Cable with plugs
In a professional truck workshop, time spent on preparing cables is time taken away from the actual repair or installation. Cables supplied with connectors already fitted solve this problem directly: they arrive ready to install, with the plug or socket pre-assembled on the cable, allowing the technician to proceed with the job without additional preparation. This product type is specifically designed for use in the commercial vehicle sector, covering connections on both towing vehicles and trailers, including semi-trailers and drawbar combinations.
Within this category, several types are available depending on the application. For the electrical connection between a truck and a trailer, 7-pin sockets are the standard solution in European road transport. Both Type-N and Type-S configurations are widely used, and the choice between them depends on the contact layout required by the specific vehicle or trailer. The towing vehicle manufacturer or the trailer builder generally determines which type is required. Brands such as Erich Jaeger, Phillips and Menbers supply these sockets with cable included, making immediate installation possible in any HGV workshop setting.
For EBS and ABS brake systems on heavy vehicles, dedicated 7-pin connectors rated for 24V systems are available. Many of these feature screw terminal connections, which provide a vibration-resistant contact that can withstand the mechanical stresses of a moving vehicle combination. Available cable lengths range from 3 metres to 9 metres, depending on the routing distance required. On longer semi-trailers or specialist transport vehicles such as low-loaders, a longer cable is often necessary to route the connection along the chassis without placing tension on the connection points.
Beyond 7-pin configurations, 15-pin sockets and cables are also part of this range. The 15-pin connection is used when more functions need to be controlled through a single electrical interface, which is increasingly common on modern semi-trailers with advanced lighting and braking electronics. A 15-core cable of sufficient length allows all conductors to be connected in a single installation step. In trailer construction, this type of connection is regularly specified for newly built trailers with integrated electronic systems.
For the transport of dangerous goods, specific connector versions are available that meet ADR/GGVS requirements. The waterproof construction of these models is an important feature, as moisture ingress at electrical connections presents an elevated risk in combination with hazardous cargo. These sockets are designed to maintain a reliable seal under the demanding conditions of daily transport operations.
Spiral cables form a distinct subset within this category. The coiled design allows the cable to extend and retract with the movement of the vehicle combination during driving and cornering, without the cable becoming taut or sustaining damage over time. A spiral cable that converts a single 15-pin connection on the tractor unit into two separate 7-pin outputs provides a practical solution for trailers that require two separate electrical circuits from one interface on the towing vehicle.
In the daily workflow of trailer construction and bodybuilding, pre-assembled cables with connectors are used in new builds as well as in the repair and refurbishment of trailers and semi-trailers. Transport companies with their own workshop order them as replacement parts when a damaged or worn cable needs to be changed quickly. The combined delivery of connector and cable as a single unit significantly reduces installation time and minimises the risk of wiring errors that can occur when fabricating connections manually in the workshop.