Why Would Trailer Wiring Ground Circuit Get Hot

Published 09/20/2021

Question:

I recently bought some replacement trailer led lights from you and finally got a chance to work on the trailer. All the lights came factory with LED as were the replacement I ordered from you guys. I got everything hooked up and everything works as it should. All running, brake, turn signals etc. work properly but the problem I have is the ground connector on the 5 prong plug for the lights is getting very hot. I mean like it could melt hot. I use a 7 way to 5 way adapter and went to unplug the lights and it will burn your hand. Do I have the polarity wrong on some of the LED lights or maybe a bad ground? I dont know where to start to isolate the problem..

asked by: James H

Expert Reply:

If ground wire is getting hot it's shorting out to a 12 volt power source. I'd check to see where it's wired to see if it's either touching an open circuit or if it's ran straight to the frame you may have a circuit shorting to the trailer frame.

expert reply by: Jameson C