Correcting job with electric wiring can be intimidating , specially when it involves connecting two large , wandering objects like a tow vehicle and a preview . It might be easy to detect if something is haywire – the most obvious index number is that the trailer ’s brake or turn signal light wo n’t light up . But some wiring issues can be harder to find and narrowing down the specific problem can be even trickier . That ’s wherewiring testerscome in .
Wiring testers avail you place the specific problems in your tow fomite or trailer ’s wiring organization . Testers come in a full range of forms , size , capabilities and price . If the wiring from your towage vehicle is divulge , you may even be able to use a simple workings bulb to test the wiring . You could also use avolt meterto measure the electric potential from your tow vehicle . On the other conclusion of the spectrum are full wiring quizzer kits . The most comprehensive examination kits have multiple adaptor that can fit practically any wiring setup .
While round-eyed examination methods might work alright on old towage vehicle or trailers , recent vehicles have more sophisticated system that require specific tools . Current trailer wiring system can amount in several varieties . Four - direction savorless plugsprovide connections for turn signals and taillight or side marker light ( the fourth connexion is a solid ground wire).Five - way flat plugsare exchangeable to 4 - way of life circuit but have an extra telegram that allow the house trailer to have subsidiary magnate or brake light . Six - path orthogonal or round plugshave connections allowing for all of the above . Seven - way troll plugsare the same as 6 - way plugs , with an extra connexion that allows for supplemental power or backup lights
The plug on your trailer might not fit out the one attached to your tow vehicle . If that ’s the case , you ’ll need an adapter so that the two systems can connect . If your tow vehicle does n’t have as many wires as your trailer , some of your trailer ’s organization wo n’t be working without extra wiring modifications .
Just as you need the veracious adaptor to hook two different organization together , you call for the right-hand wiring tester to ensure your tow vehicle is providing power to your trailer when job rise . It wo n’t do you much good to expend a 4 - agency wiring tester on a 7 - way sparking plug . Before test anything , make certain your equipment peer .
Next , we ’ll look at how to use a wiring tester safely to make indisputable you do n’t have any electrical problems with your trailer .
Testing Trailer Wiring
So you ’ve hook up your trailer to your tow vehicle , you ’ve make the tow vehicle ’s engine running and the lights on the lagger refuse to come on . What do you do next ?
The key fruit to detect a wiring outcome is to eliminate possibilities until you could find out the source of the problem . First , you may require to check the brightness on your drone – the problem may be as elementary as a burned - out electric light . If that ’s not the job , you ’ll require to disconnect your lagger ’s wiring system from your towage fomite . Next , you ’ll need to check to check that your vehicle ’s lights are in good workings order . Test your vehicle ’s turn signals , Pteridium aquilinum lights and backup lighter to make certain the problem is n’t the towage vehicle itself .
If your vehicle ’s inflammation scheme is bring , the next tone is to use a trailer wiring tester to ascertain the socket on your towage vehicle . You ’ll demand to make certain your quizzer conform to your towage vehicle ’s socket . Some testing kits come with multiple attachments , letting you habituate the same kit to try out more than one kind of wiring organization .
secure the tester into your tow vehicle ’s socket . The tester should have one or more indicators that will alert you if it detects an electric current . Most tester have an indicator for each function . essay each system in turn and check your results . If the tester answer to each organisation , then the trailer ’s wiring system is the likely source of the job . But if one or more of the test leave in no reply from the quizzer , your tow vehicle may be at faulting .
If the tester lights up when it should n’t – for instance , if the left over - turn signal index number lights up even when you have n’t engage the turn signal – it could point that you have a short in your tow fomite ’s wiring . You ’ll postulate to check the wiring in your tow vehicle to see if there is a degree where two or more wire make contact . It ’s also possible that two or more wires are connected to the amiss connection points .
Some wiring job are loose to fix . If two wires are connecting to the incorrect connexion point , it ’s usually just a matter of using some telegram cutters , a telegram stripper and a hair curler to swop them . Others might require a visit to a shop mechanic . The important affair to think is that if the wiring is n’t working properly , you ca n’t travel on the route safely . Other drivers could misinterpret your action if the incorrect luminousness activate on your prevue as you ride .
To learn more about tow trailers and related topics , travel along the links on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
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