How to Install New Trailer Lights that Only Have One Wire

Question

Question:

oneon my 1997 airstream the old light have two wires the new ones have one

asked by: Mitchel G

0

Expert Reply:

A trailer light that only has 1 wire means that it grounds through its mounting hardware. The single wire is the power wire. The best surface to ground a light to is steel. If steel is not available in the area the light installs you can attach a ring terminal and wire to the grounding stud and attach the other end of the wire to the original ground wire from the old light.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Abeja

5/22/2024

I would assume the current needs to return to the vehicle. Is there a line from the plug that also goes to the steel frame?

Reply

Jon G.

5/28/2024

@Abeja Your trailer plug should have a ground on it as well, yes. Typically this is a white wire but sometimes a shop will use a different color wire if they don't have white.

Reply

Roger

10/6/2024

@JonG So if marker light has only one wire and trailer has ground and power, what us to be done with the ground that would typically go into light?

Reply

Jon G.

10/7/2024

@Roger If the marker light only has 1 wire then that means it grounds through the hardware so that 1 wire will need to be connected to the running light function.

Reply

Answer 1

The marker and clearance lights you have now ground with a single wire hence why you have two wires total, one for power and one for ground. If the marker or clearance light only has one wire then this wire is for power and the light grounds though…

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Answer 2

If you are replacing a trailer marker/clearance light that only has one wire with a trailer marker/clearance light that has two wires like the part #MCL44AB that means the previous light grounded though the mounting hardware and the new light grounds…

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Answer 6

The Wesbar Mini Clearance and Side Marker Trailer Light part #203233 features a one wire design so the brown wire will be hooked up to the trailer's running light circuit and then the light will be grounded by the mounting stud. If you will be…

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Answer 8

If a trailer clearance light like part #MCL44AB1 is used, the one wire is the power wire for the light and the light will be grounded through the mounting hardware. If you want to use the ground wire that you have on your trailer you can install part…

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Answer 9

It sounds like you might have a wishbone type of wiring situation. This means that the running light circuit is split to 2 wires instead of just one for running lights on both sides of the trailer (yellow of left side, green for right side). This is…

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Answer 10

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How to Install New Trailer Lights that Only Have One Wire

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