it doesn’t matter if the pigtail goes in sideways regarding the wiring pattern correct?

[@backintherv5222]

Thanks for your videos. You explain things very well, and have helped me keep my rig up and running well all summer and helped with my confidence for full time living!! Arlie Davidson.

[@jcesparza7490]

Thank You Sir, helped me out

[@richardswenson4669]

Great tip. Installing lithium batteries for trailer and solar. To avoid damaging tow vehicle alternator could I disconnect black accessory wire at trailer? My goal is to not have alternator charge batteries. Thanks rick

[@MyRVWorks]

Yes you would be very wise to do that. The black wire is typically the battery charge wire from the tow vehicle. But you might want to double-check that with your meter when the engine is running, and not running, from the tow vehicle.

[@PatrickDeBoard1946]

do the left and right turn pins also work the brake lights? Is the brown pin for a trailer brake?

[@pamil1923]

Is the auxiliary pin 12v hot? What would that be used for?

[@Jtlaptops]

I have a crazy question.. should the 12v run straight to the battery ?

[@PatrickDeBoard1946]

My four pin set up dragged on a recent trip and all the pins got removed by the road. I want to convert to the 7-pin outlet on my truck. How do I do this?

[@Eric-4501]

I am wondering why RV plug wires do not correspond with the other industry trailer wiring guidelines? Example, green and yellow for turn signals and brake, brown for running lights.

[@johnr5545]

Thanks love it god bless

[@theejmaenpaa]

Hello. Is there a way to make a 7 pin act like a 5 pin as far as lighting? I'd like to have dedicated brake lights and other as just turn signals. Thanks

[@tobygloriakitt9267]

Green and brown and mixed up I think. Both trailers I’ve wired up this week, green was right turn