In some preferred embodiments, a smart
socket adapter is utilized. The male plug on the towed end of the wiring harness is unplugged from the female tow port that is part of the towed vehicles wiring
package. A smart
socket adapter is inserted into the towed unit's female tow port and the wiring harness male plug is then plugged into the new adapter. Preferred embodiments of this adapter have smart circuits that transmit
wireless signals to a
verification device that is located in the
towing unit. Advantages of the present invention include facilitation of a
safer tow operation, because the
towing operator will know at all times if the integrity of the tow connections and replication of signals has been maintained. In another embodiment, a
wireless transmitting
smart plug is plugged onto a standard wiring socket on the
towing unit and a
wireless receiving
smart plug is plugged into a standard wiring socket on the towed unit. Replication of the command
signal at the receiving unit is accomplished by utilization of the receiving unit's existing wiring in conjunction with the addition of a power source to run the lights.
Verification of
receiver unit
signal activation is accomplished by utilization of the same additional power source. In yet another embodiment, command
signal replication and
verification is accomplished by replacing
brake, turning signal, and running light bulbs in both the command and the receiving units with smart bulbs that communicate with each other. In still another embodiment, command replication and
verification is accomplished by the addition of smart
bulb sockets in both the command and the
receiver units that communicate with each other. In yet a further embodiment, signal replication and verification can be accomplished by utilizing the receiving unit's existing wiring with no additional power source. In such embodiments, an identification
chip may further be integrated therein.