What Gauge Wire Should I Use for Installing New Side Marker Lights on Trailer

Question

Question:

What gauge wire do I use for hooking up new side marker lights on my utility trailer?

asked by: Rick O

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

If this were my trailer, I'd use 14 or 16 gauge wire for the clearance lights. I'd use 14 gauge wire if the trailer is longer than 12 ft or so, but 16 gauge will be just fine on smaller trailers.

For 16 gauge wire, you can use our part # 16-1-1. For 14 gauge wire, you can use # DW07550-1. If you need butt connectors, we also carry heat shrink butt connectors, # DW05744-10, that fits both size wires.

expert reply by: John H

1

Answer 1

We have a online diagram that will help you understand how the break away system is wired into your trailer. It is actually a simple installation. The system splices into the existing trailer wiring. The break away box will have 3 wires coming out of…

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Answer 2

It sounds like the tilt battery is backfeeding onto the breakaway battery charge line so as long as the ground is connecting it is taking a charge from the tilt battery and that is why your charge light is staying on. I have a solution for you, you…

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Answer 3

That is correct. The DOT requires that a breakaway battery kit, like the Pro Series #50-85-315, be able to activate the trailer brakes for 15 continuous minutes. A breakaway battery is used more or less as a last resort to help minimize the effects…

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Answer 4

I can certainly help. You will want to look at DOT/FMCSA regulation 393.43, specifically paragraph (d). This regulation should have everything that you need for what the Navy requires. In general, a breakaway system needs to be sufficient enough to…

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Answer 5

DOT really will only care that the breakaway system battery will be capable of holding the trailer brakes fully engaged for at least 15 minutes at any given time. It's wiser to use a dedicated battery for this so that you don't deplete the…

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Answer 6

With a few possible exceptions (large fifth wheels that use LT or Light Truck Tires), we recommended that only trailer tires be used on trailers because they have stiffer sidewalls which do a better job dealing with the vertical load tires experience…

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Answer 7

Technically yes, if you were replacing idler hubs, as long as the inner/outer bearing, grease seal AND wheel bolt pattern match, there's nothing that prevents you from using a 3,500 lb axle hub, like #84545BX on a 2,000 lb axle. If the bearings…

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Answer 8

Axles that are 3,500 lbs are all 2-3/8 inches in diameter, and that is the diameter of the 3,500 lb Dexter Trailer Axle with Idler Hubs - 5 on 4-1/2 Bolt Pattern - 89" Long - 3,500 lbs #35545I-ST-89.

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Answer 9

When installing a sidemarker light such as this Optronics Trailer Light #MCL44AB you will want to splice into the signal wire for your trailer running lights circuit and then run the ground wire to a clean metal surface. The black wire will be the…

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Answer 10

Your trailer lighting is flickering because the wiring of the trailer is grounding through the hitch ball and coupler and not through the ground wire circuit. When you hit a bump the ball intermittently stops making contact with the coupler which…

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Answer 11

In order to fix the issue with your lights flickering you will want to pick a good spot on the trailer frame near the coupler and then run a ground wire from each of the lights as well as the trailer connector to this point. If you need to extend the…

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Answer 12

Typically 4-way wiring consists of 18 and 16 gauge wires. For a 4-way that has all 16 gauge wire you would want the Wesbar 4-Pole Flat Connector #W787264. The part #HM38138 uses 18 gauge for all wires but the white that uses 16 gauge.

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