Hooking up the Play Pac-trailer lights??????

[Meghan]

We are trying to put the play pac on the road and cant figutr out how to get the trailer lights to work. We have the 7 pin connector but nothing is working, no signal, brake, nothing. Where do I even start???? Thanks...I will have lots of questions getting ready for the big inspection on Tuesday!!! ugh

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Meghan

We are trying to put the play pac on the road and cant figutr out how to get the trailer lights to work. We have the 7 pin connector but nothing is working, no signal, brake, nothing. Where do I even start???? Thanks...I will have lots of questions getting ready for the big inspection on Tuesday!!! ugh

Hi, Meghan

First thing I'd check, and you probably have, is the tow vehicle: have you used the 7-pin before and found that it works properly?
And if so, are you getting any electrical activity at the trailer, even a flicker?
If not, check all trailer connections, beginning with ground.
Come to think of it, check for a bad ground anyway- it's often the culprit in situations like this.

Francesca

[Meghan]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Hi, Meghan

First thing I'd check, and you probably have, is the tow vehicle: have you used the 7-pin before and found that it works properly?
And if so, are you getting any electrical activity at the trailer, even a flicker?
If not, check all trailer connections, beginning with ground.
Come to think of it, check for a bad ground anyway- it's often the culprit in situations like this.

Francesca

The tow vehicle used the 4 pin and we have an adaptor to go from 4 to 7 pin. Just checked on the guys progress...he think he is doing something wrong, but no idea what.

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Meghan

The tow vehicle used the 4 pin and we have an adaptor to go from 4 to 7 pin. Just checked on the guys progress...he think he is doing something wrong, but no idea what.

Hi, Meghan

If you've used the four-pin before and it worked properly, the problem must lie with how the trailer wiring is hooked up.
That's IF you've established that you have a proper ground.
Note that your four-pin will only supply lights, stoplights, and turn signals.
Does the trailer pigtail look original?
I ask because I'm surprised it has a 7-pin connector.
I thought Play-Pacs came without brakes...but I've been wrong before.
Lots of times!

Francesca

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Hi, Meghan

If you've used the four-pin before and it worked properly, the problem must lie with how the trailer wiring is hooked up.
That's IF you've established that you have a proper ground.
Note that your four-pin will only supply lights, stoplights, and turn signals.
Does the trailer pigtail look original?
I ask because I'm surprised it has a 7-pin connector.
I thought Play-Pacs came without brakes...but I've been wrong before.
Lots of times!

Francesca

Note: If you want a charge wire you'll need at least 5 wires.

[Meghan]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Hi, Meghan

If you've used the four-pin before and it worked properly, the problem must lie with how the trailer wiring is hooked up.
That's IF you've established that you have a proper ground.
Note that your four-pin will only supply lights, stoplights, and turn signals.
Does the trailer pigtail look original?
I ask because I'm surprised it has a 7-pin connector.
I thought Play-Pacs came without brakes...but I've been wrong before.
Lots of times!

Francesca

I'd does have brakes. We aren't hooking them up yet, someday when we tow with a possibly smaller tug. We will try to figure out I'd we have a proper ground. it isn't as easy as it aounds

[Meghan]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Note: If you want a charge wire you'll need at least 5 wires.

What is a charge wire? I apologize for being so nieve, my ex did all this stuff and I'm vlueless

[Kevin K]

[Meghan]

This is what the instructions say. What is the beat way to see if I have a proper ground?

[Francesca Knowles]

Re the wiring diagram posted- I don't know if that's the right diagram for this trailer- that vintage usually used blue for brakes...
It could be this one...

OR
It could match the trailer end diagram here in the document center- it's indexed for Scamp, but my Trillium uses these paths, too
Fiberglass RV - Document Center - WiringDiagram_7-Pin_TrailerEnd


Only way to know is to check each wire..

And, Meghan- those instructions you just posted- are those for the adapter, or what???

Francesca

[Francesca Knowles]

HMMM
On closer inspection...
I believe the two diagrams I posted are in fact the same wiring scheme- the color one must be looking straight on at the car end...

Francesca

[Meghan]

So power out of tug is good. I have an adaptor. What good so the diagrams do me while I am not getting power to anything??? I am sorry for not understanding. Any tups about ground???

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Meghan

So power out of tug is good. I have an adaptor. What good so the diagrams do me while I am not getting power to anything??? I am sorry for not understanding. Any tups about ground???

Well-
If I'm reading this right, and those instructions are for your adapter...
I'm guessing your problem may be that the adapter is wired differently than the trailer.
Your instructions indicate that yellow is left, green is right, and brown is tail/stop.
The diagrams I posted (very likely how your trailer's wired) show that RED is left, BROWN is right, and GREEN is tail/stop.
And what's that language on those instructions about a "ground wire to the trailer frame" all about???

Francesca

[Meghan]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Well-
If I'm reading this right, and those instructions are for your adapter...
I'm guessing your problem may be that the adapter is wired differently than the trailer.
Your instructions indicate that yellow is left, green is right, and brown is tail/stop.
The diagrams I posted (very likely how your trailer's wired) show that RED is left, BROWN is right, and GREEN is tail/stop.
And what's that language on those instructions about a "ground wire to the trailer frame" all about???

Francesca

If the wires didnt match up...ex green claims to power the turn lights on the adaptor, but green on trailer is for runners, wouldnt SOMETHING work??? Like we try to turn on running lights and signal lights go on? Like something should come on even if it is all crazy and not doing what it is supposed to do.
"Ground wire to trailer frame" well...what I know is 1. it was previously grounded to the frame and 2. I heard that is what I am supposed to do. Do you know different? 3. I cant find anything in the instructions about that, I see "Ground- white-attach to vehicle ground point"
*sigh*

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Meghan

What is a charge wire? I apologize for being so nieve, my ex did all this stuff and I'm vlueless

It the wire from the Tow Vehicle that charges the trailer house battery.

[Meghan]

I don't have a battery in the trailer!!! is this my problem???? Where does one go??

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Meghan

If the wires didnt match up...ex green claims to power the turn lights on the adaptor, but green on trailer is for runners, wouldnt SOMETHING work??? Like we try to turn on running lights and signal lights go on? Like something should come on even if it is all crazy and not doing what it is supposed to do.
"Ground wire to trailer frame" well...what I know is 1. it was previously grounded to the frame and 2. I heard that is what I am supposed to do. Do you know different? 3. I cant find anything in the instructions about that, I see "Ground- white-attach to vehicle ground point"
*sigh*

It does seem like something should be happening...
If you're sure your car connection works, and you're sure you've got The adapter grounded at the frame,and you're sure that the wires go to the lights in the trailer,and you're sure that absolutely nothing is happening when you turn the lights on...
I'm out of ideas!

Francesca

[Meghan]

I am sitting in my tow car, with a dead battery. Oy vey! The electric is going SOMEWHERE!!!!

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Meghan

I am sitting in my tow car, with a dead battery. Oy vey! The electric is going SOMEWHERE!!!!

Poor Meghan!
All you need now is a Plague of Locusts, and this Biblically Bad Day will be complete...
Wish I could think of something...
The battery for the trailer, by the way, isn't part of the exterior lighting system.
Its for powering interior lights, etc. It's just charged by the tow vehicle.

Francesca

[Meghan]

So much I need to know! I feel so lost!!! I will be asking about the battery for inside lights soon. I have no idea about that!!! Thanks for the help! More troubleshooting....