trailer lights

[DeereRun97]

I need help with trailer lights. This is how my trailer is wired http://www.geocities.com/deererun97/trailerlights.jpg and I keep blowing the tail light 15amp fuse so I put in a 20amp. It blew so I put in a 25amp and it works but the lights are reel dim. Any suggestions?

[Muddpuppy]

Sounds like you could have a short somewhere to me. If you have a meter it's pretty simple to check and every once in a while even find. For no more then they cost, that would be my first step if you don't have one already. From my experience with trailer lighting you'll need it again sometime down the road. Check any splices, look for cracks and exposed places that could have worn thru the insulation and that all connections are right and that there aren't any wires or strands touching each other, and feeding back thru each other or that they aren't grounding at the light houseings if made of metal. I have had both connectors and lamp holders go bad. Make sure that you have a good ground from the vehicle and to the trailer and that nothing is feeding thru it. When I install lights I like to use a seperate battery (doesn't have to be a car battery) with a jumper wire and check each wire and connection as I go also saves me from haveing to run back and forth turning things on and off. You can also connect one wire at a time and check it, that way. It could be in your vehicles wireing too so check that the best that you can if you can't find anything on the trailer. You might also need a heavy duty flasher for your turn signals and that the correct element is burning in the bulb.

[Skwerl]

I'd be looking at places where the wires go through a hole in the frame, where they go around a sharp bend and where the little metal clips hold the wires on the trailer. These are the types of places where the wire insulation can break.

You can also narrow it down to which wire by determining if it's the running lights (brown) or left or right brake light (yellow left, green right).

[DeereRun97]

Thanks guys, I located the problem. It was the upper brake & turn lights shorting out. Replaced them, everything's ok now.