theresa
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from Northern Maine ~ Proud new owner of Lola, a 1960 Shasta Airflyte and Pearl, a 1962 Mobile Scout
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Post by theresa on Apr 11, 2020 6:19:28 GMT -8
Hi All, so if it feels like I've been asking questions forever, I have. I'm reading like a fiend and taking notes and bookmarking threads and I'm ready to tackle wiring... almost. I've see the question posed before, but I'm still unsure even when the answer is right in front of me. When you run the same color wire to many different locations (for instance the running lights / always on lights), I'm going to run the main wire under my trailer along the frame to get it to the back... then what? How do I make the different junctions from that one main wire? Do I branch of that one as many places as I need to? If someone can draw me a very rudimentary picture even, that would help. Sorry for being so thick... I do have folks I can call on to come help me, and I will if need be, but not until this lockdown order is over and that could be months. So if I can figure it out on my own, I'd rather do that and not be held up.
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Post by vikx on Apr 11, 2020 11:21:55 GMT -8
I run the running light wire to each light from the front J box. It's easiest to run the wire across the front of the trailer to connect the two front lights. Come up the wall framing from the J box to one light, then across to the other. Adding a second J box at the back allows access in case repairs are needed plus makes it easier to run the wires. Run your tow wiring from the front J box to the back. From there, run the green running light wire to one tail light location, then across the back to the other tail light. From each tail light, run to the side clearance lights. 006 j Tail Locates (1) by vikkx, on Flickr 006 j Tail Locates (3) by vikkx, on Flickr 006 j Tail Locates (8) by vikkx, on Flickr You can see the wires coming up from the back J box, to the first tail then across to the other tail. A small chase hole runs the wire to the clearance light. I use electrical wire nuts to join the wires at each light. So, you would have wires joined at each tail going to each clearance light. Wire nuts make for easy access and repairs. The smaller orange ones work well in most cases and are easy to poke into the cavity behind the light. I frame around each light to provide backers for the light mounting screws. If the light body is big enough, you can wire nut the wires in the lens space as well. PM me for my email address and I can send more photos.
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theresa
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from Northern Maine ~ Proud new owner of Lola, a 1960 Shasta Airflyte and Pearl, a 1962 Mobile Scout
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Post by theresa on Apr 11, 2020 12:00:45 GMT -8
So vikx you would presumably have a 3 - 5 (for instance) green wires coming from a single junction box?
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Post by vikx on Apr 11, 2020 19:22:40 GMT -8
One green wire (TM for Tail and markers) coming into the back J box from the front, plus the other two tow wires. (RT, LT and Ground) One green wire going out to the L tail light. It's is joined with the L clearance light and the right tail light.
In the pictures, you can see the one green wire coming up to the tail light. The red wire is the left turn wire. There is also a brown wire for the right turn. It doesn't show very well in the photos. Most people run a white ground to each light as well; prevents future grounding issues.
I use the cavity behind the tail lights to join the wires and stow the wire nuts. In other words, the cavity is another J box. I hadn't framed the light mounts yet in the pictures.
Please PM me for photos. My Flickr account is limited.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Apr 12, 2020 4:59:44 GMT -8
Obvious but worth saying... I never splice and connect wires where I can't get to them once the skin is on. And take a lot of photos so you can avoid wires (and find the wires) when putting the skin back on.
I use one (white) ground wire from the frame going from light to light and it always works perfectly.
This is helpful. vikx
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theresa
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from Northern Maine ~ Proud new owner of Lola, a 1960 Shasta Airflyte and Pearl, a 1962 Mobile Scout
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Post by theresa on Apr 13, 2020 6:33:17 GMT -8
One green wire (TM for Tail and markers) coming into the back J box from the front, plus the other two tow wires. (RT, LT and Ground) One green wire going out to the L tail light. It's is joined with the L clearance light and the right tail light. In the pictures, you can see the one green wire coming up to the tail light. The red wire is the left turn wire. There is also a brown wire for the right turn. It doesn't show very well in the photos. Most people run a white ground to each light as well; prevents future grounding issues. I use the cavity behind the tail lights to join the wires and stow the wire nuts. In other words, the cavity is another J box. I hadn't framed the light mounts yet in the pictures. Please PM me for photos. My Flickr account is limited. Thank you!! This is what I needed. Yes, I'll message you for additional photos if you don't mind. I like to see pictures and so far none that I have seen address exactly what I'm asking, mostly because I don't know how to properly ask it using the correct terminology.
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Post by vikx on Apr 13, 2020 10:36:06 GMT -8
I have lots of photos, just can't post them all here... I'll look for your PM.
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Apr 17, 2020 19:04:24 GMT -8
This is exactly why I love VTT. Somebody is unsure and yet unafraid to ask a "stupid" question that no one here would think is actually "stupid". Then someone more knowledgeable steps in to provide some clarity. No judgement, just helpful info. Thanks to all.
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theresa
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from Northern Maine ~ Proud new owner of Lola, a 1960 Shasta Airflyte and Pearl, a 1962 Mobile Scout
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Post by theresa on Apr 20, 2020 8:29:08 GMT -8
This is exactly why I love VTT. Somebody is unsure and yet unafraid to ask a "stupid" question that no one here would think is actually "stupid". Then someone more knowledgeable steps in to provide some clarity. No judgement, just helpful info. Thanks to all. I'm sure several people here felt my question was stupid because it's so elementary. BUT, they were polite enough to just scroll on by and not chime in. AND I'm at the age where I just don't care if I make myself look like a fool. But seriously, this place really is the best. Helpful, friendly folks, all with a common interest.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Apr 20, 2020 8:45:55 GMT -8
Nobody is a fool who seeks knowledge.
The first time I do anything I’m nervous. The second time I’m confident. The third time I’m feeling smart. The fourth time I’m often bored.
The first time is always the most fun.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Apr 20, 2020 16:42:52 GMT -8
Nobody is a fool who seeks knowledge. The first time I do anything I’m nervous. The second time I’m confident. The third time I’m feeling smart. The fourth time I’m often bored. The first time is always the most fun. and to me , lights are always very satisfying when you first power them up.
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