Troubleshooting 4-Way Motorcycle Trailer Wiring to 3 Wire LED Trailer Lights

Question:

I have Green R, Brown, Tail Yellow L and Blue Brake coming from my bike. I have LED Tail lights with G, Br and White GD and Y,Br and White GD on the proper sides. Ive been using a Hopkins 5 to 4 wire, with incandescent bulbs on the trailer, 2 wire units, but replaced them with LEDs, and now the brake lites will not illuminate on the trailer. Driving lights work, turn signals work, clearance lamps work, Third Brake light in middle of trailer works... Any tips please? Thank you.

asked by: Jerry M

Expert Reply:

Since you have a 5 way on your bike, you obviously aren't using trailer brakes when you use the 4-way adapter, but the adapter isn't the issue. Your LED lights will have the brown as the running lights, the white as ground, and either the green or yellow depending on trailer side for both stop and turn. The issue may be that the LED's draw less power and you may need to add a load resistor inline like the Diamond LED Light Bulb Load-Resistors # DI34ZR on the green and yellow wires for your brake lights to function correctly.

Since you have a center brake light working, it will already be isolated to only that function and will have the power draw needed because it is further down line and possibly incandescent. The load resistors should solve your problem with the brake lights on either side.

expert reply by: Jason S