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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / May 2005

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Another trailer wiring question

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korey99 - 24 May 2005 18:48 GMT
Hey all-

 I've been reading the other thread about the charge wire to a
trailer.  I'm about to set up something similar, and wanted to run what
I know against those on this group that know about the subject.

 I currently have a 2004 Dakota without the trailer tow package.  I
already have a 4 pin flat connector on it - it's an aftermarket harness
that taps into the tail lights to provide the same for the trailer
(hoppy part no. 42205).  What I want is a 7 pin connector, for the
signals plus brakes and a charge wire.

 I found a part made by Hoppy (part no. 47185 -
http://www.trailerwiring.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?part=47185) that is
essentially a 7 pin and 4 pin connector on a mounting plate.  You bolt
that to the back of the truck and then plug in your existing 4-pin
connector to it.  There are also three extra bare wires and a ground
for use with the 3 additional pins on the 7 pin connector.  Ok, that
takes care of the signals and marker lights.  So I can run a fused
heavy wire from the front of the truck for the charge wire (this is
mostly address on the other thread), then a wire to the cab for the
brake control.  I'd hook the ground wire from the hoppy adaptor to the
frame.  I'd also need to get a power wire and ground to the cab for the
brake controller as well as a wire from the brake pedal switch.

 One of my concerns is with the ground: both the existing tail light
adaptor and the hoppy adaptor both have grounds.  I don't really see it
as a big problem because I could hook them both to the frame with the
same screw.  I'll also have to look a little closer to make sure the
ground wire and charge wire are large enough.

 Hmm...  I guess I didn't actually ask a question yet, so here goes:
Does all of this sound about right?  

Thanks.
Korey
SQLit - 24 May 2005 19:27 GMT
> Hey all-
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> Thanks.
> Korey

Sounds good to me except for the part of both grounds under the same screw.
Call me anal, but unless the connection is labeled and listed for 2
connections that means one screw one wire as far as I am concerned.
Undoubtly others will say that it is fine.  I tend to boiler plate
everything so I do it once.
korey99 - 24 May 2005 20:10 GMT
I was just worried about having "multiple ground paths".  Granted the
redundant part of the path is very short, so as far as I know it should
be OK.  I'll put another screw into the same part of the frame.  I can
see if I were to hook it somewhere entirely where I might have a
problem.

Thanks,
Korey
greers - 24 May 2005 21:30 GMT
I say ground is ground.  Doesn't matter where you attach wires to the
frame, they are both connected to ground and thus they are electrically
connected together.  Might as well put them under the same frame screw
if that is the most convenient location.

I think one of the previous posters was referring to the ready made
screw connectors that one might find on the store bought plugs.  They
may or may not be sized big enough to accomodate two wires.
tobe - 24 May 2005 23:49 GMT
There is no problem with "multiple ground paths".  Ground is ground.    If
you are using a very long ground wire, the wire's resistance makes a minor
difference, but having several different ground wires in the same general
area causes no problems at all.  The sum of the current carrying capacities
of the ground wires need only be equal to the sum of the current carrying
capacities of the various hot wires.  More than that is gravy, but poses no
problems.

>I was just worried about having "multiple ground paths".  Granted the
> redundant part of the path is very short, so as far as I know it should
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks,
> Korey
Rich256 - 25 May 2005 15:09 GMT
> I was just worried about having "multiple ground paths".  Granted the
> redundant part of the path is very short, so as far as I know it should
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks,
> Korey

Multiple grounds are not a problem unless there are electronic equipments
involved.  With aircraft wiring exteme care is taken to have a single point
ground.  With automobiles it is not a problem.  Just be sure that the
battery is well grounded to the frame as well.  A ground cable to the engine
may not be a good ground.
RichA - 25 May 2005 02:43 GMT
>Hey all-
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>Thanks.
>Korey
Hi,
Sounds pretty good.  Check your Dakota it may already have the wiring
for the brake controller.  There may also be a relay for the power
wire to the trailer plug in the back, or an empty space in the
relay/fuse box inside the engine compartment for it.  Just because it
doesn't have the towing package installed doesn't mean the wiring for
it wasn't put in.  Lots of times the wiring harness is the same for
all vehicles.  Won't hurt to check and it could save you a bunch of
wiring and crawling around under the dash.

Ground is ground and it makes more sense to attach both grounds to
the same GOOD ground point with that setup.  That way if you have a
ground problem with one you will have it with the other and only have
to look in one spot when troubleshooting.

Take care and Happy Campin...


RichA
"We Get Too Soon Olde and Too Late Smart"
 
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