Tail light failure 98 Vectra Diesel

[phays]

I have an 1998 vectra diesel and recently lost my tail lights, marker lights and dash lights on a recent trip and wonder if others have had this problem I pulled the dash cover and discovered the last wire from the head light switch was burnt and insulation melted. No fuses were blown. I've had this wire replaced but don't want it to happen again.

I added up the current requirement for all the lamps that come on when the headlight switch is pulled out to the first detent and came up with about 16.4 amps. When I add the two tail lights on my toad, that total goes up to 20.6 amps.

I pulled out two of the four front marker lamps to reduce the total current draw when the toad is hooked up but wonder if others have done anything else to reduce the current draw for this circuit.

[phays]

I have an 1998 vectra diesel and recently lost my tail lights, marker lights and dash lights on a recent trip and wonder if others have had this problem I pulled the dash cover and discovered the last wire from the head light switch was burnt and insulation melted. No fuses were blown. I've had this wire replaced but don't want it to happen again.

I added up the current requirement for all the lamps that come on when the headlight switch is pulled out to the first detent and came up with about 16.4 amps. When I add the two tail lights on my toad, that total goes up to 20.6 amps.

I pulled out two of the four front marker lamps to reduce the total current draw when the toad is hooked up but wonder if others have done anything else to reduce the current draw for this circuit.

[Pusherman]

phays, Due to the added load based on your lighting circuitry when pulling a toad, this is why Winnie went to a relay system to minimize the additional toad lighting load on the MH circuitry.

To fix this problem in your coach, you could set up a relay where the 'on' line for the relay comes from your lighting circuitry, and the power comes directly from a (fused) battery line. Wire the load side into your towing plug for your toad.

I know this is not simple, but it will fix your problem long term.

[phays]

Pusherman, - Thanks for the input. I was considering putting LED bulbs in my toad but a relay on the towing plug for the toad tail lights might be cheaper and a more "universal" fix.