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09-26-2017, 04:50 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Redondo Beach
, California
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 5
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Clearance lights always on
Hi
I’m a relatively new owner of a 73 31” AS.
I began to bring it back to life and am perplexed at how the clearance lights seem to have an unknown and separate power source.
I began by wiring in a new plug to hook to truck and all was good, lights worked etc. then I added a battery as it came without one. Then all the clearance lights came on and the brake /tail lights. I then pull all fuses out of the Univolt and still have clearance lights on. Then I cut all the wires to the plug thinking it may be backfeeding into the lights.
Still have clearance lights on.
I appear to clearly see where the battery cables come to the univolt and there seems to nothing else tapped into the battery to power the lights.
I am stumped...
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09-26-2017, 06:13 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Do you have a manual. Mine is 300 miles away, unfortunately. There is a separate fuse panel for the tow circuits. Usually located on the front bulkhead somewhere. That still doesn't explain what is giving positive power to those lights. Did you still have your tow vehicle connected. Sounds like you installed a new 7 pin connector, the old 74 wiring doesn't match current standards. If your TV was still plugged into the trailer the mismatch in old and new wiring could be the cause.
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09-26-2017, 06:42 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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Pull the fuse labelled "car battery" and see if the lights go out.
Then pull the fuse labelled "trailer battery"
Reinstall the "car battery" fuse. If the lights remain out.
It sounds like you do not have the 7 pin plug wired to todays standards.
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09-26-2017, 08:35 PM
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#4
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Redondo Beach
, California
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 5
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Where are these fuses?
I’ve pulled all fuses in the univolt...
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09-26-2017, 08:36 PM
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#5
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Redondo Beach
, California
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 5
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AND cut all wires at the trailer plug in
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09-26-2017, 09:41 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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They are in the Univolt. The two large fuses in the lower left corner.
They are clearly labeled in your pic.
Don't cut the wires. Disconnect them.
If it is a molded plug go to the other end of the Umbilical cord.
Tell us what color the 7 wires are.
Typically they are as follows.
Black=+12volt=Charge line=car battery
White=Common/ground
Red=Left turn/brake light
Brown=Right turn/brake light
Green=Tail/marker lights
Blue=Electric Brakes
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09-26-2017, 10:35 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Docfranco
AND cut all wires at the trailer plug in
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So are there loose wires at the trailer plug end? Your battery is still connected from the description. One of the wires in the trailer umbilical is connected to the battery for charging from the tow vehicle. If so you probably have some voltage going from that wire to the other light wires.
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09-27-2017, 01:59 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Docfranco
Where are these fuses?
I’ve pulled all fuses in the univolt...
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If you don't have an owner's manual, we can probably locate one online.
Please advise, and good luck!
Peter
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09-27-2017, 06:34 AM
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#9
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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1973 had different wiring colors and locations from modern trailers.
In 1973, I think the blue wire was battery charge, instead of trailer brakes. There are many resources showing older standard wiring and newer standard wiring. Use the ewer standard wiring umbilical diagram to wire the plug correctly, using the old wiring diagram to know what color wires went where.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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09-27-2017, 06:54 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,042
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Hang on. You swapped the umbilical plug, then after you added the battery, your running lights stay on? Check your wiring on your umbilical plug for a short. Specifically between the fat blue wire (aux + or battery charge) and the green wire (running lights). Those wires connect super close together, and it's real easy to let them touch. You may want to add some heat shrink insulation or electrical tape to make sure they can't touch.
When I redid my umbilical plug, I had an intermittent short between the left turn signal and the trailer brakes. Same problem. Ask me how fun that was on the highway.
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09-27-2017, 12:51 PM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 39
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Does your TV have "Daytime running lights" if your trailer is hooked up to it they will be on as well, disconnect from TV and see if they go out.
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09-27-2017, 09:37 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1988 32' Excella
Robbinsville
, New Jersey
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,164
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Some people added a switch to have their running lights on for decoration (and to make it easier to find their trailer) while parked and not connected to the TV.
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09-28-2017, 12:10 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wazbro
Some people added a switch to have their running lights on for decoration (and to make it easier to find their trailer) while parked and not connected to the TV.
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Possible, but people don't usually do the brake lights as well. If they did thecswitch is likely near the tow wire fuses which are usually on the front bulkhead or along the street side wall somewhere.
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09-28-2017, 07:26 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,042
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HiJoeSilver
Possible, but people don't usually do the brake lights as well. If they did thecswitch is likely near the tow wire fuses which are usually on the front bulkhead or along the street side wall somewhere.
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The running light circuit powers the tail lights, too, i.e. the brake lights. Same wire.
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09-28-2017, 08:09 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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Running lights and brake/turn lights are on 3 different circuits.
1 Running lights
2 left turn
3 right turn
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09-28-2017, 08:58 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,042
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TG Twinkie
Running lights and brake/turn lights are on 3 different circuits.
1 Running lights
2 left turn
3 right turn
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Right, but same lense, same bulb, different filaments. It seems likely that OP has a short to the running light circuit which is illuminating the tail lights, i.e. the brake lights. Less likely there would be a short to three separate circuits.
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09-28-2017, 02:05 PM
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#17
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Redondo Beach
, California
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGreatleys
Hang on. You swapped the umbilical plug, then after you added the battery, your running lights stay on? Check your wiring on your umbilical plug for a short. Specifically between the fat blue wire (aux + or battery charge) and the green wire (running lights). Those wires connect super close together, and it's real easy to let them touch. You may want to add some heat shrink insulation or electrical tape to make sure they can't touch.
When I redid my umbilical plug, I had an intermittent short between the left turn signal and the trailer brakes. Same problem. Ask me how fun that was on the highway.
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This was where I found a problem, when I wiggled the plug that goes into the front of trailer the lights flickered ... when I removed it they went off.
I will get a new plug for front of trailer.
Thank you for the pointers.
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