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Topic: Wiring Lights

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Wobbly Box

29/10/2015 at 11:24pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo

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hi

Im fitting new lights onto a small trailer, the lights are very basic with just brake, light and indicator.
Is there a simple way to wire these up? ie. Do need to run an earth wire?

thanks

birdman101

30/10/2015 at 6:49am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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You also need side lights and number plate light.Yes you need earths or nothing can work.

JuanHuNose

30/10/2015 at 8:53am
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If you want to keep it simple, just use a lighting board.

Wobbly Box

30/10/2015 at 9:16am
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo

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Hi

I thought about a light board nice and easy but it doesn't look as good. I'm probably thinking to hard about how to wire the lights can't be that hard. A light wire an indicator wire and brake wire. Hopefully there will be a connection inside them for an earth wire.
This is the lights I was going to buy. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-12V-4-Function-Trailer-Van-Caravan-Board-Lamp-Lights-Rear-Brake-Stop-Side-/161700394180?nav=SEARCH

Apparently they don't come with wiring instructions hence my post.

Wobbly Box

30/10/2015 at 11:26am
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo

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Is it possible to blow the electrics in my car if I mix up wires that's my biggest worry. I'm assuming there must me a terminal inside the light for connecting the earth wire and would you connect this to both lights in which case I'll have 4 wires coming from each light which I will join onto the cable that the 7 pin socket is attached to.

Opensauce

30/10/2015 at 2:04pm
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The wiring for lights you fit yourself can be the same as lightboard wiring, ie wired earths. You can work out connections for yourself. Google 12n wiring to find wiring diagram of trailer plug. This will tell you which colour wires go where. Then wire up trailer using 7 core trailer lighting cable. There will be an earth terminal in each light.

Wobbly Box

30/10/2015 at 2:12pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo

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Thanks I was just more worried that if I did cross a wire then plugged it into the car it would cause damage at the car side. I managed to get some 7 core electrical flex not sure if the colour match trailer cable colours but I can work out my own colour coding system.

LlaniDavis

30/10/2015 at 2:27pm
Location: Llanidloes Powys
Outfit: Skoda Yeti SEL4x4 +Bailey Ranger 460-4

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Quote: Originally posted by Wobbly Box on 30/10/2015
Thanks I was just more worried that if I did cross a wire then plugged it into the car it would cause damage at the car side. I managed to get some 7 core electrical flex not sure if the colour match trailer cable colours but I can work out my own colour coding system.

A 30 second Google search will give you the correct wiring colours and the correct contacts in the 12n plugs and sockets.

Using your own ideas could (and probably will) end up with problems in the future.

Be aware that if you are wiring up a modern car that it is NOT a case of a simple cut into the car wiring. Doing that can be very expensive when you burn out the LCU!! It has happened!!

navver

30/10/2015 at 7:41pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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I first put fixed lights on the trailer I built many years ago. But storing it outside meant they didn't last very long. The lighting board I now use stores in the garage and is easy to fit on.

DaveS1

30/10/2015 at 8:17pm
Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3

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And -- Is a fog light a requirement ??
DaveS1

Wobbly Box

30/10/2015 at 8:47pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo

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No fog light as the trailer is only 3 feet wide

Already have a towbar fitted for my caravan so I'm not touching anything on the car side.

Wish I had ready your post about lightboard before I ordered the light's as my trailer will be stored outside.

Thanks for all the replies I'll let you all know either way what the outcome is.
Thanks

Colin21

30/10/2015 at 9:40pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Where is the problem with trailer lights that doesn't exist on a caravan? There is no reason why your lights on a trailer won't last every bit as long as the lights on your caravan. I built a large transporter trailer many years ago, and the lights on it were like new after many years, when I got rid of it.

The earth (negative) wire in the cable goes to both lights, and will be the earth for both the rear light and the brake light, so only three connections to each light unit.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin

Wobbly Box

30/10/2015 at 10:09pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo

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these are the lights im getting and the wiring diagram was confusing me. it shows a yellow and blue being joined together. and not sure what the yellow left hand indicator wire is doing in the right hand light http://uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/7-pin-n-type-wiring-diagram.jpg

I was intending to take a fex from each light and join it to the flex for the 7 pin connector with connector block. like a "Y" shape.
Once my lights arrive im sure everything will become clearer

Colin21

30/10/2015 at 10:36pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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If this is any help, here are the connections.

Pin 1 yellow - left indicator
Pin 2 blue (not used on your trailer)
Pin 3 white - earth (negative return for all lights)
Pin 4 green - right indicator
Pin 5 brown - right-hand tail light
Pin 6 red - both brake lights
Pin 7 black - left-hand tail light

Just taken another look at your lights, and it appears that the contain both the number plate lights and indicators. There is probably only one earth connection in each unit, which serves brake-light, tail light, and indicator, so you will need to split the white cable and take it to each lamp unit. Then split the red wire and take it to both brake lamps. Green and brown wires go to the right-hand lamp unit, and yellow and black wires to the left-hand lamp unit. Should all become self explanatory when you get the lamp units.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin

Wobbly Box

30/10/2015 at 10:38pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo

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Thank you colin

Opensauce

30/10/2015 at 10:43pm
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They are using 5 core cable which has no blue cable to go between the 2 lights so they are using yellow wire, ie the blue foglight wire in 7 core cable from trailer plug is connected to the yellow wire in 5 core cable. However you wire it, provided correct wires from trailer plug are connected correctly, it will work.

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