Trailer Lights Always Go Out

[steelespike]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

I got two 1156 and two 1157's shipped for $20, from besthongkong.com, 19 led's each, very bright.
Got 'em 4 days after order.

I filled the sockets with clear grease and plugged 'em in, water has no effect, on or off.

Do those lights work correctly with directionals/flashers do they have other sizes.I may try them in my electric car.perhaps save a little juice.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

A big problem is not the hot bulbs getting wet and breaking, but the wiring. When the wires are "Hot" (live), and in the water they electro plate the copper from the wire to something else. When that happens the coppes gets thinner and thinner until it's gone. Some of the trailer light manufacturers solved the hot bulb problem by enclosing the bulbs in a sealed clear plastic envelope but that does nothing for the wiring. I think the answer is to up-plug them each time the rig is launched and do what you need to do so that they get hooked back again.

 

[wire2]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

Do those lights work correctly with directionals/flashers do they have other sizes.I may try them in my electric car.perhaps save a little juice.

Yes, they work exactly the same as an 1156 or 1157 tungsten filament lamp. The 1157 is 2 base pins, goes dim/bright. Available in clear, amber or red.

In a car, you *may* find they don't draw enough current to operate a cheap flasher properly. If so, an electronic flasher fixes it.

 

[mattdd]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

I got two 1156 and two 1157's shipped for $20, from besthongkong.com, 19 led's each, very bright.
Got 'em 4 days after order.

I filled the sockets with clear grease and plugged 'em in, water has no effect, on or off.

what color did you get? i'm guessing white since the light cover is red.

 

[srothfuss]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

The LED's installed on my light kits are white. The plastic cover is what provides the coloring. The difference in brightness is incredible though... I went from barely being able to see the trailer lights with the regular incendecent lights to a; yup, That guy's pulling a trailer when I switched over to the LED housings.


I recently bought some LED clearance lights to switch over the last 2 remaining incendecent bulbs on my trailer. Soon I'll have an entirely LED lighted trailer. My alternator is going to love me!

 

[Matthew_B]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

If you're going to get LEDs to plug into the sockets, go ahead and get the red LEDs. The lens is totally transparent to red, and all the light will go through. With a white LED, it's just a waste since a bunch of the light gets filtered out.

 

[mattdd]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

If you're going to get LEDs to plug into the sockets, go ahead and get the red LEDs. The lens is totally transparent to red, and all the light will go through. With a white LED, it's just a waste since a bunch of the light gets filtered out.

so the red are brighter then the white when they go thru the red lens cap? are white brighter in general, so they would still be at least as bright as red thru the lens cap?

 

[wire2]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

so the red are brighter then the white when they go thru the red lens cap? are white brighter in general, so they would still be at least as bright as red thru the lens cap?

The LED's are much brighter than an incandescent lamp so it's a moot point.

However; they are directional and emit most light straight out from the socket. (like a flashlight). If your sockets are vertical you may have to modify the mounting to make them work

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

Sombody busted my tail light when they parked thier trailer next to mine. I left them a direct note w/o any profanity. I have a feeling somebodies wife parked the truck while there were on the boat.

I Just replaced the rear lights on the trailer since I couldnt get the originals. I looked at the LED's but DAMN 60 bucks I figured screw it because if someone busts one of thoise Ill be really pissed so I just bought new AQUATRONIC sealed lights. There about 1" longer then the stocks on myt Carivan trailer that came w/ new BAYLINER so I had to drill new mountign holes.

I wont try to see either if they dont blow. I got lucky and forgot to unplug my trailer 2 X this season and nothing happend. Although my main brake fuse blew one night and I didnt knwo it drivign home at 4 am. No problems happend but I fixed it the next afternoon.

I no w do a PRE LIGHT CHECK to see if my light are on and my 3rd brak light on my truck lights up and look in my side view mirrors to see the rear lights when the spill some light on the ground when you hit the breaks. During daylight I have to go look around back.

Always unplug the trailer. I learned that the hard way with my 1st boat. Blew lamps every time Id go to the lake.... then my marine shop said um, you have to unplug the trialer or this will happen......Live and learn.

One day Ill buy Leds when there cheeper since they last forever.

 

[wire2]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

I looked at the LED's but DAMN 60 bucks .....
One day Ill buy Leds when there cheeper since they last forever.

besthongkong.com
I got 2- 1156 and 2- 1157, 19 led's each for $20 shipped.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

We always unplug the lights before backing in and always do a lights check before setting off whenever the trailer is attatched. During a trip, setting off from home, after recovering the boat, etc.
It is now just part of the routine. I sometimes pretend to forget and get in the truck but one of the children reminds me that "we have not checked the lights yet"
Hopefully it will stick with them for the future.

 

[srothfuss]

Re: Trailer Lights Always Go Out

I think most of the time, it takes at least the one blown fuse, or the ruined set of new trailer lights to really get someone to start looking after the lights at the boat ramp.

I've also learned that it is a very good idea to carry some extra fuses after poping my running light fuse somehow and not having a replacement at the ramp. Talk about Nervous drives home...