Basic trailer wiring for a guy that's definitely not smarter then a 5th Grader.

[Gregory OConnor]

Some Cars have taillights that warn the driver that a bulb is out
by turning off the dash lights . some cars recognize a brake light
and turn on an electric vacumn pump thinking some one hit the
brakes. when the Bus sends a 'turn on light light signal to the
toad, the toad might be sending signals to other things in the toad
that is pusing amps from the car battery back at the bus. Even if
you isolate it with a diode (electrical backflow valve)you still
have signals and battery consumption in the toad.

Diodes as an electrical backflow device suck. A LED is a diode
(light emitting diode) that by chance glows. you send power in one
leg called the anode and it can only pass to the other leg the
cathode or K or the side with the thin stripe (remember out the
stipped ass). power wont flow the otherway.
Often the problem is with amber turn signal units (Puller or toad)
which have a seperate wire for brake and turn mixed with a unit that
has the brake light share the turn signal wire. My 94pt has Volvo
taillights which are 4 wire.

When I had problems hooking up my LandRover toad, someone suggested
I use diodes. I would use handsignals or trade the LandRover in for
a volvo with matching taillights before I installed diodes. The
problem with diodes is they crap out ;if you get a trailer
short ;blow a bulb ;spark the connector, etc.

GregoryO'Connor



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> I didn't mention that the problem when I combined the turn signal
and
> brake lights was that it stopped the turn signals from flashing in
> the bus. Perhaps that is what the diode is for? Any ways I am
> missing some piece of the puzzle. I have the extra bulbs already
in
> the lenses so I am pretty much commited to that method. There is
> something different in the bus over a newer car. The Toad is set
up
> correctly. If I was towing the car behind the Tahoe I'd be good
to
> go the problem is in the bus, something is different. I know this
is
> difficult to figure without being there, but I appreciate the
effort.
> I may just have to get "professional help" on this one. But the
> diode may be what I need. What does the diode do? Keeps the
current
> from flowing back? Maybe a diode on each of the turnsignal and
brake
> lights is what is needed? I am close here I think if I can just
get
> that last piece of the puzzle to fit. Help some one. I hate to
give
> up and call "uncle".
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > I have a 2007 suburban, they wired the truck in a complicated
way.
> Instead of trying to figure out the seperate brake and signal
> situation on the sub, I just used brake lights bulbs for all
inputs
> from coach. used diodes on all three wires. Four wire left & right
> signals and brake lamps yellow and green.and the brown the running
> lights. I elimated one brown wire from sub. White ground So all
input
> from coach go to only brake bulb no add bulbs. brown 1 input from
sub
> one from coach to combined running out to tail lights..
> >
> > Jim Riordan
> > 88 WBWL XXV
> > 772-260-1328
> >
> > bubblerboy64 wrote:
> > Boys, I got a problem. I've got my toad wired up for
flat
> towing.
> > The car is done correctly because I pulled it up behind my Tahoe
> and
> > had the wife run thru the lights and everything works great when
> its
> > plugged into the Tahoe. I put extra lights in the lenses with
> double
> > filaments in the bulbs Its a basic four wire connection. One
> ground,
> > one running lights and one each for the turn signals and brakes.
> >
> > Here is what I have correct. The running lights to the brown lead
> > I can get the turn signals to work as long as I don't hook up
the
> > brake lights. I can get the brake lights to work if I don't have
> the
> > turn signals wired in. When I go to wire the turn signals and
the
> > brakes to the common lead (according to the directions) I seem
to
> be
> > having problems. This bus has separate lights for the brakes and
> turn
> > signals. The top light is turn signal only the lower light is
> brakes
> > only and they all come on when the head lights are on (I assume
> there
> > are two filament bulbs in each light) one is wired to the
running
> > lights and the other is to either the brake light or the turn
> signal
> > depending on whether its an upper or lower light.
> >
> > I have isolated a hot wire off of each turn signal, a hot wire
off
> of
> > the running lights and a hot wire for the brake lights. How do I
> > wire the brake lights into the yellow and green wires which are
> > common leads(with the turn signals) to the toad? Maybe my
problem
> > is I need two hot wires for the brakes one off of the right side
> and
> > one off the left side of the bus. In other words maybe I am
> crossing
> > the right side lights with the left side lights when I've been
> wiring
> > in the brakes? Maybe I answered my own question? See if you
think
> > this is my problem and let me know. I've worked a little too
long
> on
> > this and I'm brain dead today.
> >
> > Confused? I sure am. Thanks
> >
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
>