Trailer lights aren't working

[rookieboater12]

I had bought this Optronics? Submersible Combination Lights Kit from academy the other day. I followed the instructions that came with it and thought I did everything correct. But none of the lights are working. Please help if youve experienced this with this kit. Thanks

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

Bad ground. It's always a bad ground

 

[rookieboater12]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

Bad ground. It's always a bad ground

So can I get a new groud or do i need to return the set?

 

[jhebert]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

So can I get a new groud or do i need to return the set?

It is unlikely that the new product you bought containing several lamps would have been sent to you with all the lamps defective.

It is more reasonable to consider that your installation of the new lamps has created a problem. Since all lamps are affected, you should look for a problem in the portion of the circuit that is common to all lamps. In the wiring of trailer lamps, the only portion of the circuit that is in common for all lamps is the battery negative return circuit, often called "ground."

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

So can I get a new groud or do i need to return the set?

Ground (or negative) is often using the trailer frame but often that connection doesn't make it clean all the way to the tow vehicle's battery. I believe it's the white wire on the lighting connecter to a white wire on the lights. Did you direct wire those or use the trailer as ground. I do both. The instructions often have you use the trailer frame.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

...and make sure that if you're using the frame, it's a non-painted part of the frame

 

[gm280]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

I also would say the common ground problem with the fact that all lights are not working. First, was the trailer attached to any vehicle when you tried them? Often the ball hitch itself will make a ground as well and some folks will just connect up the plug on the harness and never make a connection with ground because of one white wire on either side not connected. The white wire HAS to be grounded on both the vehicle AND the trailer. And as stated above, when you attach the white wire terminal to the trailer, clean off any paint, rust or any other material to get a good connection.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

Is it a tilt trailer? If so...the break in the ground is at the pivot.

If not a tilt..then grind areas where lights/ground touch the trailer to make better contact.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

get a jumper cable and hook one end to a clean metal portion of your vehicle and likewise on your trailer to see if you have a ground issue through you connector.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

So can I get a new groud or do i need to return the set?

I'm sorry, but that's just funny.... :lol:

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

True, but we all started out asking questions like that. I didn't know a ground wire from my left arm when I was in my early 20s. It asked a lot of dumb questions, read a lot of books/manuals, and learned. At least the OP is asking the question here and not returning the set!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

So can I get a new ground or do I need to return the set?

To the layman that sounds like a reasonable question.
The the technically minded, it sounds funny.

Before we start bashing anyone....

A ground is not a physical object, is is an electrical concept.
The ground is any point in a circuit that you arbitrarily declare to be the reference point for all other measurements.

In your house the Reference Ground is a 10 foot Copper Clad Rod driven into the ground just outside the foundation or through the basement floor.
That is the source of the term "Ground" it is the connection to the Ground, Earth, Earth Ground, Etc.

On a moving vehicle an Earth Ground would be impractical.
The Negative Post of the vehicle battery is most commonly declared to be the Ground Reference Point.
The Battery Neg Terminal is most commonly connected to the vehicle body.
And so by extension the Vehicle Body and the Trailer Frame become extensions of the Ground.
And are commonly just referred to as "Ground".

A bad ground on the lights, means that the circuit path back to the battery Neg Post is in question.

The path back to the battery can cover a lot of ground! (Sorry!) :facepalm:

 

[gm280]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

To the layman that sounds like a reasonable question.
The the technically minded, it sounds funny.

Before we start bashing anyone....

A ground is not a physical object, is is an electrical concept.
The ground is any point in a circuit that you arbitrarily declare to be the reference point for all other measurements.

In your house the Reference Ground is a 10 foot Copper Clad Rod driven into the ground just outside the foundation or through the basement floor.
That is the source of the term "Ground" it is the connection to the Ground, Earth, Earth Ground, Etc.

On a moving vehicle an Earth Ground would be impractical.
The Negative Post of the vehicle battery is most commonly declared to be the Ground Reference Point.
The Battery Neg Terminal is most commonly connected to the vehicle body.
And so by extension the Vehicle Body and the Trailer Frame become extensions of the Ground.
And are commonly just referred to as "Ground".

A bad ground on the lights, means that the circuit path back to the battery Neg Post is in question.

The path back to the battery can cover a lot of ground! (Sorry!) :facepalm:

UW, I want to thank you for taking the time to try and explain the term "ground" to a novice person. We all were there at one time and it is always nice to see younger or any aged folks wanting to learn more and understand. I think that is a noble gesture myself. Not one of us was born with all knowledge and we ask questions to learn... Thanks again UncleWillie...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

Ain't that the truth. I've given up using the trailer frame as a ground and just run wire back to the plug.

Trailer frame is just one big wire. As long as you have good connections, its not an issue.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

Not from what I see in daily life. Seems losing ground is the number one reason for failed trailer lights.

Only for the people that don't know how to make a good ground. Adding a wire to every light just increases the complexity by double. Do a good job on grounding a light and you never have to worry about it again.

I have never had a ground on an individual light go bad. Clean to bare metal...make your attachment...paint/grease over it...done!

 

[Soreal53]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

How did you connect the wires from the actual lights to the wiring that goes to the front of the trailer? Those kits usually come with those blue snap connectors that your able to put two wires together. I recommend splicing the wires open and connecting them cause sometimes those blue snap connectors don't fully go through the wires so you don't get a connection.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

A dab of Noalox lasts for years

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

A dab of nolox lasts for years

Never heard of it but just looked it up...interesting.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

I got used to using it in the coal mines where any connection corrodes over night unless you use a bit of that. I use it on most ever connection on my boat to.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer lights aren't working

I got used to using it in the coal mines where any connection corrodes over night unless you use a bit of that. I use it on most ever connection on my boat to.

Interesting stuff. It is now on my `Boat season`shopping list.