Date:         Sun, 27 Aug 2000 00:14:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Patrick Bryson <patrickb@extremezone.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Patrick Bryson <patrickb@extremezone.com>
Subject:      Re: Simple Question about trailer wiring
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Marshall,
This kit assumes that the brake light and turn signal are the same bulb
(actually the same filament in a bulb).  This the way American cars have
been wired.  Your trailer light kit has one bulb for stop/turn signal and
tail lights.  The bulb has two filaments.  One filament is for tail lights,
the other brighter filament is for turn signals and brakes.  When brakes are
applied at the same time that the turn signal is used, the filament simply
goes on and off.  European cars use a different bulb for brake and turn
signals.  The only away I know to get around this is to buy an adapter that
accepts inputs from you turn signals and brakes and outputs to the four wire
plug you have in you trailer lamp kit.  Your FLAPS should have this adapter
thingy.  Being lazy, I don't mess with the turn signals on my boat trailer
but I'm sure that I'm in a small and despised minority.

Patrick
'85 Westy
'81 Hobie 18 (towed by '85 Westy)


----- Original Message -----
From: Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@pangea.ca>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2000 7:34 PM
Subject: Simple Question about trailer wiring


> My Trailer lamp kit has some instructions I would like the list to
clarify,
> if possible.
>
> The illustration shows: From the vehicle  - the brake and LH turn signal
> power are on *one* wire to the LH trailer lamp, and same thing on the RH
> side.
>
> To me, I can only interpret that as meaning that I basically have to
connect
> the high side of each turn signal and the brake light to the wire leading
to
> each sides trailer lamp.
>
> This "gives me the willies". (How does turn signal work during braking,
> exactly?)
>
> Am I correct - is this the correct way to wire up a trailer lampset - or
> should I do something else?
>
> TIA
>
> Marshall Ruskin
> 84 Westy "Leader of the Pack"
> Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
> Founding Member of "Vanagon's Anonymous"
>