Hi mate just watched this and it’s bloody helpful! One question, do the white (earth) wires have to get attached (earthed) to the metal on the trailer ? My old ones do. But doesn’t seem as though yours do? Cheers mate
Hey mate, With your current set up, does the trailer plug (from the trailer side) have an earth wire running out of it? If it does where does this go to? Through a few trailers I’ve owned I’ve seen the earthing done a few different ways. The first way is electrically grounded which is done by running the earth cable from the lights directly to the earth pin on the trailer plug (which is what I did). The second way is running a short earth cable from the trailer plug pin and it bolts directly to the chassis of the trailer (probably the drawbar somewhere). Then at the back of the trailer, the earth cable from the lights are also bolted onto the chassis (probably on the light mount itself). Through this method the earth return goes via the cable from your lights, through the chassis and then onto the other cable that goes back to the trailer plug pin. (you would have to make sure that the surfaces you bolt onto are NOT painted to minimise resistance) The third way is I believe that people don’t use the earth on the trailer plug pin at all. And they bolt the earth cable from the lights directly to the chassis. Through this method the earthing is done mechanically through the tow ball. But this way your lights would only work if your trailer is hooked up to your car. (I haven’t seen this method personally but I have heard of it) In terms of what is the actual correct and legal method I’m honestly not too sure. I just copied the existing wiring my trailer had. My thought is that the trailer plug is designed to Australian standards and it provides a spot for earth return, so why not use it. Hope this helps you out mate. Good luck with your project.
Great video mate. Simple & some great tips to avoid shorting.
Great video, love the dogs helping out. Thanks mate 👍🏼
Extremely informative and very well presented. Keep them coming.
Hi mate just watched this and it’s bloody helpful! One question, do the white (earth) wires have to get attached (earthed) to the metal on the trailer ? My old ones do. But doesn’t seem as though yours do? Cheers mate
Hey mate,
With your current set up, does the trailer plug (from the trailer side) have an earth wire running out of it? If it does where does this go to?
Through a few trailers I’ve owned I’ve seen the earthing done a few different ways.
The first way is electrically grounded which is done by running the earth cable from the lights directly to the earth pin on the trailer plug (which is what I did).
The second way is running a short earth cable from the trailer plug pin and it bolts directly to the chassis of the trailer (probably the drawbar somewhere). Then at the back of the trailer, the earth cable from the lights are also bolted onto the chassis (probably on the light mount itself). Through this method the earth return goes via the cable from your lights, through the chassis and then onto the other cable that goes back to the trailer plug pin. (you would have to make sure that the surfaces you bolt onto are NOT painted to minimise resistance)
The third way is I believe that people don’t use the earth on the trailer plug pin at all. And they bolt the earth cable from the lights directly to the chassis. Through this method the earthing is done mechanically through the tow ball. But this way your lights would only work if your trailer is hooked up to your car. (I haven’t seen this method personally but I have heard of it)
In terms of what is the actual correct and legal method I’m honestly not too sure. I just copied the existing wiring my trailer had. My thought is that the trailer plug is designed to Australian standards and it provides a spot for earth return, so why not use it.
Hope this helps you out mate. Good luck with your project.
Where is the number plate light?