LED 7 Pin Tester

Sharon_is_SAM

Santa left me a Curt LED 7 pin tester as a stocking stuffer.   We tested the TV 7 pin connector this evening and found that the BU (backup light) never lit up when placed in reverse.  Now, I know the Tab does not have backup lights, but, do you think I got a bad one or is my 7 pin wiring need a revision?

Thanks, Sharon

Dalehelman

Whoever installed your 7 pin probably didn't run a wire for the backup lights. My guess is it is not the tester.
By applying -12 volts to the ground terminal and +12 volts to the backup light terminal you can test the tester.

Nomad

"By applying -12 volts to the ground terminal and +12 volts to the backup light terminal you can test the tester" ... Huh? Could you come and do that for me :-)

Dalehelman

PXLated said:

"By applying -12 volts to the ground terminal and +12 volts to the backup light terminal you can test the tester" ... Huh? Could you come and do that for me :-)

You bet happy to.

Nomad

Could you be here on Thursday? :-)

Sharon_is_SAM

Dale, how do I do this?  

Dalehelman

PXLated said:

Could you be here on Thursday? :-)

You are coming to Tabazona right?

Sharon_is_SAM

Dale, assuming there is no back- up wiring, not a problem, correct?

Dalehelman

SAM said:

Dale, how do I do this?  

Find someone with a tool called a multimeter. If they know how to us it they can test it for you. Most employees at OReillys or Auto Zone could test both the plug and the tester. Most U Haul dealers could help as well.

Dalehelman

SAM said:

Dale, assuming there is no back- up wiring, not a problem, correct?

Correct 

Sharon_is_SAM

Thanks Dale!

Nomad

Tabazonna - Nope, won't be in the area.

Dalehelman

PXLated said:

Tabazonna - Nope, won't be in the area.

Maybe another time.

ScottG

The auxiliary/backup terminal is typically the center pin on the 7-pin connector. Color schemes seem to vary, but the T@B owner's manual (such as it is) indicates that this is a yellow wire in the T@B harness.

If you look at the photo below, you can see the yellow wire from the harness enters the main junction box in the lower right and is connected to a terminal that is not connected to anything else.

While this this doesn't answer the question of whether your TV is wired correctly, it does confirm that the auxiliary/backup circuit--while available--is not used in the T@B (at least not in my 2015 S).

Sharon_is_SAM

Thanks Scott.  So, those of us with Tabs with electric brakes actually use 6 out of the 7 pins.  I think MichiganMike has the same 7 pin tester and I wonder if he sees the same absense of light on the tester.  Mike?

Photomom

I went out and checked mine by having my son start the car and putting it in reverse (carefully, with the brakes on!) while I checked. I have the Tekonsha tester, same deal. I imagine that whoever installs your 7 way connector would hook up the backup light if requested. Ours did not as we had no expectation of using it.

ScottG

It's interesting that this is often called the "auxiliary" pin rather than the "backup light" pin. Apparently it can have multiple uses, depending on how it is wired. Perhaps that's why it is left unpowered on some receptacles?

https://www.etrailer.com/question-7194.html
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