Trailer with Electrical short.

Ted in NE-OH · Aug 1, 2013

Getting ready to go to GOTO in NY gotta fix my trailer lights first. There is a short in the running/tail lights. Is there a better way than trial and error blowing fuses?

kevinj54 · Aug 1, 2013

(quoted from post at 21:07:53 08/01/13)
Getting ready to go to GOTO in NY gotta fix my trailer lights first. There is a short in the running/tail lights. Is there a better way than trial and error blowing fuses?

An ohm meter

souNdguy · Aug 1, 2013

test lamp and or ohm meter.

depending on how bad the wireing is.. a pack of multi strand double insulated trailer wire harness may make it all easier from the getgo.. that and some rubber hose and zip ties to use a grommets to prevent chaffing.

I can't believe how many trialer manufacturers I see running wires on bare frames and thru drilled holes with sharp edges with nothing to prevent insulation damage...

Paul Janke · Aug 1, 2013

I put a headlight in series between the power source and the shorted circuit. When the headlight goes from full bright to much dimmer, the short has been eliminated. The other thing which works well for me is to use a trickle battery charger as the power source for the bad circuit. The amperage capacity of the charger is too low to damage wiring, and the internal circuit breaker prevents damage to the charger.

Janicholson · Aug 1, 2013

Tool suppliers KD, Mac, Snap on, all have a circuit tester that puts power into the circuit in pulses at the fuse. This power pulse is heavy enough to be read by a hand held sensitive amp meter as a detector. (comes with the tool) The wire is traced with the hand held. Moving the detector along the wire will show the pulse until the short, then nothing. Works well and is not expensive. Jim

jm. · Aug 1, 2013

Cannot remember where I got it but have this device and it is some of the best money I ever spent. Makes it a lot easier to locate the problem. We have 9 over the road trailers so that problem comes up ever now and then.

PJH · Aug 1, 2013

Replace the fuse with a test light. When the light flickers, you're getting close. When it goes out, you found it!

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Aug 1, 2013

You did not say what type of trailer, but first place i would check is the lights themselves, especially if it is an older camper trailer.

Ted in NE-OH · Aug 1, 2013

Great ideas thanks

ericlb · Aug 2, 2013

a frequent problem here we have several trailers what ive found is shorts are most likley to be in the plug itself, or the tail lites themselves if not check wiring harness where it goes thrue a trailer structural member it may be rubbing and worn a sopt which is shorting to ground
if nothing is still found check the tow vehicle most modern trucks have plug in tow lite packages, you just plug, and go, but there are still some hand wiring jobs out there these will ocassionaly short to something too

J.Wondergem · Aug 2, 2013

The trailer garage where I used to work soldered a breaker to hook into the place of a fuse. Then they used a hand held amp meter to find the short. I seen an amp checker at Lowes for 99 bucks. They used to be about 300.

Ted in NE-OH · Aug 2, 2013

I found the short, it was in the three rear center lights as they were damaged. Used my 1.5 A trickle charger to power it. Lights are LED so the trickle charger worked.

Thanks for the help.

Trailer with Electrical short.

Ted in NE-OH

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kevinj54

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souNdguy

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Paul Janke

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Janicholson

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jm.

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PJH

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john .?-!. cub owner

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Ted in NE-OH

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ericlb

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J.Wondergem

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Ted in NE-OH

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