Posted 2006-01-31 1:02 PM (#36303) Subject: Learning how to wire...
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Colorado
Ok.. my husband knows less than I do about wiring anything. I would like to learn how to fix the lights on my trailer and be able to do a little wiring. I have 3 interior lights that don't work. Any resources that I can go to for that info?
Posted 2006-01-31 4:00 PM (#36321 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 362 Location: Allegan, Michigan
I too would like info. My husband is in Iraq so little good he can do helping me here at home. I just bought a cheap beater trailer for local trips and I need to rewire it. So any info for us gals would be great!!!
Posted 2006-01-31 4:52 PM (#36323 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
You can tell your Husband in Iraq that there is a Kentucky Cowboy/Ex-Marine that appreciates him for his service and is praying for him to get home and wire the wifes trailer. When you think about the big picture he is over there so I can be sitting here.
Posted 2006-01-31 6:06 PM (#36328 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by can_rookie on 2006-01-31 12:02 PM
Ok.. my husband knows less than I do about wiring anything. I would like to learn how to fix the lights on my trailer and be able to do a little wiring. I have 3 interior lights that don't work. Any resources that I can go to for that info?
Welcome to the forum...
As for a resource, this is the site bar none for horse trailers...
As for your lights. check the simple things first.
1. are the bulbs good? (how do you know?)
2. do you have power to the sockets?
3. is the bulb correct for the voltage and socket?
Posted 2006-01-31 6:49 PM (#36330 - in reply to #36328) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
One of the easiest to do is check the bulb put it in a socket that is burning. Second get a tester light available at any auto parts store and see if it is getting power( put one end on where the bulb goes then touch the other lead to the trailer metal) If that fails it is usually a bad ground wiggle the ground wire some are poprivetted on and if that gets it to work take a screw and screw through the pop rivet. This may not help at all if you don't know what a pop rivet is. Good luck!
Posted 2006-01-31 7:26 PM (#36333 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
Here's a few things you should know 1st and foremost..
wire color...there is a code that trailer manufacturers follow on the color of wire that they use to controll different things... such as a white wire should be your grounding wire, and a brown wire should be for running/marker lights, yellow for left turn, and green for right turn. Those are your four basic colors and functions, then you can get into the more technical thing such as 12 volt power and electric brakes, but that can probabaly wait for some better trained help. A test light, to tell whether or not you are getting 12 volt power to a specific location is absolutly your most valuable tool when it comes to wireing!! There are other things that are tell-tale signs of what your problem is if you know what to look for. If I can help let me know, I was a diesel mechanic for several years and actually went to school for it, then was an R.V./ horse trailer tech, for another several years.
Posted 2006-01-31 7:26 PM (#36334 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Covington, Louisiana
It would help to know what is working. Are the tail light/running lights; brake lights and turn signals working? Are the three interiol light the only thing not working?
Posted 2006-02-01 10:48 AM (#36373 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Colorado
Thanks for all your input. All of the other lights are working on the trailer except the 3 interior lights and the rear light that you can turn on. I had not thought to check the bulbs. I am running to town tomorrow, so I will stop and buy a light checker and some new bulbs to see if that is the only issue. That would be nice if it was.
Posted 2006-02-01 10:58 AM (#36374 - in reply to #36373) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by can_rookie on 2006-02-01 9:48 AM
Thanks for all your input. All of the other lights are working on the trailer except the 3 interior lights and the rear light that you can turn on. I had not thought to check the bulbs. I am running to town tomorrow, so I will stop and buy a light checker and some new bulbs to see if that is the only issue. That would be nice if it was.
Okay ... another piece of the puzzle is given. I would say it's not the bulbs since all the lights on your aux circuit don't work. Did they ever work with this particular tow vehicle? If they did, you'll need to make sure the aux power is getting to the trailer. More details after you answer this question...
Posted 2006-02-01 10:59 AM (#36375 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Kansas City
I might suggest that the previous owner ran a aux-hot wire to run the lights you mentioned not working. Your vehicle may not have this wire run back to the plug since all lights you mentioned not working have nothing to do with turn, standing, and brake lights.
Posted 2006-02-01 6:29 PM (#36394 - in reply to #36375) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
And if its a new truck they are only hot when the ignition is on . My 99 centerleg was hot all time and the 05 is not. Well it is now after I rewired it . Try it with your motor running or ignition switch in on position.
Posted 2006-02-04 5:41 PM (#36557 - in reply to #36303) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Colorado
Ok. The update. I bought new light bulbs for the lights and nothing. I don't know how to test it. The lights are small rounds ones about and inch in diameter and they push in and turn. I have a light tester, but how do I use it? (No I am not a blonde)
I have a 2005 Chevy 2500 and a 1998 Trail West 4-h Sierra. All of the lights on the exterior work except for the left turn signal. My horse ate that light out and I tried to rewire it back, but don' think I got it right. The turn signal and the brake light are one. The running light works at night, but not the brake or the turn. None of the interior lights in the dressing room, tack room, in horse area or the under manger area work.
Any ideas at what to look for? Oh. I am also running the lights to a plug placed in the bed of the pickup when I had the ball installed. They didn't run the brakes to it right and I had to have someone run that wire.
Posted 2006-02-05 2:39 PM (#36582 - in reply to #36563) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
I think you might go to a Trailer place and have them check it out shouldn't cost more than 50 bucks. Sounds like who ever had the trailer kind of rigged it themselves and it may not be standard
Posted 2006-02-06 8:32 PM (#36650 - in reply to #36563) Subject: RE: Learning how to wire...
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I had that problem whith my trailer and it turned out that the people that installed my hitch/plug didn't run a wire from the battery to the aux prong on the plug. Until I could re-wire it I just plugged the aux wire in with my running lights (I have a little plastic box all the seperate wires go in and come out wrapped together. Don't know what its called.). That way I at least had lights when my running lights were turned on.
Learning how to wire...
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