How to Power a Separate Clearance Trailer Light

Published 09/27/2013

Products Featured in This Question

16 Gauge, 4 Conductor Bonded Parallel Wire - Per Foot

(237)

$2.47

Pollak 6-Pole, Round Pin, Plastic Wiring Socket w/ Rubber Boot - Vehicle End

(219)

$23.11

Question:

Stop, turn signal, running lights all are functional as designed. Stop and turn signals are combined lights. My problem is a separate collision avoidance light strip on the trailer that does not receive power from the vehicle. The light strip is wired to the 6-Pin plug on the trailer. The light functions when tested separately. Do I need to run a separate wire from the vehicle to power this light strip? the 4-Pin connector on the vehicle powers combined left and right signals and stop two pins, running lights, and a ground on the other two pins.

asked by: Allen K

Helpful Expert Reply:

Having to run a separate wire to power the collision avoidance light on your trailer will depend on how and when you want that light to illuminate. If you want that light to be on only when the running lights are on, then you would not have to run a separate wire. You could simply cut the wire at the 6-way trailer connector and splice it into the running light circuit.

If you do not want the light on all the time and you want the ability to turn the light on and off as you please, then you have two options. One route would be to splice into the running light wire and install a switch between the splice and the light. The running lights would have to be on to use the collision avoidance light, but you could turn it off if needed.

Another route would be to switch out the 4-pin trailer connector on your tow vehicle with a 6-pin round connector, like part # PK12720 and wire the new 6-pin connector to match the connector on the trailer. Once you have the 6-pin connector, you can run a wire of the appropriate size from the pin on the connector that powers the light to the battery of your tow vehicle through a switch. The switch could be mounted in the cab of your vehicle so you could operate the light as needed.

expert reply by: John H