SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

[ajgraz]

Looking for a new set of lights for the trailer. Sees saltwater. Had a set of Wesbar "submersible" lights, but the entire innards corroded away. Not looking to spend a ton, so decent quality LED's are likely out of the question. I've got a bajillion 1157 bulbs in the garage, too.

Anyone here using the SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" "Bottom Access" trailer lights?

Mfgr site: http://www.seachoice.com/productdetail/ProdDetail-42680.asp

Iboats sells the lights individually (51451 left, 51461 right), but NOT the full kit (51441) that I can find
http://www.iboats.com/Seachoice-Sub...5141556--**********.303974001--view_id.259308

Anyway, if you do have them, how do you like them? Do they really keep the water (and corrosion!) off the bulb and light innards? Are they 2" on-center (standard) stud mounting? Do they ground through the stud? How exactly do you replace the bulb?

Do you have another recommendation for decent, reasonably-priced, standard-bulb trailer lights that can take dunking in salt?

Thanks!

 

[Hank496]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

Personally, I think LEDs are 'cheaper' in that you won't be back at the same situation this time next year. At least that was our experience with our last trailer. After we converted to LEDs the annual light replacement exercise went away. What ever light you choose, do the wiring right with waterproof shrinkwrap splices, and making sure the ground connection is located where it won't get dunked

 

[JimS123]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

I don't have the SeaChoice brand, but they are bell-jar lights. Mine are Wesbar.

They are 26 years old and I'm still running the original bulbs. I put vaseline in the sockets when I bought them and haven't touched them since.

I DO unplug before launching, and this is freshwater use only.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

I too use the 'bell-jar" concept trailer lights. No isea what brand but they are about 8" wide and 3" tall.
The bottom side is not there and all of the light sockets and wiring are mounted to a sheet of aluminum sheet metal that slides up into the plastic housing with a friction fit via the springy sheet metal.
Have had them several years without issue in saltwater. Sometimes I remember to disconnect the plug before dunking.
50% of the time anyways.

 

[barbosam]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

I Have used this style of light on many of my trailers and always in saltwater. This year I am changing to LED's, I'm tired of changing bulbs. But as long as you always cary extras and you check your lights every time before you hit the road they work. I go through at least four or five a year and I'm sick of being the jerk fixing my trailer at the ramp, this year its LED's.

P.S. ... and I always unplug my lights before backing into the water.

 

[barbosam]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

to more directly answer your question...
(again I'm not useing that exact brand)

"how do you like them?"
I'm sick of them.

"Do they really keep the water (and corrosion!) off the bulb and light innards?"
definately not.

"Are they 2" on-center (standard) stud mounting?"
Not all brands are 2" OC, not sure bout Sea Choice.

"Do they ground through the stud?"
No they are grounded through your trailer wiring harness which is grounded directly to your trailer.

"How exactly do you replace the bulb?"
To replace the bulb you must remove the four screws holding the red lense on then you can replace the bulb.

"Do you have another recommendation for decent, reasonably-priced, standard-bulb trailer lights that can take dunking in salt?"
Not really. Keep your existing wiring (assuming its in decent shape, this usually last much longer than the lights) and just replace the two light assemblies with LED's.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

I had the Wesbar style too, and I'll buy them again.
They had a removable bottom assembly.
I coated the metal inside with some spray-able grease, they lasted for years of salt water use.

I thought about the LED, but if one goes, it's gone, there's no way to fix them.

 

[barbosam]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

fishbone, great suggestion with the sprayable grease.

As far as the LED's failures are pretty rare.

 

[JimS123]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

"how do you like them?"
I'm sick of them.

"Do they really keep the water (and corrosion!) off the bulb and light innards?"
definately not.


"How exactly do you replace the bulb?"
To replace the bulb you must remove the four screws holding the red lense on then you can replace the bulb.

"Do you have another recommendation for decent, reasonably-priced, standard-bulb trailer lights that can take dunking in salt?"

The ones that work well have the red lens glued and sealed to the housing. The bulb is replaced by removing the socket assembly from the bottom. If you have that kind there is no way any water can touch the bulb or socket unless the unit has been damaged.

If you have a set with a removable lens, then when you replaced the bulb you probably broke the seal and that's why they didn't work for you. Just like anything else, there are good ones and there are cheep ones.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

Picked up a similar type at Wallyworld on sale for $10 over 5 years ago. Still OK after many dunckings in the north Atlantic. OK by me !!!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

eventually, salt water gets to all of them. No such thing as waterproof. And salt air is just as bad.

 

[dingbat]

Re: SeaChoice brand "Air Trapping" trailer lights; anyone here using them?

I had Westbar "waterproof" on my last trailer then went to LED because they were supposedly the latest and greatest.

Well, the housing on the LED still break when you use them as a step. You still have corrosion issues between the lamp and the trailer and they the assemblies are not cheap. You also have to dal with the LEDs burning out over time. I lost probably 15% of the LED on each side by the time in a 3 year time frame.

The new trailer had Westbar waterproof on it. That was 5 years ago and I've not changed a bulb yet.

Saltwater only, never unplug.