Water in the trailer lights...?!

[DanMC]

Hi to all, so we finally had our boat in water (bought it new two months ago,a 2010 Lund WC14) so when we got the boat back on trailer i noticed that all my lights had water in them...,iniatially the trailer has bulbs type lights but i swapped them with LED including the clearance lights 9the amber ones). Is this normal ?...i bought the submersible type specially made for boat trailer use...they were not cheap...considering that i installed two sets of everything.......what can i do ?....i let the water out by undoing the screws but eventually i think some corrosion will take place (fresh water/lake).
Thank you.
Dan

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Water in the trailer lights...?!

I've had cheap Harbor Freight LED lights on my trailer for about 2 years, filling with water each time I launch, with the lights burning the whole time, haven't had a problem so far.

The old incandescents I took of would pop a bulb every couple trips as I didn't unplug them while launching,,, in the dark.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Water in the trailer lights...?!

Nice job on the tape and lights! That thing definitely reflects some light!

I would just seal the lens covers with some good blue RTV or something, and drill a hole in the very bottom of the housing so they can drain if any water gets in them in the future.

 

[Pirate_40]

Re: Water in the trailer lights...?!

Those lights aren't water tight and never will be. Drill a drain hole under the fixture so it will drain and dry out. Unplug them before you dunk, hot bulbs in cold water will make them blow.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Water in the trailer lights...?!

Unplug them before you dunk, hot bulbs in cold water will make them blow.

The OP has LED lights, no bulbs to blow.

As M180 said, if you are worried about the lights filling with water, seal the lens with silicone, but leave drain holes. I had the old incandescent lights sealed with silicone and it worked great until the housings cracked (rocks) and water got in.

 

[starcraftkid]

Re: Water in the trailer lights...?!

Make sure you leave a pretty good size drain hole. If the light is sealed above the drain hole, water won't get in, sort of just like pushing an inverted glass down into the water, the trapped air keeps water out, and when it comes back out of the water that air pushes out any water that did get in.
I've had those LED lights from HF since they've been available, their no different than those that you buy from most autoparts stores, all that I've run across have been made in China anyway. I'd seal the lenses as said in prior posts here and make sure there's at least an 8mm drain hole in the bottom.
Too small of a drain hole and any water that does get in will fog the lenses and maybe even create mildew or mold eventually.

I did have one LED light from HF that lost a few individual LEDs, they replaced the set under warranty over a year later. I had another one which I opened up and found that the point where all the LED wires converged had corroded a bit and lost contact. I'm not sure where that particular light was bought as it came to me already on a trailer.

 

[DanMC]

Re: Water in the trailer lights...?!

Thanks Marlboro180 ,i did go a little over the board with the reflective tape...on sale at a local store,plus add so much more safety along with double LED lights. Also i would like to express my thanks to the rest that have replyed to this dillema.This LED lights are new (as is the boat/trailer) and i actually smeered silicone all around the light just to prevent the water sipping in...but i may have made a booboo by covering the drain hole with silicone ....so i will remove the silicone on the drain holes...i also thought about making my own gaskets....What i was more concerned about was about shorting out the electrical but i guess they are "waterproofed" inside...the contacts or the LED housing,i'll take the covers off and have a look...
BTW i saw the same lights sold and packaged under different names; i saw them as Power Fist at Princess Auto, as Blazer at Canadian Tire,as Sea Sense at Barry Jay's Marine...and they are indeed Made In China....
Thanks again guys.