Okay boys, what did he do wrong?

[partsman01]

So on this GMC K2500HD I bought the owner had a LED back up light installed, they used those things you put on the wires and then squeeze shut with pliers and it saves you time as it is quick, anyway, found out when backing up light is on, but as soon as I touch the brake pedal it goes out, appears he hooked up to one yellow and one light green wire going into bumper 7 way plug in, I think it should hooked to yellow, but the other should be ground, should it not?

Thanks
Bill

[maddczech]

Bingo on Mootpoint. Not a moot subject! Use a meter, who knows the mind of a previous owner?
Solder , shrink tube. Color don't mean squat, use a meter !
Wire is wire, in a pinch in a remote area with no power to solder, extension cord, wire nuts and rtv silicone to seal the deal! Git er done !

[Mootpoint]

Not ever knowing who did the wiring on my vehicles I always check the leads with a meter to insure what they are. Only takes a few minutes and there's no guessing afterwards.
As for connections, solder and shrink wrap.

[wa8yxm]

What did you do wrong?

Those quick connect (originally Scotch Lock) can not handle high current

The backup light is rather close to high current

Add the brake lights and the resistance is just too much

Make direct wire splices. EPICALLY ON THE GROUND WIRES.

Had serious multipl light on issues with my new towed.. That is how I fixed it.

[dougrainer]

wnjj wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

BruceMc wrote:
As I read this thread, I couldn't believe what I was reading. Two different wiring diagrams depending on the type of trailer? Talk about a situation where the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing!

I've never had anything but bad experiences with the 7 blade connectors. They are such a poor design - the only great job it does is separating you from your money. I had to bungie cord every one to pull the socket/connector together to keep it from failing. I purchased quality connectors and plugs - spent a lot of money to try to make it work. Kept the contacts spotless, applied anti-corrosive, the whole nine yards.

Now that I no longer tow a fiver or any trailer with a 7 pin, I've replaced all of them over time with 6 pin round which is similar to the 7 pin commercial. I use the 6 pin for the flat-bed and utility trailers, and plug in an equally well designed 6 to 4 pin adapter for the 4 pin flat where necessary.

Now that I have a drawer full of 7 blade connectors/sockets, I thought about donating them... but I'd feel guilty passing this expensive junk on to someone else.

Sorry, but tens of millions of RV travel Trailers USE the CORRECT 7 pin Bargman Chris and I posted about. There is NO problem with the correct RV 7 pin connector. Either Female or the Male. There is ONLY the 7 pin that has NO orange wire. The BIG problem is this--- The Color code for the flat 4 pun used on Boat type trailers and cheap inexpensive utility trailers the LT/RT/Running color code is different from the 7 way RV wire code. I advise customers to remove the 4 way flat on their yow cars and boat trailers and install a 7 way RV Bsrgman. That means ALL correctly wired 7 ways on Trucks and utility(SUV's) will fit their equipment. The BIGGEST problem customers have and a BIG money maker for me is the people that allow installers to install those round 6 ways and 4 ways and they NEVER get the wire code correct. Doug

It was also news to me that "RV" 7-pin connectors spec different wiring colors. You refer to 4-pin not matching the RV colors. How about the fact that the 4-pin, 6-pin, 7-pin utility and 7-pin commercial/agricultural connectors all use yellow, red, brown for left turn, right turn and tail lights? It looks to me like whomever "invented" the RV colors got it wrong.

Regardless, it is what it is. At least the 7-pin functions are compatible by position. The current will flow regardless of the wire jacket color.

Also, what color code are the factory tow vehicles wired to, utility or RV? That's what matters for the OP's concern here anyway.

Many years ago I came across a flat 4-pin connector where the color ordering was different than every other I had seen. It got cut up and tossed.

Sorry, 4 wire flat is NEVER the same color code as the 7 way RV plug. Remember, this is a RV FORUM and ALL responses and wiring should be taken from the RV industry, NOT the utility/Boat/6 way plug industry. 4 Wire flat
Yellow is Left turn--reverse on 7 way RV trailers
Green is Right Turn---Running on 7 way RV trailers
Brown is Running -- Right turn on 7 way trailers
White is ground--SAME on RV 7 way trailers
DUE to this wiring color change, THAT is what causes so many miswired and problems when people try to use a 4 way flat to the RV trailer. That is why I advise to remove the 4 way flat on the trailer that has the 4 way flat and install the trailer end 7 way RV Bargman plug. Doug

[wnjj]

dougrainer wrote:

BruceMc wrote:
As I read this thread, I couldn't believe what I was reading. Two different wiring diagrams depending on the type of trailer? Talk about a situation where the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing!

