Posted 2012-07-23 4:47 PM (#145769) Subject: Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Jutland, NJ
I have a 1987 4 Star GN, which has inside lights in the front, mid-tack, and horse area. All of the outside lights work (running, turn signal) but none of the inside ones do.
We started check for the connection box and couldn't find it. In the mean time, we found that the lights are "single wire" lights (i am not familiar with how these work - apparently they are self grounding? and then there is a piece of black wire screwed to the panel with two ends) but the GROUND wire (black) is exposed for connection, not the HOT (red). And, yes, we checked that red was actually hot. Any suggestions for what might be going on??? We also check the fuses in the truck, and one was blown which we replaced. Sill no good 8
Posted 2012-07-23 5:09 PM (#145770 - in reply to #145769) Subject: RE: Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
Have you taken any of the bulbs out, and see if the socket is getting power?
When you checked the red (hot) wire, at what point did you check it? At one of the lights? Or up at the connector to truck?
And, is there a battery inside for the interior lights to run? I had an older trailer that didn't, and they only worked when plugged in to the truck, and lights were on. Current trailer runs off the 12V for my interior lights
Posted 2012-07-23 5:19 PM (#145771 - in reply to #145769) Subject: RE: Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
What "panel" are you referring to. The inside lights are wired one of two ways. #1 would require a full time hot wire be wired into 6way female receptacle on your towing vehicle. Ckeck for hot wire in your truck first, chances are there isn't one or it is not in the correct location. I think it was in the center of the plug in that model year. Otherwise it would be wired such that outside lights would be in the on position for inside lights to work. Since outside lights work properly I would assume the ground wire is OK. Check inside your trailer plug to be sure someone has not disconnected your hot wire.
Posted 2012-07-24 1:22 AM (#145789 - in reply to #145773) Subject: RE: Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by below_gravity on 2012-07-23 5:33 PM
to clarify, nevermind the panel comment.What is really confusing us is why it appears that the single wire light would be connected to the ground wire only.The red wire is hot, but there is not connection spot.
Companies are notorious for using any color wires they seem to have an abundant supply of...so just because a wire is black does NOT mean it is NOT a hot wire...you will need to do continuity checks from a known point in your wiring harness
Posted 2012-07-24 7:21 AM (#145792 - in reply to #145769) Subject: RE: Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Jutland, NJ
Yes, we did confirm that the red wire is the hot leg by the light. And it does not appear that the light connects to the hot, just to the ground...would that ever make any sense?
Posted 2012-07-24 9:08 AM (#145795 - in reply to #145769) Subject: RE: Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
Not unless it was wired for a pos grond! I have not seen any of those since my BRG Midget, back in the "60's". Try jumping the red wire to the bulb, and unhooking the black, so you get power to the base of the socket. ( that is if the socet grounds to the chassis)
Posted 2012-07-24 9:40 AM (#145798 - in reply to #145792) Subject: RE: Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Williamsburg VA
It could be that the red wire going by the light is an unswithced power source to another location, such as rear loading lights, and the light is probably connected to a switched power source and it appears to be a ground because no power is being supplied from the switch. If there is no power at the light you will have to trace the circuit back to the source.
Trouble with single wire lights in tack area
