Electrical Wiring Glitch

[weldingisfun]

I just redecked a utility trailer. While the decking was off, I rewired the lights. The original wires were pretty sad. The glitch is when I use the turn signals, either side it makes no difference, there is a faint blinking in all the other lights to include the side markers. It didn't do this before. I have checked the ground and it is making good contact and is tight. All of the connections are soldered and covered with heat shrink wire wrap. The turn signals work as do the taillights and brake lights. It is just that faint blinking of the other lights when the turn signals are on that just bothers me. Any ideas?

 

[bigdad]

Looks like you might have a slight "Cross" or I would also check that ground (again) too. This problem has a "Common" characteristic. (Common ground) Grounds on trailers can be tricky. I've had them that I could read with a volt meter and could swear it was hot, but it wouldn't carry the current to light the bulbs. I never depend on frames or hitch balls for ground. I run a wire.

 

[ray66v]

Check your grounds. Did you run ground wires, or are you using body grounds? Using the frame as a ground, can fail with minor corrosion. Also check the ground connection back to the vehicle.

Have you made sure you don't have a bulb that is shorted?

You can test the lights by hooking up the running lights, then the turn signals one at a time to see which one has the fault.

 

[radioman]

I agree. There is a grounding issue somewhere.

 

[Diamondpilot]

What pig tail did you put on the trailer? I am guessing you will find your problem in it. If its a 4 flat you will have to replace but the round ones you can take apart and check.

Chris

 

[kennyd]

Bad ground...are the lights grounded with a pigtail or through the mounting stud?

 

[SnowRidge]

I'm gonna pile on. It's a grounding problem, probably on your turn signal/brakes lights. Like someone said, make sure you have a solid wired ground all the way back to the tow vehicle.

 

[2COR517]

Check your tow vehicle ground wire also. You cannot rely on just the tow ball for a ground.

 

[DOUBLEG]

I just went through a bunch of work on my trailer lights and could not find any wiring problem. But everytime I checked something else was not working. Finally check the battery and guess what? It was split and likely shorting out. Replaced it and everything works now.

Good luck.

 

[weldingisfun]

Thank you one and all for your input. You were correct. It was the ground. Forgot to mention that I had painted the trailer and went back and reamed the mounting holes for better metal to metal contact.
Lights work great now, no more flickering.