Trailer Lights Gurus--Got a Question.

[WranglerX]

Show me where I am wrong with proof and while your at it, tell me which of these you install in your vehicles under the dash:

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Brake_Actuator.aspx

Not a tough statement; I truly think you are an ignorant kid, sure you have lots of knowledge and are helpful, however your attitude diminishes that a lot.

This is just one of maybe a half dozen similar unit available....

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90195.html

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

This is just one of maybe a half dozen similar unit available....

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90195.html

You see that word "controller? It does not actually "actuate"/activate the brakes; without an actuator you dont need a controller.

However I did forget about the mechanical actuator since I do not have a boat that would use one. Guess what? In the case of a mechanical hitch mount actuator you do not even need a controller! (Providing the trailer is under length and weight for your state.)

 

[MossRoad]

And to add a little bit more to that...

View attachment 708382

Add a little more to what? There's no brake actuator in the truck. The actuator is in the brake itself. The controller is in the truck. The actuator is in the brake on the trailer.

 

[MossRoad]

This is just one of maybe a half dozen similar unit available....

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90195.html

That's a controller, not an actuator.

 

[WranglerX]

That's a controller, not an actuator.

But Mr Caustic asked the wrong question.. Because I don't believe I ever mentioned mounting a "actuator" in truck cab....

For the purpose of clarity....

An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve. In simple terms, it is a "mover". ... When it receives a control signal, an actuator responds by converting the source's energy into mechanical motion.

 

[MossRoad]

But Mr Caustic asked the wrong question.. Because I don't believe I ever mentioned mounting a "actuator" in truck cab....

For the purpose of clarity....

An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve. In simple terms, it is a "mover". ... When it receives a control signal, an actuator responds by converting the source's energy into mechanical motion.

In post 53 you said the actuator is on the truck. (bold me)

Actuator is on truck.... Breakaway battery and activation switch is on trailer.... Small tether to a pull pin comes out of switch and locks up trailer breaks... DOT and State law says in trailers over 1500 pounds it has have breakaway and to be able to hold trailer brakes lock for at least 20 minutes...

How the Trailer Break-away System Works

Excuse me but my electric brakes are powered directly from proportional controller under dash to magnets (actuator) on backing plates of trailer axles, the is no rudimentary receiver in electrical brake system... Yes there is some hydraulic serge system on trailers but they don't have any controls from operator cab..... Have not seem any pneumatic brakes on pick up level trucks (mainly reserved for LRGE trucks)...

 

[WranglerX]

Ok so I mixed actuator and controller in the terminology, but still a controller can be a actuator in broad sense of terms.... Just because there is failure of comprehension does not mean the information presented is wrong... Also consider there are variations of explanation and identification of part due to regional differences.... The stupid part is how this discussion has gone off the rails when all the chatter about brakes does nothing to help the OP fix his lighting situation......Also consider if his truck has lighting controlled by "computer" (ECM/PCM/BCM) getting trailer lamps to work is whole different ball game than a non computer controlled (old school) system....

 

[MossRoad]

But Mr Caustic asked the wrong question.. Because I don't believe I ever mentioned mounting a "actuator" in truck cab....

For the purpose of clarity....

An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve. In simple terms, it is a "mover". ... When it receives a control signal, an actuator responds by converting the source's energy into mechanical motion.

Right there in the wording...

"When it receives a control signal, an actuator responds by converting the source's energy into mechanical motion."

The brake controller only sends voltage to the trailer brakes. The actuator on the brakes then converts the controller's voltage signal into mechanical motion and applies pressure to the brakes.

Mr Caustic had it all correct from the get-go.

 

[IndyJay]

...Also consider if his truck has lighting controlled by "computer" (ECM/PCM/BCM) getting trailer lamps to work is whole different ball game than a non computer controlled (old school) system....

Can you elaborate?

