Plugs & Sockets
Plugs and sockets are at the core of every electrical connection between a truck and its trailer. In the professional heavy transport industry, these connections must comply with strict international standards and withstand daily mechanical stress, vibration, temperature variation, moisture and corrosion. Whether the application calls for a 7-pin trailer socket for lighting and braking circuits or a specialised NATO plug for high-current industrial use, the choice of the correct type is always governed by the applicable standard, the wiring scheme and the technical requirements of the installation.
Dekoff supplies a comprehensive and standards-oriented range of plugs and sockets to the B2B market, serving freight vehicle workshops, trailer builders, bodybuilders, coachbuilders and semi-trailer specialists who work daily with electrical connections in heavy vehicle combinations. The range is structured around the international standards that govern the truck and trailer industry and includes complete components as well as loose parts, protective covers, adapters and specialised connector series.
The most widely used standard in the heavy trailer sector is ISO 7638, which defines the 7-pin connection for braking systems, particularly for EBS applications. A plug conforming to ISO 7638 is mandatory on semi-trailers with electronic braking and is available in crimp and screw-contact versions, including ADR-rated variants. Closely related are ISO 1185 and ISO 3731, defining the Type-N and Type-S schemes respectively for 7-pin general electrical supply connections to trailers and semi-trailers. A 7-pin trailer socket complying with ISO 1185 or ISO 3731 is standard in virtually every European combination vehicle and provides the interface for lighting, indicators, stop lamps and auxiliary power circuits.
For applications requiring a more extensive electrical connection, ISO 11446 defines the 13-pin interface. A 13-pin plug or socket to ISO 11446 accommodates the standard lighting functions as well as additional power circuits, which is common in caravan and certain semi-trailer applications with electrical auxiliary systems. Erich Jaeger is a leading manufacturer in this field: an Erich Jaeger socket or plug is found in virtually every professional workshop thanks to precise dimensional tolerances, material quality and broad standards coverage.
Beyond 7- and 13-pin connections, the range includes components to ISO 12098, the 15-pin standard applied to heavier semi-trailer combinations for integrating multiple electrical systems into a single connector. Adapter cables that convert a 15-pin socket to two separate 7-pin plugs conforming to ISO 1185 and ISO 3731 are a practical solution for mixed fleets or during transitions between connection standards.
NATO connections occupy a distinct position in the assortment. The NATO plug truck standard is defined by VG 96917 and is used on military vehicles as well as in heavy industrial transport where additional robustness and high cable cross-sections are required. NATO plugs and sockets are offered in 2-pin configurations for high current ratings, with matching dust covers and contact pins tailored to the mechanical demands of this connector family. The dust cover for a NATO socket is not an optional accessory in this segment but a functional part of the connection, protecting contacts against dust, moisture and corrosion between coupling cycles.
Rema plugs and sockets form another specialised product family within the range. The Rema plug is standardised under DIN 43589 and is primarily used for high-current DC connections in forklifts, industrial and transport applications. Rema connections are available in 35mm² and 50mm² cable configurations with solder or crimp contacts and in various current ratings up to 200 Amperes. The robust housing and locking mechanism make the Rema plug particularly suitable for environments where the connection is mechanically stressed and frequently coupled and decoupled.
The range of plugs and sockets is organised into several subcategories that together cover the full spectrum of electrical connection in truck and trailer applications. The sockets subcategory covers standards-compliant vehicle-side connection points for ISO 1185, ISO 3731, ISO 7638, ISO 11446 and NATO applications. The plugs subcategory contains the corresponding trailer-side connectors in the same standard families. The contacts subcategory includes loose contact pins and sockets for Rema, NATO and other connector families. The parts subcategory covers all loose components needed for repair or assembly. Dust covers protect contacts when connectors are not in use and are available for virtually all standard families in the range. The adapters subcategory provides solutions for situations where connections of different standards must be combined. Finally, the Superseal subcategory comprises fully sealed connector systems for applications demanding the highest level of ingress protection.
For the professional workshop, trailer builder or wholesaler working with truck and trailer electrics, this range provides a complete and standards-compliant basis for every electrical connection in a rolling vehicle combination. Dekoff supplies exclusively to business customers and maintains a reliable stock of plugs, sockets and associated components that meet current international standards.