[AT] Portable Trailer lights from Harbor Freight

Stephen Offiler soffiler at gmail.com
Thu Aug 10 13:26:30 PDT 2017


Interesting.  Looks like '03 was the first year Ford used CANBUS on the
F-250, according to this site:

http://www.auterraweb.com/aboutcan.html

CAN is Controller Area Network.  These are as I described in my earlier
post:  "CANBUS" is shorthand for a vehicle electrical system designed to
use minimum high-current wiring to actually power the electrical loads, and
doing all the switching with small low-current signals and semiconductor
switches, with the signals carried on the network.

SO


On Thu, Aug 10, 2017 at 1:52 PM, Dean VP <deanvp at att.net> wrote:

> 2003 Ford F250 7.3L Diesel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Offiler
> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 10:07 AM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Subject: Re: [AT] Portable Trailer lights from Harbor Freight
>
> Hey Dean... what year and model truck are we talking about?  My response
> assumed something pretty new.  I think Al Nadeau's response assumes
> something older.
>
> SO
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 10, 2017 at 12:17 PM, Alan Nadeau <ajnadeau1 at myfairpoint.net>
> wrote:
>
> > I pruned this quite a bit but the interesting part is copied below.
> >
> > Somewhere in that whole mess of wiring there is a ground messed up.
> > The way the lights act sounds very similar to the system GM used for
> > front side markers and turn signals combined into one, single filament
> > lamp.  This was the case on the pickups I had and probably done
> > anywhere they wanted the side marker to function as a side turn signal
> > as well.
> >
> > Daytime running, no lights on, the side marker would off and  blink on
> > in time with the front turn signal.  Turn your vehicle lights on, the
> > side marker would be on and blink off opposite of the front turn
> > signal.  I hope that's clear as mud now.
> >
> > They did it with different length ground paths that changed the
> > potential in the wires feeding the turn & side markers and somehow
> > (electric magic
> > maybe?) end up trying to feed power both directions through the side
> > marker or grounding back through the side marker, some such thing.  It
> > has been years since I messed with that but I still have the GM wiring
> > manuals which I could copy if anyone is all that interested.
> >
> > Al Nadeau
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >> Several months ago this was a topic on Atis when Harbor Freight had
> > these
> > >> light sets on sale for like $5 or $10 or so.  Well I bought two
> > >> sets of them In case I needed then on my trailer and the second set
> > >> to carry around in my truck for anyone else who might need them at
> > >> an Antique Tractor show.  Well recently I decided maybe I ought to
> > >> hooked one up to my truck and trailer to see how I liked them.
> > >> Didn't work so good.  The first indication was it appeared I had a
> > >> crossed wire or poor ground since whenever I turned on a turn
> > >> signal both turn signals blinked at a lower brightness.  Chased
> > >> grounding, cleaned contacts, etc, etc.  No solution. Keep in mind
> > >> my normal trailer lights are working fine. Then I found out that if
> > >> the tail lights were on, night time, whenever I
> > braked,
> > >> both taillights would go out. Not dim, completely out.  That had me
> > >> really going and then I found out that if the tail lights were not on,
> > >> daytime, the brake lights worked just fine.   Now that had my h!
> > >> ead completely spinning.
> >
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