|
|
Post by johnbasildisco on Feb 11, 2019 14:40:58 GMT -8
I'm getting ready to attach and hook up my driving lights. I've got a 4-pin connector on my truck.
The plan is for 2 marker lights on each side of the trailer (front and rear), 2 brake lights at the rear, and a licence plate light w/bracket at the rear. I'm thinking of adding always-on marker/turn signal lights under each brake light at the rear too, I need to look at the tail lights I got to see if they're brake lights only.
Can I wire the marker and licence plate lights so that they're always on when hooked up, instead of only turning on when I use the turn signal/brakes? Ideally I'd like to have the markers always "on" and blink "off-on" when using the turn signal.
Edit: This is a full rewire with new lights.
|
|
kudzu
Active Member
Posts: 344
Likes: 84
Currently Offline
|
Post by kudzu on Feb 11, 2019 15:02:44 GMT -8
No, not with a standard 4 pin wired correctly.
|
|
aslmx
1K Member
Posts: 1,051 
Likes: 364
Currently Offline
|
Post by aslmx on Feb 11, 2019 18:56:12 GMT -8
I'm getting ready to attach and hook up my driving lights. I've got a 4-pin connector on my truck. The plan is for 2 marker lights on each side of the trailer (front and rear), 2 brake lights at the rear, and a licence plate light w/bracket at the rear. I'm thinking of adding always-on marker/turn signal lights under each brake light at the rear too, I need to look at the tail lights I got to see if they're brake lights only. Can I wire the marker and licence plate lights so that they're always on when hooked up, instead of only turning on when I use the turn signal/brakes? Ideally I'd like to have the markers always "on" and blink "off-on" when using the turn signal. Edit: This is a full rewire with new lights. are you saying that your license plate and markers only come on and blink with the turn signals? If that’s the case then they are wired wrong. You should have marker lights all around without turn or brakes on. |
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Feb 13, 2019 21:40:09 GMT -8
4 way plugs are very limited in what they do:
White Ground: attached to the trailer frame. There are 3 more wires for the tow wiring.
Yellow: Left Turn, connected to the left tail light wire
Green: Right Turn, connected to the right tail light wire
Brown: Running Lights, clearance, license and tail lights
There is no brake wire, both turn lights come on for brake lights.
The running light wire (brown) turns clearance and tails on when the vehicle lights are on. Some newer vehicles power the running lights when a trailer is connected.
All of my tail lights have turns and running lights built in; either a double filament bulb or two bulbs.
|
|
chriss
Active Member
Posts: 241
Likes: 97
Currently Offline
|
Post by chriss on Feb 15, 2019 18:47:24 GMT -8
Took me a few tries to make sense of your post. Your marker, tail, and license lights should always be on and wired to the vehicle lighting system. There's no reason they should be flashing with the signals. Trailers either had dual filament bulbs or 2 separate bulbs for tail and turn/brake. There may have been separate lights for brakes, but that's unusual.
When you say you want the markers to flash off-on with the signals, are you thinking of something like the alternate flashing of a front marker and turn signal on a car? I can't remember exactly how it's wired on a vehicle, but you can use an 87a relay to get that same function.
|
|
ruderunner
Active Member
Posts: 472
Likes: 97
Currently Offline
|
Post by ruderunner on Feb 16, 2019 3:03:42 GMT -8
Perhaps the simplest answer is to turn on the markers on the tow vehicle.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnbasildisco on Feb 18, 2019 11:40:44 GMT -8
Thanks vikx, that's the info I'm looking for.
I'm going to add a small second light to wire with brown next to each turn signal light.
Another question: I'm planning to connect the white ground wire directly to the lights, instead of trying to ground the lights through the skin. Do I still need to connect the white wire to the trailer frame if I do that?
|
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Feb 18, 2019 11:51:20 GMT -8
John, are you sure your signal lights don't already have a tail light built in? Most do...
Yes, you must ground to the frame, absolutely. That is your main ground for the whole tow lighting system. You can also ground the skins to the frame with small short wires. I sometimes have more than 5 grounds on my trailers. Also, be SURE your vehicle ground is secured cleanly to it's frame when wiring your receptacle.
When in doubt, ground it again.
|
|
