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Subject Topic: Testing trailer lamps Post Reply Post New Topic
Personbode5997
via mobile 09/2/2020 at 1:17pm
 Location: Brum West Midlands
 Outfit: Newly aquired Pennine Pathfinder View bode5997's Profile View Profile   Reply to bode5997 Reply   Quote bode5997 Quote  
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Just being curious,can you check your trailer lamps with a power probe?We do not have a towbar at the mo,as I self service,I was wondering if this can be done by powering the plug up with the probe.

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Ahhh!!!the weekend and freedom.


Personkenles
via mobile 09/2/2020 at 6:19pm
 Location: Gloucestershie
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It could take a long time you could try with a 9 volt battery

Post last edited on 09/02/2020 18:27:07


Personbode5997
via mobile 09/2/2020 at 6:30pm
 Location: Brum West Midlands
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How would a 9v battery work with 12v lamps?my thoughts were to use the probe into the pins to power the bulbs to check they work instead of removing each one separately.

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Ahhh!!!the weekend and freedom.


Personkenles
via mobile 09/2/2020 at 6:33pm
 Location: Gloucestershie
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You could find the earth then you will get a reading but that will tell you have a circuit you will need to take each bulb out each time


Personnavver
09/2/2020 at 7:33pm
 Location: West country
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You could do it with a cheap multi meter using the resistance or ohms range. (Might be an upside down horse shoe symbol).

Calculate the resistance of the lamp:

Formulae:
Power =P   Volts = V    Current ( amps) = I Resistance = R

I=P/V. V=I*R. R=V/I)

Final Formula:

R=V*V/P

or Resistance = volts times volts divide wattage

For 12 volts 5 watts.
144/5 = 28.8 ohms

For 12 volts 21 watts

144/21 = 6.86 ohms.

You then need to put the probes of the multi meter on the ohms range. With the probes separated you will get a very high reading. If you touch the probes together you should get zero or very close. May need to rub them together a bit to get a good contact.

Then to test lights, put the probes on the correct pins.

If there are more than 1 lamps on that circuit you need to add up the total wattage and recalculate the resistance which will be lower.

Lamps on the same circuit will all be in parallel so if one has failed the resistance measured will be higher.


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Personbode5997
via mobile 09/2/2020 at 7:42pm
 Location: Brum West Midlands
 Outfit: Newly aquired Pennine Pathfinder View bode5997's Profile View Profile   Reply to bode5997 Reply   Quote bode5997 Quote  
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Thank you.

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Ahhh!!!the weekend and freedom.


Personsaxo1
09/2/2020 at 7:43pm
 Location: None Entered
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The calculations are a lot easier if you use this website.
http://www.mcsquared.com/ohmframe.htm
saxo1


Personchrisn7
12/2/2020 at 1:34pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011 View chrisn7's Profile View Profile   Reply to chrisn7 Reply   Quote chrisn7 Quote  
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If you power up the pins at the caravan plug, and a lamp does not light up, the fault could be the lamp, but equally a fault within the plug itself...

Its also a good idea to get a tester for the car socket, as this quickly isolates a problem to the car or the caravan, without a load of troubleshooting.


PersonColin21
12/2/2020 at 1:59pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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I made my own tester by mounting a car socket on a wooden box. A few switches and some batteries inside it and I can check all the lights. You can buy them though to check both the trailer and the car.


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Best Regards,
Colin



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