Thread: Trailer light madness

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Trailer Wiring Diagrams @ ExplorOz Articles

Hi Rusty thanks for that info unfortunately i already have the wiring for the plug but it is the wiring of the actual lights that i need as stated i have the hella 2397 which has three globes and three wires coming out of the rear of the case red/black/white so which of the the seven wires connects to these three wires and which wires go to the other light and where do they connect to.

Cheer's
Neil

You need to take off the lense and look. Assuming you've stuck to the standard wiring colours then you need to run white to the earth on the light, yellow for left green for right blinker, red to brake and brown to tail light. The blinker will obviously be under the orange lense. The brake will have a higher wattage or if you like will be brighter when it's lit than the tail light.

Also your better off not using the wireing stubs hanging out the lamp if you can help it. Much better to clean everythig up and run fresh wires.

If you still can't work it out take a pic of the inside of the lamp and post it and I'll see if I can help. Or just suck it and see. The only way you can do damage is shorting earth and power.

With only three wires from the light I would say you need to add the earth. Maybe the lights earth throught the mounting screws/bolts. Do this, then simply connect a live wire to each of the other colours to determine which is which then follow the normal trailer wiring directions.

Nev

Firstly, the Hella 2397 is a dinosuar. Festoon globes you'll have no end trouble with.

However, if you're going to persist, then you'll need to remove the lens cover. Remove the three wires (Black, Red & White) from the globe holders, and use the new wiring you have. The thick globe behind the Amber part of the lens should have the Green wire going to it for the R/H side, and the Yellow wire for the L/H side. The other thick globe is the Brake light, and should have the red wire going to it. The thinner globe is the park/tail light, and should have Brown going to it. There will be an Earth connection point as well, and this should have the White wire attached to it.

Originally Posted by Yonnee

Firstly, the Hella 2397 is a dinosuar. Festoon globes you'll have no end trouble with.

However, if you're going to persist, then you'll need to remove the lens cover. Remove the three wires (Black, Red & White) from the globe holders, and use the new wiring you have. The thick globe behind the Amber part of the lens should have the Green wire going to it for the R/H side, and the Yellow wire for the L/H side. The other thick globe is the Brake light, and should have the red wire going to it. The thinner globe is the park/tail light, and should have Brown going to it. There will be an Earth connection point as well, and this should have the White wire attached to it.

If I were ruler for the day, my first decree would be the removal of all festoon globes, horrible, evil things that they are. Anyone using or trafficking in the horrid things would receive this treatment.
Seriously though, either use a light that takes bayonet globes or best of all, go LED.
I have one trailer that I converted to LED and the best thing about it is that you never need to touch them, you put the plug in and the lights work, EVERY TIME!!!
My other trailers will be converted as and when the need arises.
Solder your connections and use good quality trailer wiring, (a standard trailer without electric brakes only needs 5 core wire by the way) I much prefer the large 7 pin round plug over the rectangular type for reliability too.

Originally Posted by Karl Robbers

If I were ruler for the day, my first decree would be the removal of all festoon globes, horrible, evil things that they are. Anyone using or trafficking in the horrid things would receive this treatment.

Here here, I totally agree, LED is the way to go

Originally Posted by Karl Robbers

a standard trailer without electric brakes only needs 5 core wire by the way

Stop, tail, left indicator, right indicator, reverse & earth... I count 6.

Originally Posted by wood_or_metal

Here here, I totally agree, LED is the way to go



Stop, tail, left indicator, right indicator, reverse & earth... I count 6.

blue for electric brakes makes 7 (in most cases the wire is not heavier enough for brakes any way )

One of my pet hates is LED lights on older vehicles.

I have them on my trailer but no where else.

LED's work briliantly but look out of place on older equipment.

Originally Posted by wood_or_metal

Stop, tail, left indicator, right indicator, reverse & earth... I count 6.

There is no requirement for a trailer to have reverse lights, so 5 core will suffice.

Originally Posted by zuffen

One of my pet hates is LED lights on older vehicles.

I have them on my trailer but no where else.

LED's work briliantly but look out of place on older equipment.

IMHO, I think it depends on the style of light. Many Hotrod places are now making replica lights that have LED's. And if the addition has been well thought out and integrated properly into the body work, then in alot of cases I think it looks great.
However, I do agree with you when I see a cheap set of trailer LED's slapped on the back of a ute tray, or surface mounted to the rear bumper of an LPG converted 4WD.