Trailer Tail Light Wiring Colors and Functions for Optronics Tail Lights STL009RB, and # STL008RB

Updated 03/09/2016 | Published 03/07/2016

Products Featured in This Question

ONE LED Trailer Tail Light - 6 Function - Submersible - Square - Red Lens - Passenger Side

(874)

$21.00

ONE LED Trailer Tail Light - 7 Function - Submersible - Square - Red Lens - Driver Side

(875)

$13.37

Question:

Im wiring a 16foot trailer using several etrailer parts. I started with the wiring J-box, part #38656. On the video This old trailer wiring with the junction box-etrailer.com it show that when wiring the tail lights, the wires werent a direct color connection. The tail lights that I purchased STL009RB, and STL008RB, has a green, yellow, and brown wire, not the black, and red ones used in the video. Should I connect the wires based on the color coded pins in the J-box, are how its described in the video? Im using the bonded 4 wire, which has a white wire to be used for a frame ground, however theres already a frame ground from the J-box, and one for each tail light. Do I still need to use this wire for another ground.

asked by: Broderick L

Expert Reply:

You never want to wire anything up on a trailer based on color alone. This is because there is no official standard wire color/function used on trailers. On the lights that you purchased, # STL009RB, and # STL008RB, the green wire is right turn/brake lights, yellow is left turn/brake lights, brown is running lights, and white is ground.

The bonded 4-Way you mentioned has the same functions per color listed above. The main trailer connector will need to be grounded to the frame as do each of the lights you install on the trailer. When in doubt, ground it out!

expert reply by: Michael H