Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need it?

[Darren Nemeth]

I just completely rewired my trailer lights. Everything was hooked up except for the white wire and they blinked perfectly.

Do I really need to attach the white wire to the trailer? Can I snip it off at the connector or is it important?

I have the standard 4 connector harness from the 96 Chevy Lumina; Brown, Green, Yellow, and White. The lights are the common varity found at any store.

Thanks in advance.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

It is the ground. Very important. Your lights will be intermittent if you don't hook the white one up. The ground is going through the ball, so when you are moving it isn't a very good ground so the lights will not work the way they are supposed to work.

 

[Paul Ryan]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

It is the ground. Very important. Your lights will be intermittent if you don't hook the white one up. The ground is going through the ball, so when you are moving it isn't a very good ground so the lights will not work the way they are supposed to work.

Hit the nail on the head. This is a must have.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

Agreed...I have in the past actually run a ground wire to each light from the white wire coming from the plug to make sure I had a GOOD ground to each fixture....

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

Agreed...I have in the past actually run a ground wire to each light from the white wire coming from the plug to make sure I had a GOOD ground to each fixture....

This is how I wired my lights, So far I've had no issues with my lights.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

Agreed...I have in the past actually run a ground wire to each light from the white wire coming from the plug to make sure I had a GOOD ground to each fixture....

Ayuh,... Electrical Circuits need 2 legs to stand on,.... That Ground wire is 1 of the 2 Required...

 

[180shabah]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

The ground is the easiest of the 4 to hook up, why get lazy now?

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

Okay. I'll connect it after I put the new hitch on.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

Do I really need to attach the white wire to the trailer?D

In short......YES !!!!

 

[wadouglas]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

What you can't see is your lights blinking on and off when you hit the brakes or accelerate and the ball looses it's contact.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Rewired the trailer and lights work without the white connected. Do I really need

Agreed...I have in the past actually run a ground wire to each light from the white wire coming from the plug to make sure I had a GOOD ground to each fixture....

I have done this as well. It ensures a better ground than grounding through the frame...

White wire is a must. Don't be fooled that grounding through the Ball is "Good Enough"...