 

[npalen]

Spent the morning troubleshooting to no avail. Thought maybe a grounding problem so switched each trailer light white wire directly to chassis ground. Every light function worked perfect one time and now can only get taillight function and only if pickup light switch is on. Disconnected the trailer light adapter harness under the rear of the pickup and cleaned the terminals with Brakleen. No change.

Edit: Something I don't understand is how the taillights get the different signals for running light, blinking etc thru the same wire. It seems that all the voltage going thru the trailer connector is 12VDC even when blinking for the turn signal the DMM appears to go from 0 to 12 even though rapidly.

 

[npalen]

Can you elaborate?

Yes, please elaborate.

 

[IndyJay]

Not sure if this is the case here, but unlike traditional incandescent lamps, LED lights are polarity specific. Any chance of polarity being crossed somewhere?

 

[npalen]

Not sure if this is the case here, but unlike traditional incandescent lamps, LED lights are polarity specific. Any chance of polarity being crossed somewhere?

I did verify that the white wire at the connector is negative and the others are positive when voltage is present.

 

[IndyJay]

I did verify that the white wire at the connector is negative and the others are positive when voltage is present.

Guess that would be both at the truck connector and at the individual lamp connector.
To quote Wiston Churchill, this is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma"...

 

[npalen]

Another concern is there are two other colored wires in addition to the white wire on each light. The diagram below shows the two colored wires attached to seperate leads. My trailer just has the white wire on each side plus a colored wire so I spliced the two colored wires of the light together with the colored trailer wire at each light location. Maybe this is incorrect but not sure how else one would do it.

 

[Doughknob]

Edit: Something I don't understand is how the taillights get the different signals for running light, blinking etc thru the same wire. It seems that all the voltage going thru the trailer connector is 12VDC even when blinking for the turn signal the DMM appears to go from 0 to 12 even though rapidly.

Not same wire. Brown is running lights on 1 filament in the bulb. Green or yellow is the blink signal through 2nd filament in the bulb.

 

[herm0016]

oh....

you should have 3 wires, a ground, a stop lamp and a signal lamp( constant on for brakes, and on/off flashing for turn signal. connecting the brake and signal lamp wires would probably make things act strangely with the led drivers in the tail lights.

same as you have a left signal, right signal, and running light wire and ground at the plug.

 

[npalen]

Not same wire. Brown is running lights on 1 filament in the bulb. Green or yellow is the blink signal through 2nd filament in the bulb.

There is only one wire besides the ground wire. So the signal for all the functions has to go thru that wire. Right?

Also on LED trailer lights I think it is the number of LED's that are lit to distinguish between the various functions. (dim and bright, blinking etc)

I understand the seperate filaments in incandescent lights but, again, how the signal for seperate filaments is sent thru the one wire. (different voltage?)

 

[Midniteoyl]

You know, guys, the trailer brake actuator is not on the truck. The trailer brake controller is on the truck. The thing that actuates the brakes is on the trailer. If it wasn't, the trailer would have no brakes if it broke away.

The magnet in the brake assembly controls the actuator arm in the brake that applies pressure to the shoes that grab the drum. It gets the voltage from the brake controller in the cab. Brake controller, not actuator. Controller.

View attachment 708377

Go back a reread some of the posts he was replying to, and what he replied with. Pretty sure this never said the actuator is on the truck:

DL Meisen​

Please explain where said capacitor are found..... The trailer brakes on my trailer (with 7 pin connector) are controlled by after market controller (below dash) which is actuated off brake pedal switch....

 

[npalen]

oh....

you should have 3 wires, a ground, a stop lamp and a signal lamp( constant on for brakes, and on/off flashing for turn signal. connecting the brake and signal lamp wires would probably make things act strangely with the led drivers in the tail lights.

same as you have a left signal, right signal, and running light wire and ground at the plug.

But the trailer harness has always had just two wires to each light. (white ground and one colored) This worked fine with the old incandescent type.