Troubles with earth on a box trailer
Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 16:35
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Rod E B
Once again my lights are playing up , looks like it maybe the earth on one side as the other appears to be working Ok
Is there a trick I can try that will keep the earth in contact
The earth wire looks a bit rusty
have to look at it later , did not have time today , took the risk
Reply By: Vince NSW - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 16:40
Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 16:40
Rod
I have run an earth from all my lights back to the trailer plug. I do not trust the OLD method of using the trailer body as an earth.
I also spend some mad money and put on LED lights. Best thing I ever did to the CT apart from the queen sized innerspring matress. lol
Vince
AnswerID:
230271
Follow Up By: Max - Sydney - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 18:31
Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 18:31
Rod's right - not hard to stick an independent green wire into the back of every fitting, join them together and run them to the earth pin on your plug. Naught else works.
Then have a look at where it goes on the car. Maybe you run an earth back to the battery while you are at it. It'll make it more reliable and maybe the lights a bit brighter.
Only way to go.
Max
FollowupID:
491127
Follow Up By: Dion - Saturday, Mar 31, 2007 at 20:40
Saturday, Mar 31, 2007 at 20:40
Max,
I'm not sure why you would use green wire as an earth return, in a vehicle towing application, ignorance perhaps. In vehicle / towable items the earth is coloured white, green is for right hand indicator.
Cheers,
Dion.
FollowupID:
491762
Follow Up By: Max - Sydney - Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 10:47
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 10:47
Simple reason Dion - more haste less speed. Thanks for pointing it out. I do know that white is the colour of the earth wiring and apologise that I have misled you Rod.
Keep to the standard to avoid confusion and incorrect connections - white is the colour.
Max
FollowupID:
491834
Reply By: 3.0turbob - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 09:44
Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 09:44
I had trouble with my trailer lights late last year. I thought it was an earth problem and spent weeks fiddling with the wiring and making sure the earth points were clean and onto bare metal etc. I gave up and took it to an auto electrician. It turned out to be the plug itself. It had a hairline crack between two pins and was shorting out. New plug and problem solved.
Rob
AnswerID:
230415
Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 13:18
Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 13:18
Make sure you aren't relying on the towball to supply an earth connection, and don't rely on the vehicle chassis either.
Best way is to wire an earth from the car battery to the plug, then from the plug to all lights.
No further problems
AnswerID:
230453