Trailer Light Grounding

[kenmac]

I'm thinking it should of been set for voltage, the readings you got where most likely erroneous.

Easy mistake for first users.

Yep, and make sure it's set for 12 dc current

 

[Beltzington]

Am I the only one that wires a trailer by grounding back to the plug, and not using the frame as a ground? Yes the frame is attached to ground for the "return path of last resort" but the primary ground circuit is all wired, not counting on the frame.

Agree - I have boat, PWC, Car-Hauler, RV, and utility trailers and came to the same conclusion. If you want bright, reliable lights they need a direct copper connection back to the towing vehicle.

We all feel your pain as this is a common and frustrating problem. When your trailer lights are using the trailer chassis as a common ground corrosion between the light ground wire and frame is often the cause of these issues. If you don't want to run new wiring you will need to check and clean all of these connections. Hooking a spare battery directly to your trailer plug is also helpful in isolating the issue. Good Luck and Welcome to the forum MinnnesotaGuy84.

 

[BobRip]

Yep, and make sure it's set for 12 dc current

I think you mean DC volts.

 

[kenmac]

I think you mean DC volts.

Yep,:thumbsup: my bad

Getting past my bed time

 

[Soundguy]

Agree - I have boat, PWC, Car-Hauler, RV, and utility trailers and came to the same conclusion. If you want bright, reliable lights they need a direct copper connection back to the towing vehicle.

We all feel your pain as this is a common and frustrating problem. When your trailer lights are using the trailer chassis as a common ground corrosion between the light ground wire and frame is often the cause of these issues. If you don't want to run new wiring you will need to check and clean all of these connections. Hooking a spare battery directly to your trailer plug is also helpful in isolating the issue. Good Luck and Welcome to the forum MinnnesotaGuy84.

i like both.. copper and clean frame connections. good redundancy..

 

[pat32rf]

I think you mean DC volts.

I often use a spare battery and hook my meter up to read DC current. Fast way to tell how many filaments, brake coils, etc are carrying current.

 

[murphy1244]

I often use a spare battery and hook my meter up to read DC current. Fast way to tell how many filaments, brake coils, etc are carrying current.

Amp draw????

 

[MikeA57]

I've been wondering about the grounding thing since one of the lights on my trailer has been acting up too. One time it works great, the next time it doesn't work at all. Then, the time after that, it starts out dim and a little while down the road, it's fine. I made a frame and a wire connection in order to make as good a connection as I could but it's still screwing up. I'd been wondering if making double ground connections was good practice or not. I'll continue checking.

 

[bigdad]

Amp draw????

Sometimes using an ammeter is the best, most reliable way to shoot DC trouble.

I always use an analog ammeter to check AA AAA C D and 9 volt batteries. Just a careful quick tap and it leaves little doubt of the true capacity of a battery. Using the voltage scale can be misleading.

 

[BobRip]

Sometimes using an ammeter is the best, most reliable way to shoot DC trouble.

I always use an analog ammeter to check AA AAA C D and 9 volt batteries. Just a careful quick tap and it leaves little doubt of the true capacity of a battery. Using the voltage scale can be misleading.

When I used to do circuit prototyping I always monitored supply current. If it jumped up I shutdown immediately. Saved many a circuit that way.