4 dire to a 3 wire trick

[a70eliminator]

I've burnt out two converters with my new trailer, the first one was used with my other boat for 5 years and never a problem till my new boat trailer, the only difference is the new trailer has 1 marker light on each side and 3 across the middle in the rear, my old trailer did not have marker lights. I thought maybe the first converter was just getting old and thats why it malfunctioned so I went out and bought a new one at autozone, it worked for 1 trip out but then the second outing killed it, the malfuntion was same as original one left side completely dead of all functions. The trailer is wired identical to all the standard schematics L-Y R-GR tail-BR which also carries the markers, now on my tow vehicle 95 grand cherokee, I can wire everything without that converter with the exception of brake lights, I'm wondering if I could just add a set brake lights to the trailer and just forget the converter? I think whats going on is that the converter just cant handle the load of the additional marker lights, and the next step up in converters that uses a seperate power supply will cost more money than just a cheap set of 3rd brake lights.

 

[wire2]

Re: 4 dire to a 3 wire trick

I'll guess you're talking about the unit that takes tow vehicle separate brake & signal functions to a single trailer lamp?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...ood look at all the connections on that side.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: 4 dire to a 3 wire trick

yes thats exactly what i'm talking about.
I've since found out that the cheap tail light converters are only capable of lighting 1 set of lights, if you have marker lights the unit will not handle the extra 2-1/2 amps that 5 clearance lights use, my clearance lights are 1/2amp each. I'm going to have to look for one of the higher end units that can handle 6 or 7 amps, or just run another wire and put me a 3rd brake light on back the trailer, which would actually be the only brake light on my trailer.

 

[wire2]

Re: 4 dire to a 3 wire trick

Something's not right. Marker lights don't use the electronics in a converter, that's directly from the car running lights. Only the brake & signals use some electronic switching parts.

One other solution; replace the lamps with LED's, 15% of the current, ~$5 each for 1156, 1157's, less for markers.
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