april2021 - 32

SPOTLIGHT ON BODY & CAB

lot of emphasis has been placed on making trailers
smarter, safer, and more resilient in recent years.
From telematics sensors and advanced lighting
systems to innovative designs and construction
materials, the trailer is becoming a high-value
asset for a fleet.
Maintaining that value is also taking on a new
level of importance. It's important for fleets to
have the proper inspection and preventive maintenance systems in place to make sure these new
" bells and whistles " continue to function as the
manufacturers intended.

Advanced lighting and
wiring harnesses

»Road Ready sensors, such as this cargo sensor, can be hardwired into a trailer's
electrical system or operate wirelessly via battery power. In either case, the
sensors are easily installed using a proven, industrial-strength VHB tape.
Photo courtesy of Clarience Technologies

Tips to get more
mileage out of
trailer technologies
Diligent maintenance practices help fleets reap the
benefits of cutting-edge sensors and lighting systems.
By Gregg Wartgow

32 Fleet Maintenance | April 2021

When it comes to trailer lighting systems, water
and corrosive materials are common culprits of
system failure. Technicians must take proper care
to guard against intrusions into the system. The
proper use of dielectric grease in plugs and pins
is an important step.
Products like Peterson Mfg.'s Defender Harness
and Lighting System are designed to protect
electrical systems from corrosive materials like
road salt. This modular system consists of four
components: The Defender distribution module,
the nose box, a variety of modular harness components that connect to the Defender module, and
Peterson LumenX LED lights.
" The special characteristics of these components
make servicing trailers equipped with Defender
unlike any other harness system, " says Jeff Geoffroy,
director of marketing at Peterson Mfg., which
provides a broad line of vehicle safety lighting,
reflectors, antennas, mirrors, and related products.
While there is no requirement to perform scheduled preventive maintenance on the Defender
system, different circumstances may warrant that
certain maintenance steps be taken.
" Never disassemble the modular harness plugs
from the distribution module unless diagnosis
or repair is needed, " Geoffroy says. " If it becomes
necessary to remove the clamp on the module,
the technician must perform complete maintenance on all three connections on that side of
the module. "
First, prior to disassembly, use compressed air
to remove as much debris as possible from around
the plug heads. Once cleaned, remove the plugs by
pulling straight out, and then remove the silicone
seals. Thoroughly clean all open module ports.
Thoroughly inspect each plug and port, looking
for signs of damage or corrosion. " If corrosion is
found, it will be necessary to remove and replace
the distribution module and all affected harness
components, " Geoffroy says. " Remove any debris
or contaminants from the face of the remaining
Defender plugs. "
Once the inspection and any necessary repairs
have been completed, it is vital to install new
silicone seals. Add dielectric grease to the pin
terminals. " Keep in mind that there are two
types of clamps, " Geoffroy points out. " If the
old-style clamp was removed, reassemble using
the new-style splash reflecting clamp cover. Use
only stainless steel bolts with thread-locking
nylon patches. "

april2021

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