Do LED Trailer Tail Lights Have A Ground Wire Or Do They Ground Through Mounting Hardware?

Updated 09/13/2021 | Published 09/12/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Optronics Combination Trailer Tail Light - 6 Function - Incandescent - Red Lens - Passenger Side

(1237)

$7.63

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$13.33

Optronics LED Combination Trailer Tail Lights - Submersible - 40 Diodes - Driver and Passenger Side

(3280)

$56.09

Question:

I have LED lights for my trailer. To install do I only need to join light wires to existing wires that are connected via a 7 pin to car or do I need to connect the ground wires to each other and also the frame of the trailer?

asked by: Greg W

Helpful Expert Reply:

There are two different styles of LED trailer tail lights.

Some are like the Optronics LED Combination Trailer Tail Lights # TLL160RK and have a ground wire on each light which needs to be grounded to the frame, and the other two wires connected to the tail light and brake light/turn signal wires on your trailer.

There are other styles of tail lights that do not have a ground wire and instead get the ground through the mounting hardware.

Both styles install by wiring the tail light and brake light/turn signal wires to the light, just the grounding part will be different. You can just check your lights and see if they have a ground wire or not, or you can send me a picture and I can identify them for you.

To make sure the light works properly you will need to install the ground wire/mounting hardware to clean corrosion free metal.

Lastly I recommend using a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to confirm the functions of your trailer wiring before removing your current lights. The reason for this is trailer wiring is not always color coded the same so if you match the wiring color for color there is a good chance it will be wired incorrectly.

I included a video of the light kit mentioned for you to take a look at.