Entire Light Bar on Trailer Lights up When Either Turn Signal is Used

Published 11/02/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Thinline LED Trailer Tail Light - Stop, Tail, Turn - Submersible - 9 Diodes - Red Lens

(1467)

$15.71

2-to-3 Tail Light Converter for Towed Vehicles w/ Incandescent Tail Lights

(172)

$38.14

16 Gauge Primary Wire - Black - Per Foot

(61)

$1.14

Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector - 16-14 Gauge - Nylon Insulation - Blue - Qty 5

(1104)

$7.34

Question:

The turn signals are not necessary as far as Im concerned, however, I did want the brake lights for the bar. Unfortunately, the brake wires are on the same circuit as the turn signals so one cannot be used without the other. And yes this is only one bar that is used for the Identification light for trailers over 80. All of the sellers need to change their description of these lights or specify that two are needed. The right & left lights on my trailer are optronics that I got from etrailer years ago & work just fine. Never had any trouble out of them. Again, thanks for the fast reply & info.

asked by: Gregg

Helpful Expert Reply:

If your 17" light bar has 3 wires like the Optronics Thinline LED Trailer Tail Light # STL59RB, then it is only meant to be used on one side.

It sounds like you wired everything correctly. I believe that you are spot on with why it is not working correctly. For the bar to have 2 different turn signal sections it would need to have 4 wires. Since it only has 3 this means that the entire light bar will light up whenever it gets any kind of signal. If you wanted separate turn signals then you would need to install a second one and run wiring for one turn signal to one and wiring for the other turn signal to another.

If the light bar that you purchased is one that we carry I can try calling the manufacturer and seeing if there is a way to safely modify the light bar so that it can carry 2 different turn signals and have different sections light up. Otherwise I recommend contacting the manufacturer that you spoke with and see what they say about only parts of it lighting up for the different turn signals.

expert reply by: Jon G

Gregg

11/2/2017

Jon G.

11/2/2017

Actually there is a way that you can separate the stop signal from the turn signals on your trailer. If you use the Tow Ready Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light Converter # 118158 you can accomplish this. I recommend installing this towards the front of your boat trailer since the converter cannot get wet. You can then run additional 16 Gauge Wire # 16-1-1 to the tail lights and your light bar and then finish the install with Heat Shrink Butt Connectors # DW05744-5 which will help protect the wiring against the water. I have attached a video of this converter being installed for you to reference.