Electrical Problem

[Guest]

I am helping my neighbor with a problem on his GL1500 trike. One light on his mudflap doesn't work. I checked for continuity from the power source to the bulb socket. Checks as a circuit with the ohm meter. When we put power to wire, shows 0 volts using a test light or voltmeter. The way I was taught, if you ohm a wire and it shows good, and then put power to one end, you should have power at the other end. Right? Help!!

suks2bu37 Lawton, Oklahoma

[Fatwing Chris]

You can have continuity but not the ability to carry the current.I would start back tracking the circuit from the socket.I have seen soldered splices do exactly what your talking about.Or just bite the bullet and run a new wire from the source.Looks a bit crude but at least it will work.Bad grounds will also cause lots of grief.

[admin]

I fully agree with Chris and second his suggestion. Sometimes a copper wire will actually rot inside for one reason or another and continuity will show on the meter but there is no way enough current could pass to power a light.

[Guest]

Got it. Come to find out it was the ground wire from the lights to chassis ground. The wire had broken in two spots, all the way through the insulation. At these two spots there was only one strand of copper still connected. After looking at the conversion that was done supposedly by a reputable dealer, We went through the entire rear harness and tightened up all the connectors and zip tied the wiring harness up tighter to the chassis so that the wind coming under the trike doesn't move the wiring around. I think the problem was that the harness wasn't strapped up well and the wiring constantly moving back and forth broke the wires. Thanks for everyone's help.

suks2bu37

[Guest]

Moderator, feel free to move this post to the electrical section!!!!

suks2bu37

[admin]

Done.