No power to running lights, brake lights turn signals

**inghamm** · 08-03-2020, 04:53 PM

No power to running lights, brake lights turn signals. I've checked the Bargman on the TV. I get volts in all the appropriate places. Since it was all the lights I figured it was a ground issue, but I've check the ground from the trailer Bargman to the Chassis ground and I think I have connection. (My meter measures various small amounts of ohms when I connect the two.)

**commodor47** · 08-03-2020, 05:11 PM

You might have already checked - but, since those lights are powered by your TV, have you checked the corresponding TV fuses?

Dick

**commodor47** · 08-03-2020, 05:37 PM

It does sound like a ground issue. But it might be related to the ground pin on the TV 7-pin connector. I found the following from eTrailer;

"Do trailers need to be grounded to the hitch with a 7 point hardware

asked by: Tom

Expert Reply:
A trailer will use the vehicle's ground on the 7-way (or 4-pole), usually carried on the white wire, for its lights, brakes, etc. As you look at the vehicle 7-way socket (please see the linked photo) the ground is usually carried on the pin at the 7-o-clock position. It should not be necessary to make any ground connection to the hitch itself. In actual use the coupler/hitch ball connection does provide a degree of grounding for the trailer, but this will not be enough for all of the lights, brakes, etc.

If you are having any trouble with some light functions not working, try cleaning off any discoloration or corrosion on the metal pins, especially the pin for the ground, on both vehicle and trailer connectors."

Dick

**dab1950** · 08-03-2020, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inghamm

No power to running lights, brake lights turn signals. I've checked the Bargman on the TV. I get volts in all the appropriate places. Since it was all the lights I figured it was a ground issue, but I've check the ground from the trailer Bargman to the Chassis ground and I think I have connection. (My meter measures various small amounts of ohms when I connect the two.)

Inghamm,

I had very similar issues in my 2006 2720. Please refer to the following thread. Especially
look at the picture in post #12 provided by another TM owner. His picture shows wire channels in the joints between the rear wall over the bed and ceiling.
That's where I ultimately fixed my problem. As I stated in my final post(#18); I replaced at least a dozen 'tap-splice connectors'. In that overhead wire channel
at the top of the rear wall, there is a network of white wires(ground wires from all fixtures) that had lost the continuity to the frame ground and or to the ground line back at the bargman connector.

https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...t=17195&page=2

Hope this helps. Good luck

**inghamm** · 08-03-2020, 10:38 PM

It took a day of testing. The aha! came when I took the cover off the the Bargman on the Trailer side and did the same voltage test on the back of the Trailer Bargman. Even though I was getting good voltage on the tv side, it wasn't coming through on trailer Bargman, so my issue was the two Bargmans not making good connection. I went and bought two. Decided to replace the tv side first since it was the oldest, and then it worked, so I didn't have to replace the trailer Bargman.