ESPhome - Trailer Tester

Hi all, not yet an active project as such but I am playing with the following idea.

Many times (but not frequent) I want to be able to manually test trailer lighting.
From the “vehicle side” or “trailer” side. There are some testers available and some expensive kits also. I want it for the so called 13 pins (jaeger) and 7 pins connectors.

Let me sum up the idea:

  1. complete package in a “makpac”
    {B304D886-153A-4310-8780-094B93682899}

  2. wood board covering all electronics with some lights and (test) buttons and the plug inserts:

  3. 2 cables to be plugged into vehicle.

  4. the electronics selected so far:

I have not yet created a proto-type of ESPhome config. Still in “thinking” phase.

The requirements:

  1. Can run independent and standalone without a connected vehicle. By using the battery (optionally with charger connected) to test each pin individually and some with a “scene” (in esphome).
  2. Can be connected to the vehicle and test all pins.
  3. Testing can be viewed by lights that are mounted in the wood board “in” the printed above drawing (parallel to the pins).
  4. 7 pins connector is just a subset of the 13 pins
  5. So each pin/light has a button to be manually activated and additionally extra buttons to for scenes. And maybe enable/disable toggle.
  6. ESP has a wifi network when not connected to HA to show the in and outputs via the browser screen.

I am asking in this topic for any additions/feedback/ ideas before I start building and get to the point "hey this could have been done more easy/better.

Thanks!

2 Likes

Not so much enthusiasts :sweat_smile:.

I am still thinking through and for the “inputs” of the vehicle I am going to put resistors behind the pins and before an optocoupler. Like this:

Pin Function Lamp W R Value Powerclassification
1 Linker Knipperlicht 21W 6,8Ω 50W
2 Mistlamp 55W 2,7Ω 50W
3 Massa N/A N/A N/A
4 Rechter Knipperlicht 21W 6,8Ω 50W
5 Achterlicht Rechts 21W 6,8Ω 50W
6 Remlicht 21W 6,8Ω 50W
7 Achterlicht Links 21W 6,8Ω 50W
8 Achteruitrijverlichting 21W 6,8Ω 50W
9 Stroomverzorging (permanente stroomdraad) N/A N/A N/A
10 Stroomverzorging (laadkabel aanhangeraccu) N/A N/A N/A
11 Reserve (evt. massa voor contact 10) N/A N/A N/A
12 Reserve N/A N/A N/A
13 Massa voor contact 9 (soms 9 t/m 12) N/A N/A N/A

That way the vehicle will “detect” a lamp and equally I am able to “catch” the 12v siganal and add it via an optocoupler to a dry contact of a kincony kc868-e16t

Silly question by me as I already am in the testing of 7/13 pin plugs and what I use is the standart testers they sale:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQKyuA4
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyxFRDI.

Can’t you just do what you need with switches / leds and 4 plugs (7pin male/female & 13pin male/female)?

For such a big forum it is “funny” that not a lot of people reply to questions and troubleshooting… Maybe to advanced for “our” issues…