light wiring confusion.

[PlayDoh]

I passed on the $60 light package for my truck, one of those "dummy" packages. I just grabbed a 4 wire flat connector, but now I feel like a dummy.

What I don't understand is that trailer needs a wire for, Left, right, ground, Light/brake. Unless I'm incorrect? So With only a wire spliced into my harness I have to basically connect my brake and park light wires to the single trailer wire, which obviously puts my trucks brake lights on. The difference between park and brake isn't great either.

Is there something I can install to keep the park light power from lighting the brake lights on the truck? I have all the lights working fine otherwise.

Thanks for any help.

 

[JB]

Re: light wiring confusion.

There are four wires on the trailer, playdoh.

1. Tail lights, also called running lights. This one splits and goes to both side tail lights and to any clearance lights.

2. Left side brake/turn signal light. Goes only to left side.

3. Right side brake/turn signal. Goes only to right side.

4. Ground.

Some vehicles require an adapter because they use seperate wires for turn signals and brakes and they must be integrated for the trailer. Wal Mart sells kits to do this.

Don't know what vehicle you have and don't know what you mean by "park light".

 

[tommays]

Re: light wiring confusion.

This should help you


Tommays

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: light wiring confusion.

If your towing vehicle has brake and tail lights seperated from your turn signal lights (red for stop and tail, amber lens for signals) you will have to purchase an adapter, specific to your vehicle, to accomadate the four wire harness connector on your trailer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: light wiring confusion.

What's probably confusing you is that the rear lights (tail lights) have two filaments in each bulb. One serves the tail light (running light) function and other serves as both brake and turn signal. When you make a turn the circuit to the brighter filament is interrupted by the flasher which makes that filament turn on and off. Should you have the brake on as you are turning (left for example), the right side filament will be on constantly as its turned on by the brake pedal. The left side filament would also be on constant but again, the flasher interrupts that side so the right side indicates the brakes are on and the left is flashing the turn. The lamps at the side of the trailer receive constant power via the brown wire in the harness (tail lights on your tow vehicle). The brown wire also feeds the dimmer filament in the tail lamps on the trailer. Ground is the white wire and grounds the chassis of the trailer and each of the lamps to the chassis of the tow vehicle. As was mentioned, if you have separate turn and brake lamp circuits you will need an adapter.

 

[PlayDoh]

Re: light wiring confusion.

Thanks a lot guys. Ya I do have 3 separate lights on the truck, Toyota Tacoma. I figured there must be some kind of adapter, since it was basically impossible for me to not have the trucks brake lights on, when the Tail/running lights were on. Either the brake lights would go on when I signaled, or with the tail lights. I chose the tail lights to get the boat home, but I got it figured out now I believe.

Again, much appreciated. I'm pretty new to boats and never actually wired a vehicle for a trailer. Your right Silvertip, regarding what was confusing me. What was even more confusing was that whomever wired it b4, used 2 different 4-wire harness, so at the lights the wire was say, brown, but the same wire was red at the hitch. I didnt learn that until I rewired the trailer.

Live and learn

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: light wiring confusion.

Walmart has the toyota adapters and they are "plug and play" no splicing and you end up with a flat 4 connector. I installed one on my toyota very simple.

 

[Gfriedman]

Re: light wiring confusion.

thanks was looking for the same info, found this post very useful.

 

[JohnRuff]

Re: light wiring confusion.

Have always wondered this -- in a two filiment trailer bulb - does it matter which filimeht is connected to each filament?

 

[levittownnick]

Re: light wiring confusion.

It does make a difference. The brighter of the two filaments is for the Stop(Brake)/Signal function, the other filament is for the running (tail) light.

A side note, when the Brake light comes on, and the tail light goes off, the Ground to those lights is defective. (You often see that happen on cars.)

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: light wiring confusion.

You guys have my curiousity now... what do those "magica adapters" do?? I agree it's much cleaner to use the adapter, but can you fill me in on what they are actually doing??

Thanks.