Anyone installed a Redarc Tow-Pro-Elite Electric Brake controller on SJ Forrester?

[Peter3013]

I'm just about to install a Redarc Eletctric Brake Controller into a 2016 Forester. The vehicle has a 7pin Flat OEM Trailer connector already installed. Just wondering how you physically connect the Controller wires to the Trailer connector? There are diagrams out there but not much info on how the connections are actually done?

 

[Kevin]

I installed one on the Triton and as I recall I had to break into the split tubing then open up the connector and add the blue wire to pin 5. I cannot recall exactly what I did with the red wire but I probably vampired it to the pin 6 brake light wire.

 

[Peter3013]

Thanks Kevin, great graphic. It's the vampiring process I'm interested in. Did you solder the red wire to an existing wire at the insertion point on the Connector or join them further back? I could see how the diameter of both wires together may not fit into the socket.

 

[Kevin]

It would've been further back

 

[Ratbag]

@Peter3013 (and @Kevin) Watch out for loop backs!

With my 2006 Forester with dealer fitted bar, one of the wires was connected at the body end and the body plug end, but no connection between the two. When I stripped back the covering around the body wiring harness connector, I found that one wire was looped back at each end, but no connection between them! Really weird. Was for the reversing lights IIRC.

Trailer connections can be really dodgy. Specially since the connections for five and seven pin used different pinouts for the same wires, e.g. left/right indicators.