Blown Harness Module, HELP!

[KeyWestBoater]

I asked about this in another thread with no answers so I hope someone can help me this time.

I usually unplug when backing donw the ramp but have forgotton a couple of times. My boat is 5 months old. When I had the hitch and harness installed the hitch shop warned me to make sure that I did otherwise I would blow the electronic converter module that's part of the hitch harness on the truck. It blew once in the 1st week and the shop replaced it at no charge. They said next time would be on me. Last week I saw the same problem again, no right side brake lights on the truck and some lights out on the right side of the trailer which is the same thing that happened before. I will have to replace the module again for I think about $20. I haven't seen any mention of this problem. Has anyone experienced this? I have a 2003 Highlander and was told that all newer vehicles must use these modules in the harness. I see a lot of folks here don't unplug and all they get are popped bulbs. What do you think?

 

[nuttyboater]

Re: Blown Harness Module, HELP!

Since it happened on the same side both times i suspect you have a problem on one side of the trailer, wiring shorting out when it hits the water, or shorting out when it gets in the light on that side.

Those cheap $20 adapters can blow pretty easily, they use the vehicles lighting to power the boat lights. A better alternative is to get a slightly more expensive one, $30-$40, which has its own battery power lead and a fuse. It doesn't draw much of the vehicles wiring, just enough for the circuitry to switch on which outputs should have power, the actual power supply to the trailer lighting comes from that seperate battery lead feeding the converter box.

Some of the newer vehicles can be seriously screwed up thanks to one of those cheap converters, as the trailer lighting is still drawing its power from the vehicles rear lighting wiring. I have seen the vehicles lights go dim when the trailer is plugged in using one of those converters. The powered converter however you don't have that problem and your trailer lights are nice and bright. If the accidental dunking of the lights happens again all your going to blow, if something shorts out, is the fuse in the battery lead to the converter box and your vehicles wiring and fuses are safe.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Blown Harness Module, HELP!

I have to use a converter as well and it has to be the powered version as the current draw from the trailer is too much for the vehicle wiring. The one I have is a Uhaul one, http://store.uhaul.com/product_detail.aspx?id=4074 and they may have it here at iBoats.

I don't ever unplug and haven't had an issue thus far. Some of them have built in circuit protection so if there is a short, it shuts down. I agree that it sounds like there is aproblem in the trailer lighting and not water. I don;t think there is enough juice at the plug to casue a short, but I could be wrong.