LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

[Wee Hooker]

Rigging the new trailer this week and I came across a set of Piranha LED trailer lights at my local Wall-Mart for 50% off. Package says they are subermersable and claims no bulb breakage. Normally, I would just mount my ( standard type ) new lights high on the guide ons ( so they don't get wet). I have to wonder if these new LED lights can be mounted low/wet and have still have better longevity.

Any experience with these? Do they still corrode and fail ?

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

Corrosion with LED's is not much of an issue...they are generally sealed boards, electronics wise.

But...they can still 'burn' out, although you will rarely lose all the lights on a side. I have had some quit, and Pep Boys has replaced them without complaint.

They do look good at night...!

 

[capt sam]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

I had one on my trailer fill up with salt water, stayed that way for months, looked like a little fishbowl and never blew out, they're great.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

I have several sets from Harbor Freight, so far they've been great, no failures at all and they are all mounted low. I'm slowly changing over to all LED lights.
They are completely sealed so I don't think there's any concern at all with them getting wet. I do solder and heat shrink all my connections.

I've got one trailer running with LED replacement bulbs, they work fine too but their not the same as a full on LED fixture. You still have the concern of corrosion between the bulb and socket with the conversion bulbs.
I have mine well greased to keep them from corroding, but that trailer rarely sees saltwater.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

I was asking around before i got my LED trailer lights, and a few people pointed out that vibrations from the road wont cause them to burn out like the traditional ones can. I forgot how many hours mine were rated to last for, but it was like 15 years or something crazy. I have only heard good things about em, and they are alot brighter and look better. I got sealed ones, and heat shrank all the connections as well.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

Thanks for the vote of confidence , gents. Installed them in the factory positions tonight. Soldered my connections, then painted with liquid electrical tape (LET), then shrink wrapped, finally LET again. She's good and tight!


Anyway, if I can get even 5-6 years out of these with no trouble, then they were worth twice what I paid! Seems like those conventional "submersible" lights don't even make a season for me if I mount them low/wet. As mentioned, I had planned to put them high but that makes the trailer a full 11" wider which could be a PITA trying to tuck it into the carport.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

Only heard good things about them. Will most likely change to them when the time comes myself.

 

[sebago_kid]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

I was asking around before i got my LED trailer lights, and a few people pointed out that vibrations from the road wont cause them to burn out like the traditional ones can. I forgot how many hours mine were rated to last for, but it was like 15 years or something crazy. I have only heard good things about em, and they are alot brighter and look better. I got sealed ones, and heat shrank all the connections as well.

yeah... there's no filament to vibrate and break... almost indestructable... LEDs are definitely the way to go... we'll be seeing them more and more in the coming years... VERY small current draw for the light output as compared to the incandescent types.

 

[180shabah]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

Go LED, you won't regret it.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

yeah... there's no filament to vibrate and break... almost indestructable... LEDs are definitely the way to go... we'll be seeing them more and more in the coming years... VERY small current draw for the light output as compared to the incandescent types.

Sebago hit it on the head..No filament..LEDs are all solid state componets. Most incandescent bulbs failed due to either vibration OR being very hot from the drive to the ramp and then getting submerged during launch...
Most LEDs will give you between 15,000 to 25,000 hours of life..The early marketing days of LED lighting everybody stated 100,000 hours, but have since reeled in to 50,000 and under...Oddly...lumenwise incandescent wins hands down..however "perceived brightness" with LEDs seems better due to higher CRI (color rendering index) with LEDs..
Also no sockets, no bases on the lamps to corrode (since there isnt a lamp)
Less componets = less weak links in the chain....
I am going to sample myself some LED strands we make for alcove lighting for rigging in my boat, under the gunwales, under the bow storage..
Good thing I work for a lighting company! lol

 

[freddyray21]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

can't really say anymore. Love the led's. when my sailboat trailer's lights quit that is what will go on it.

 

[gregg g]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

I switched to LED taillights on my Jeep Wrangler due to constant bulb failure from vibration and water damage- I plan to change the lights on my trailer to LEDs for the same reason.

The LED's also seem to be more 'attention getting', it's not that they are brighter, but the light is more intense.

 

[5150abf]

Re: LED bulbs. Any more durable/survivable?

They are actually safer too as they are many times brighter than regular bulb lights and I rarely got a set of those cheap crap lights to work for more than a year or 2.

Had the LEDs on mine for 3 years now and never a problem, I even switched all the lights on my boat to LED, rod lights, all storage compartments and the livewell are lit, they are super bright, last forever and don't draw any power.