17Electrical wiring, connectors and conductors

17 Electrical wiring, connectors and conductors

17 Electrical wiring, connectors and conductors

(1) The wiring of electrical equipment of a heavy vehicle, other than the high tension ignition wiring, must—

(a) be supported at intervals of not more than 600mm, unless the vehicle is a pole-type trailer with a pole with an adjustable length or is an extendible trailer; and

(b) be insulated at each of its joints; and

(c) be located where it can not—

(i) become overheated; or

(ii) contact moving parts; or

(iii) come near enough to the fuel system to be a fire hazard; and

(d) be protected from chafing.

(2) The electrical components of a vehicle must be securely mounted.

(3) The electrical connectors between a heavy motor vehicle and trailer, for operation of the vehicle lights required by this Regulation, must comply with at least 1 of the following—

• AS 2513-1982Electrical Connectors for Trailer Vehicles

Note—

AS 2513-1982‘Electrical Connectors for Trailer Vehicles’ may be purchased from Standards Australia.

• International Standards Organisation ISO 1185—1997

• Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J 560—1998

• AS 4735-2003Heavy road vehicles—Electrical connectors for articulated vehicles.

(4) A heavy trailer must be equipped with an electrical conductor, independent of the trailer coupling fitted to the trailer, that makes a return path between the electrical circuits of the trailer and towing vehicle.

(5) In this section—

electrical connector means a device intended for making a detachable electrical connection between a motor vehicle and a trailer.

high tension ignition wiring, for a vehicle, means wiring designed to transmit electrical currents for the purpose of igniting fuel in the vehicle’s engine.