I've never had anything but bad experiences with the 7 blade connectors. They are such a poor design - the only great job it does is separating you from your money. I had to bungie cord every one to pull the socket/connector together to keep it from failing. I purchased quality connectors and plugs - spent a lot of money to try to make it work. Kept the contacts spotless, applied anti-corrosive, the whole nine yards.

Now that I no longer tow a fiver or any trailer with a 7 pin, I've replaced all of them over time with 6 pin round which is similar to the 7 pin commercial. I use the 6 pin for the flat-bed and utility trailers, and plug in an equally well designed 6 to 4 pin adapter for the 4 pin flat where necessary.

Now that I have a drawer full of 7 blade connectors/sockets, I thought about donating them... but I'd feel guilty passing this expensive junk on to someone else.

Sorry, but tens of millions of RV travel Trailers USE the CORRECT 7 pin Bargman Chris and I posted about. There is NO problem with the correct RV 7 pin connector. Either Female or the Male. There is ONLY the 7 pin that has NO orange wire. The BIG problem is this--- The Color code for the flat 4 pun used on Boat type trailers and cheap inexpensive utility trailers the LT/RT/Running color code is different from the 7 way RV wire code. I advise customers to remove the 4 way flat on their yow cars and boat trailers and install a 7 way RV Bsrgman. That means ALL correctly wired 7 ways on Trucks and utility(SUV's) will fit their equipment. The BIGGEST problem customers have and a BIG money maker for me is the people that allow installers to install those round 6 ways and 4 ways and they NEVER get the wire code correct. Doug

It was also news to me that "RV" 7-pin connectors spec different wiring colors. You refer to 4-pin not matching the RV colors. How about the fact that the 4-pin, 6-pin, 7-pin utility and 7-pin commercial/agricultural connectors all use yellow, red, brown for left turn, right turn and tail lights? It looks to me like whomever "invented" the RV colors got it wrong.

Regardless, it is what it is. At least the 7-pin functions are compatible by position. The current will flow regardless of the wire jacket color.

Also, what color code are the factory tow vehicles wired to, utility or RV? That's what matters for the OP's concern here anyway.

Many years ago I came across a flat 4-pin connector where the color ordering was different than every other I had seen. It got cut up and tossed.

[dougrainer]

BruceMc wrote:
As I read this thread, I couldn't believe what I was reading. Two different wiring diagrams depending on the type of trailer? Talk about a situation where the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing!

I've never had anything but bad experiences with the 7 blade connectors. They are such a poor design - the only great job it does is separating you from your money. I had to bungie cord every one to pull the socket/connector together to keep it from failing. I purchased quality connectors and plugs - spent a lot of money to try to make it work. Kept the contacts spotless, applied anti-corrosive, the whole nine yards.

Now that I no longer tow a fiver or any trailer with a 7 pin, I've replaced all of them over time with 6 pin round which is similar to the 7 pin commercial. I use the 6 pin for the flat-bed and utility trailers, and plug in an equally well designed 6 to 4 pin adapter for the 4 pin flat where necessary.

Now that I have a drawer full of 7 blade connectors/sockets, I thought about donating them... but I'd feel guilty passing this expensive junk on to someone else.

Sorry, but tens of millions of RV travel Trailers USE the CORRECT 7 pin Bargman Chris and I posted about. There is NO problem with the correct RV 7 pin connector. Either Female or the Male. There is ONLY the 7 pin that has NO orange wire. The BIG problem is this--- The Color code for the flat 4 pun used on Boat type trailers and cheap inexpensive utility trailers the LT/RT/Running color code is different from the 7 way RV wire code. I advise customers to remove the 4 way flat on their yow cars and boat trailers and install a 7 way RV Bsrgman. That means ALL correctly wired 7 ways on Trucks and utility(SUV's) will fit their equipment. The BIGGEST problem customers have and a BIG money maker for me is the people that allow installers to install those round 6 ways and 4 ways and they NEVER get the wire code correct. Doug

[Slownsy]

It is totally nuts to have all thous different wiring positions and color combinations, as bad as different negative and posetiv in autos and houses, no wonder no!one knows what is going on.
Frank.

