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5 pin round to 4 wire flat

517 views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  Happy Rob  
#1 ·
Just installed big bike plug and play wiring harness. It ends with 5 wire round plug. My aspen trailer is 4 wire flat. I can’t seem to find a 5 round to 4 flat adapter. Can I just cut off the round plug. Figure out what each wire is for and rewire a new 4 wire plug?
 

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#2 ·
Yes you can do that but I ordered an adapter on eBay a few years ago when I converted mine.
 
#5 ·
Happy Rob,
You've been given some choices. All of which are fine and will work. This IS simply a choice thing. I'm sure you're aware of the logistics but in case not, it's pretty simple. In your basic 4-wire scenario, you typically have:

1. White (or possibly black) as GROUND
2. Green for RIGHT TURN
3. Yellow for LEFT TURN
4. Brown for RUNNING LIGHTS (also sometimes labeled as "T/M" or, Tail/marker

The 5th wire for most 5 wire applications, especially when it pertains to motorcycle trailers is for BRAKE LIGHTS only.

If your trailer has only TWO LIGHTs on the rear, one right and one left, you have what's called combination BRAKE and TURN in each light. Hense, the four wire setup will actually be:

1. White (again or black) as ground
2. GREEN would now represent BRAKE and Right turn
3. Yellow would now represent BRAKE and Left turn
4. Brown for running or T/M

Scott
 
#8 ·
You need to either make an adapter with diodes to allow for a 5 to 4 plug, or buy a 5 wire to 4 wire adapter and wire the 5 side to a male plug that will plug into the bike's plug, and the 4 wire side into a 4 wire plug.

Easy to do, just have to buy a male 5 wire plug and the female 4 wire plug and a couple of butt connectors.

If you don't do the above - or find a true 5 to 4 wire adapter that incorporates the necessary elements - you will end up with only running lights and turn signals. A cheap 5 to 4 adapter only connects the wires discussed in @FIRE UP post 5.
 
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#9 ·
Happy Rob,
Since this post is a few days old, you may have already completed your bike/trailer wiring setup. If you haven't, and since your bike is wired with a brand new 5-pin round, In my opinion, for whatever it's worth, would be for you to simply cut the 4-pin flat off the trailer and purchase the 5-pin round mate for your new bike end plug. Then simply mate up pin to pin and wire to wire for a neat, clean and well done NEW system. That way, there's no adapters, no additional potential problems due to too many connections that are not needed. I like clean and simple.
Scott