Troubleshooting Tail Light Converter With Low Voltage

Question:

I have the hoppy 310-0041-559 electronic taillight converter and my tail lights are no longer working on my trailer. I put my volt meter on all pins of the converter with my headlights turned on and I am only getting 6 volts DC. Is this the correct voltage or is it possible my converter has failed? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am a Union Electrician and am very familiar with electrical troubleshooting,but this one is stumping me a bit. Thank you

asked by: Alan G

Expert Reply:

There are a host of potential issues and you will need to do some troubleshooting, which I can help you with. The first, and most important, thing to do is check all of your ground connections as they may be weak or loose; weak grounds can cause low voltage readings and numerous lighting problems. You'll want to make sure your grounds are securely attached to bare metal surfaces free of any paint, dirt or corrosion of any kind. Also check your wiring thoroughly to ensure there are none that are crimped, broken or otherwise damaged. Take a look at your connectors as well for any type of corrosion which could be an issue.

You are also going to want to take a look at the maximum amperage rating of your harness and determine the amp draw of your lights to see if there is an overload. Remove the fuse from the power line and leave it out for 30 minutes before reinstalling it. Then, use a circuit tester to check for function at the 4-Way plug, but do not plug in the trailer before testing the vehicle's 4-Way plug. If the lights work after resetting the unit the trailer may have a short that is causing an overdraw on the system, or that the trailer lights may draw more amperage than the harness is rated to handle.

I have added links to a couple help articles on trailer wiring for you to take a look at as well which you may find to be useful.

expert reply by: Kyle S