[AT] Portable Trailer lights from Harbor Freight

[Dean VP]

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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