7-Pin Plug/Trailer Lighting Problem
I was trying to trouble shoot a problem where my running/clearance lights weren't working when the license plate light bulb was plugged in. All my other lights were working fine and dandy. Because...
Forum Discussion
opnspaces wrote:
If the lights only work correctly when hooked to the vehicle then you're not wired correctly.
Hooking to the hitch is not providing an extra ground, it is providing the ground.
If this is what happened the statement is accurate.
You should NEVER use the hitch to serve as the ground connection. Some states (California for sure) said this is illegal back in the 1970's - I believe. You must use a dedicated ground wire thru the connector.
You can use the trailer frame for ground for any trailer wiring. You can use the TV frame for any TV wiring. But once you encounter the plug, there needs to be a dedicated wire in the connector for ground. In the case of a 7 pin connector it is pin #1. You show connecting the TV + (black) to pin #1. Perhaps the listing is incorrect for the mapping of pin to wire color.
Id be surprised if the lights work as the posted connections do not match any standard connector Im familiar with. Almost, if not, every wire color is incorrect. I would not connect to another TV or hook the TV to another trailer - assuming as you indicate they work.
