electrical gremlins!

[Dennis Clinton]

I 'love' when this happens. Did some work on the trailer today-adding an outside electrical outlet-of course my left over romex was about 2' short(thougt I had measured correctly. So, another trim to the store for a longer piece.

Then hooked up the trailer to test the trailer running lights as I might be heading out next week. Blinkers worked on the marker lights, no taillights!

I have both a 7 wire and a 4 wire pigtail(just in case). The 7 wire didn't work right, the 4 wire worked perfectly(now they are both connected to the same wiring block). Pulled the 7 wire connector apart and checked all the wires-no shorts, no loose wires, everything in the right place. Put it back together and plugged it in-EVERYTHING WORKED FINE!

Well, I got to make sure all connections were good anyway.

[Raz]

That stuff usually happens when you loaded and ready to go. Dirty contact. Loose wire. I'm sure you know the drill. Raz

[Bob Miller]

I keep one of those LED trailer plug testers in my spares box for such occasions, That way I can rule out the vehicle wiring in a single test. Of course, if you have one you will never need it, if you don't have one you will wish you had gotten one. It's the nature of the beast

[Darwin Maring]

Me, Measured wire and cut short all 3 times.

[Kenny Strong]

Originally Posted by Dennis Clinton

I 'love' when this happens. Did some work on the trailer today-adding an outside electrical outlet-of course my left over romex was about 2' short(thougt I had measured correctly. So, another trim to the store for a longer piece.

Then hooked up the trailer to test the trailer running lights as I might be heading out next week. Blinkers worked on the marker lights, no taillights!

I have both a 7 wire and a 4 wire pigtail(just in case). The 7 wire didn't work right, the 4 wire worked perfectly(now they are both connected to the same wiring block). Pulled the 7 wire connector apart and checked all the wires-no shorts, no loose wires, everything in the right place. Put it back together and plugged it in-EVERYTHING WORKED FINE!

Well, I got to make sure all connections were good anyway.

The use of "electrical grease" will help eliminate corrosion and help make contacts better, because of conductivity of the grease.

Later Kenny

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Darwin Maring

Me, Measured wire and cut short all 3 times.

Same here only it's usually lumber.

[Dennis Clinton]

Found my gremlin and it was me! Turns out the new TV socket will allow the 7 way plug to go in upside down. Another thing to add to the 'preflight' checklist.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Dennis Clinton

Found my gremlin and it was me! Turns out the new TV socket will allow the 7 way plug to go in upside down. Another thing to add to the 'preflight' checklist.

I would suggest you check a couple fuses, the one in the battery box and the one under the front couch. One or both are probably blown. Some vehicles have a fuse between the battery and trailer connector in the charge line.

I did that and blew the fuse at the battery, just as we were leaving for 3 months. About a month later the charge line fuse in the tow vehicle went. Surprises on the road we can live without.

[Dennis Clinton]

Byron: I don't currently have a battery in the trailer(yet). And I have a switch in the TV to turn off the TV battery lead to the trailer. Thank goodness that switch was off when I put the plug in upside down. But thanks for your suggestion.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Dennis Clinton

Found my gremlin and it was me! Turns out the new TV socket will allow the 7 way plug to go in upside down. Another thing to add to the 'preflight' checklist.

Lessons Learned! Doncha hate that . The seven-way plug on my tug has a tab on the door... it "latches" the plug and keeps it tight and secure in the socket. I could also turn it upside down, but it wouldn't latch. Check the door on your tug's plug, maybe yours is the same?

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Lessons Learned! Doncha hate that . The seven-way plug on my tug has a tab on the door... it "latches" the plug and keeps it tight and secure in the socket. I could also turn it upside down, but it wouldn't latch. Check the door on your tug's plug, maybe yours is the same?

I mark all my round plugs with a yellow paint pen so alignment is easy. Looks a little ugly, but sure saves frustration when I'm in a hurry.

[Byron Kinnaman]

The problem with putting trailer pug upside down is it connects the + of the tow to the - of the trailer and the + of the trailer to the - of the tow. Poor connection configuration design if you ask me.

If do turn the plug upside down you will blow a fuse or two unless the charge line is NOT hot. By the time you determine that latch on the outlet isn't latching it's too late.

Tom has the right idea. I've been meaning to do that, but that darn ole roundtuit is a bit elusive at times.

[SilverGhost]

Are you guys using a different 7 way plug??? The one I use has a large square lug so it can only be plugged in one way.

Jason

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by SilverGhost

Are you guys using a different 7 way plug??? The one I use has a large square lug so it can only be plugged in one way.

Jason

Some plugs have a smaller "square lug" and in my case I drug it when I move the trailer without plugging it in and ground off part of the lug making it easier to plug in wrong.

[Darwin Maring]

Does the name Murphy come to mind?

[Jared J]

Originally Posted by SilverGhost

Are you guys using a different 7 way plug??? The one I use has a large square lug so it can only be plugged in one way.

Jason

Same here, it would take a sledge hammer to get it together wrong on my trailers. If they go together backwards that easy, it's time to replace them. The vehicle side should take a couple minutes, the trailer side might take 20.

[Con]

Bad, dirty, corroded, moldy, or left some pasta sauce on it or what ever.
99 % of wiring problems usually end up being a ground problem.
1% are likely a wire hooked up to the wrong terminal.
Always check that first.

[rabbit]

Mine has a rectangular key, plugs in exactly one way, and the spring-loaded door latches. You and the bear. The bear and you.

jack

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Con

Bad, dirty, corroded, moldy, or left some pasta sauce on it or what ever.
99 % of wiring problems usually end up being a ground problem.
1% are likely a wire hooked up to the wrong terminal.
Always check that first.

Myth