[BruceMc]

As I read this thread, I couldn't believe what I was reading. Two different wiring diagrams depending on the type of trailer? Talk about a situation where the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing!

I've never had anything but bad experiences with the 7 blade connectors. They are such a poor design - the only great job it does is separating you from your money. I had to bungie cord every one to pull the socket/connector together to keep it from failing. I purchased quality connectors and plugs - spent a lot of money to try to make it work. Kept the contacts spotless, applied anti-corrosive, the whole nine yards.

Now that I no longer tow a fiver or any trailer with a 7 pin, I've replaced all of them over time with 6 pin round which is similar to the 7 pin commercial. I use the 6 pin for the flat-bed and utility trailers, and plug in an equally well designed 6 to 4 pin adapter for the 4 pin flat where necessary.

Now that I have a drawer full of 7 blade connectors/sockets, I thought about donating them... but I'd feel guilty passing this expensive junk on to someone else.

[noteven]

Chris Bryant wrote:

06Fargo wrote:


image from eTrailer

I don't care who it is from, it is not correct for an RV. That is for cargo trailers- also from e-trailer:




On edit- I have to say it is absolutely the worst thing for these websites to show that wiring for the flat blade, RV style plug. They should *never, ever* be wired the way they show- rather they should use a connector meant for that application. The flat blade style is for RV application, and if you look at the plug, the terminals are color marked, so you would be hooking wires to terminals marked differently- a bad idea. I believe it is irresponsible of them to publish those diagrams without a large disclaimer that it should only be used in situations where you tow a utility trailer as well as an RV trailer, and that it is non-standard.

Of course, in the long run, it means more work for me and Doug 🙂

The left and middle ones - I see the difference between the two and the one I posted now! Thanks!

[partsman01]

landyacht318 wrote:
Those wire taps tend to break about half the stranding on the wire into which they tap. I spent a while removing all the one the previous owner of my vehicle used. The wire stranding on every wire near a tap was broken and severely corroded. I had not had issues at that time, but it was just a matter of time.

Yes, I was not impressed to see it, never a good idea to use those really, anyway I kinda figured the fact he had hooked into two coloured wires was wrong, to me you should always have the ground going to ground somehow, so when it dries up a bit I will get under and try taking the black wire off the light unit and attach to a good ground.

[Chris_Bryant]

06Fargo wrote:


image from eTrailer

I don't care who it is from, it is not correct for an RV. That is for cargo trailers- also from e-trailer:




On edit- I have to say it is absolutely the worst thing for these websites to show that wiring for the flat blade, RV style plug. They should *never, ever* be wired the way they show- rather they should use a connector meant for that application. The flat blade style is for RV application, and if you look at the plug, the terminals are color marked, so you would be hooking wires to terminals marked differently- a bad idea. I believe it is irresponsible of them to publish those diagrams without a large disclaimer that it should only be used in situations where you tow a utility trailer as well as an RV trailer, and that it is non-standard.

Of course, in the long run, it means more work for me and Doug 🙂

[noteven]

image from eTrailer

[fitznj]

Typical case of a bad ground. BUT before you go any further get rid
of those blue "squeeze" connectors. They let water/moisture in and
corrode the exposed copper wire - over time you will get inconsistencies
with the wiring. I purchased a trailer full of these connectors which drove
me nuts with their unreliability.


I solder/shrink wrap all connections and never had a problem.

Gerry

[dougrainer]

RoyB wrote:
This is a typical wiring pictorial for the 7-way trailer connector.

Most of the time the center pin is use for BACKUP lights.

Confirm this with a MULTIMETER to be sure...


Photo from GOOGLE IMAGES

also note in my case my FORD truck ignition key must be turned ON before I get any DC readings going back to the trailer connector.

Roy Ken

This is NOT correct. There is NO Orange and the yellow goes to the center pin. This may be some OEM (Ford or such) wiring, but it is NOT to RV Trailer code. Doug