How has industry not figured out sequential / trailer wiring yet?

[OFC Ranger]

So it is no secret to those that have tried it that hooking a light that has a sequential function just doesn't work with the trailer wiring. It will default your nice sequential turn signal sequence to a standard blinking.

How in the world has the massive aftermarket trailer light industry not figured out a fix to this? What is even more frustrating is that if you Google: "How to get sequential lights to work with trailer wiring" results in exactly zero information to dig through.

Sorry, this is more of a rant than anything.

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[DukeCanBuildit]

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[AdamHarris]

Well it would require 2 additional wires per side so a whole new plug system would have to be created. No more “flat 4” or “Round 7,” say hello to “Octagon 11”…

Or use of a special BCM on the trailer itself.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Well it would require 2 additional wires per side so a whole new plug system would have to be created. No more “flat 4” or “Round 7,” say hello to “Octagon 11”…

Or use of a special BCM on the trailer itself.

It has nothing to do with wire count, primarily because even a 4-pin still has 1 line for left and 1 line for right. It has something to do with how the new-age wiring systems interact specifically with the trailer wiring.

Want to add an even more bizarre wrench to the gears? If you power on ACC only (dont start the vehicle) sequential signals work just fine. It is once the truck is powered on that the sequential feature stops and the lights will revert to a standard blink.

I am just at a loss how someone on the internet somewhere has not at the very least figured out an explanation as to WHY that happens, even if not fix is available.

I plan to run some test soon involving relays and one way diodes, but overall the whole situation is dumb.

 

[OFC Ranger]

I think it has something to do with what is called the " Pulse Width Modulation ".

 

[airline tech]

Do you have TRM?
If so, the Data Buss ties into the system as well, might be causing issue, the TRM controls trailer lighting

If not TRM:
Then the BJB box relays feed power to the BCM, BCM has internal protection (FET), they monitor current draw, with engine running might be sensing more current draw and not allowing them to work properly

 

[D Fresh]

I'm betting that as @airline tech mentioned it probably has to do with current protection in the BCM.

I'm betting your diode protected relay trigger might do the trick.

 

[Motorpsychology]

I think it has something to do with what is called the " Pulse Width Modulation ".

That's what she said.

 

[Trigganometry]

Jack, take a look at these. They’re solid state and our BCM won’t detect them as additional load. Very simple and can handle 5A on the control side. I use these for many applications where I want to isolate a circuit from a source signal. They use milliamperes of current so no loads on supply side

 

[OFC Ranger]

Jack, take a look at these. They’re solid state and our BCM won’t detect them as additional load. Very simple and can handle 5A on the control side. I use these for many applications where I want to isolate a circuit from a source signal. They use milliamperes of current so no loads on supply side

Yup already on my "to do list" - I am going to run a standard relay with a one way diode for now, just to get things operational, then upgrade to a SSR once I get other projects finished up.

 

[airline tech]

Sometimes it's best to walk away and regroup.
BTW, you are very creative and dedicated to your project, and you are doing way more to your ride than I ever will.
I am amazed as you are that someone has not come up with this solution by now, as for me I will only tow something maybe a handful of times, so I have no need for anything that special, although it is an eye grabbing, attention getting mod - Towards, Rear ending protection

 

[OFC Ranger]

Sometimes it's best to walk away and regroup.
BTW, you are very creative and dedicated to your project, and you are doing way more to your ride than I ever will.
I am amazed as you are that someone has not come up with this solution by now, as for me I will only tow something maybe a handful of times, so I have no need for anything that special, although it is an eye grabbing, attention getting mod - Towards, Rear ending protection

Thanks. Yea I don't tow anything either, but I love the concept of sequential lights, normally something only reserved for high end luxury cars.

The only other I have left on the table is to run the brake/running signal from the trailer harness and try tapping the signals (again) directly into the tail lights using the relay idea.

 

[airline tech]

Hey OFC, Read the attached, it provides very good info on operation of trailer lighting just pay attention to the With or Without TRM Specs, it is fairly detailed description.
I think this will help greatly on coming up with way to make it work as they operate and are controlled differently, so I think if you do same as you did on the turn circuit to the stop light circuit. You may have it, IDK, just be careful and not fry anything (known as magic smoke)
Good Luck

 

[OFC Ranger]

Hey OFC, Read the attached, it provides very good info on operation of trailer lighting just pay attention to the With or Without TRM Specs, it is fairly detailed description.
I think this will help greatly on coming up with way to make it work as they operate and are controlled differently, so I think if you do same as you did on the turn circuit to the stop light circuit. You may have it, IDK, just be careful and not fry anything (known as magic smoke)
Good Luck

Hmm that is an idea, so 3 relays total.

I think the problem however is not after the relay, its before, if the harness its pulsing a signal into the relay, that may be what is causing the bizarre buzz clicking.

 

[D Fresh]

Nice!

The magic fingers sold it.

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