Post by Monstermachines on Apr 15, 2014 21:31:04 GMT
Here's a cautionary tale:
We are going away for the weekend, camping in Scarboghorror over Easter.
I've done loads to the caravan this last few weeks, new fridge, new gas box, repainted inside, new flooring, dozens of little jobs.
It's been fun, I've really enjoyed doing it and it looks tidy now (inside at least, the outside still looks like it's been parked on a driving range)
Tonight I hitched it to the cadillac and plugged in the trailer lights.
One indicator, one brake light, no running lights AT ALL.
So there are ten marker lights and the rear lights, I figure if no single light at all out of twelve are working, the socket or plug at the tow bar joint must be dodgy.
Stripped out the socket, all wires ok, test ok.
Forgot which order the wires were in, it's US so have to work it all out again (constant live, feed for left and right brake / flashers, running light live, earth)
Refit.
Stripped out the plug, same as above.
A full hour later,
Out with the volt meter, power to the running lights at the socket, at the plug and further up the chassis where I can still get to it.
Turns out by a process of elimination that there is power to everything, and EVERY SINGLE LIGHT is shit. Bad earth, corroded terminal, blown bulb, whatever.
Took three hours to sort, and I'm frazzled!
It just goes to show that you can never assume because everything doesn't work, the problem must be at the source.
Thank god I've built a garage so it never has to have another winter out in the elements!
Went out to check and re-pack the wheel bearings but never even got a hubcap off!
Luckily there's nine days in a week....
We are going away for the weekend, camping in Scarboghorror over Easter.
I've done loads to the caravan this last few weeks, new fridge, new gas box, repainted inside, new flooring, dozens of little jobs.
It's been fun, I've really enjoyed doing it and it looks tidy now (inside at least, the outside still looks like it's been parked on a driving range)
Tonight I hitched it to the cadillac and plugged in the trailer lights.
One indicator, one brake light, no running lights AT ALL.
So there are ten marker lights and the rear lights, I figure if no single light at all out of twelve are working, the socket or plug at the tow bar joint must be dodgy.
Stripped out the socket, all wires ok, test ok.
Forgot which order the wires were in, it's US so have to work it all out again (constant live, feed for left and right brake / flashers, running light live, earth)
Refit.
Stripped out the plug, same as above.
A full hour later,
Out with the volt meter, power to the running lights at the socket, at the plug and further up the chassis where I can still get to it.
Turns out by a process of elimination that there is power to everything, and EVERY SINGLE LIGHT is shit. Bad earth, corroded terminal, blown bulb, whatever.
Took three hours to sort, and I'm frazzled!
It just goes to show that you can never assume because everything doesn't work, the problem must be at the source.
Thank god I've built a garage so it never has to have another winter out in the elements!
Went out to check and re-pack the wheel bearings but never even got a hubcap off!
Luckily there's nine days in a week....
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