Primary 13 Conductor Electrical Connector (Plug and Receptacle) between Towing Vehicle and Trailer. J3285

This SAE document provides the minimum requirements for a 13-conductor cable plug and receptacle to support the 13-conductor jumper cable between the towing vehicle and trailer. The document also includes the test procedures, design and performance requirements for the plug and receptacle. This document shall be used in conjunction with SAE J3284. The specified 13-conductor plug and receptacle would be totally interchangeable with the current SAE J560 primary plug and receptacle, plus provide an additional 6 conductors for use in trailers incorporating advanced electronics or multivoltage applications. New tractors designed with the 13 conductor receptacle and 13 conductor tractor to trailer cable and plug assembly, would be compatible with old trailers (7 conductor receptacle) and new trailers (13 conductor receptacle). Old tractors (7 conductor receptacle) would need to be retrofitted with the 13 conductor tractor to trailer jumper cable assembly, to allow an old tractor (7 conductor receptacle) to pull both the old (7 conductor receptacle) and new (13 conductor receptacle) trailers.