L.E.D. Lights???

[suzuki40]

Im needing to replace the old tail lights on my boat trailer. Im thinking of upgrading to the L.E.D. Lights. Are these a direct hookup in replacing the old lights or is there more to it than that? (relays?,control box?, ect...)<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Suzuki40

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

Should be just a direct replacement - they just use LED (Light Emitting Diodes) rather than a bulb.

 

[Bondo]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

Yep, They're wired just like bulbs....<br />I put them on my boat wagon,+ I'm So Impressed, I'm converting the construction fleet I maintain....<br />LEDs are almost Indestructable.... <br />The Only draw-back is they are Very Ground Sensitive..... <br />Just get the Wiring Right,+ your good to go....

 

[suzuki40]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

Thanks for the info fella....<br /><br />Suzuki40

 

[snapperbait]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

If there ground sensitive like Bondo says (I dunno if they are), you might want to run an extra ground wire from the trailer light connector at the tongue straight to the light itself... I do this on all my trailers with the old 1157 bulbs and seldom ever have a problem other than a burned out bulb... <br /><br />Bad grounds can cause trailer lights to do all sorts of wierd stuff...

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

I'm with you Snapper - I never rely on the frames for gorunds. I always run the ground back through the connector into the truck. I also use nothing bu marine grade wire (Ancor Marine) - not the cheap stuff they sell with those kits. You do it once and it lasts forever and you never have to worry if your lights are working.

 

[Patster501]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

I had a problem trying to replace bulbs in the "sealed innards" of the tail light. I bit the buck and invested in a LED replacement set. Easy job using waterproof wire connectors. WOW...what a difference...worth the $$

 

[Homerr]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

I replaced my trailer with LED's. Direct bolt-on.<br /><br />I also replaced my entire wire harness too and SOLDERED everything! No sense in second-guessing here.<br /><br />I got a LED kit off EBay for about $30.<br /><br />H.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

IMHO, If you are going to do any wiring on a boat (and I consider my trailer part of the boat) you should invest in a GOOD pair of ratcheting multi-gauge double crimp crimpers, a mutli-gauge automatic wire stripper, a decent multi-meter and a kit with marine grade connectors (butt, ring, spade.) and shrink tubing.<br /><br />The info below may surprise you:<br /><br />****************<br /><br />American Boat & Yacht Council Standards for Boats: <br /><br />Solder shall not be the sole means of the mechanical connection in any circuit. Exception: Battery lugs with a solder contact length of not less than 1.5 times the diameter of the conductor (E9.16.K8)<br /><br />Wiring connections shall be designed and installed to make mechanical and electrical joints without damage to the conductors (E8&9).<br /><br />Twist-on connectors (wire nuts) shall not be used (E8&9).<br /><br />***************

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

I need to replace my lights on the trailer,I will<br />have a look at LED lights. Great idea.

 

[Mark R Groves]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

The LEDs generally have significant advantages over traditional incandescents (Edison Lamps) including:<br /><br />- Exceptional Longevity (Over 100,000 hours)<br /><br />- More efficiencly - draw less current.<br /><br />- Better resistance to enviornment i.e. water, mechanical shock, vibration, temperture shock (probably the #1 killer of the 1557 tail lamp bulb in boat trailers - hot bulbs/cold water),and temperature cycling.<br /><br />The only downside to LEDs is that, as they are diodes, polarity must be observed. Though this is'nt a huge issue. If connected backwards they won't destruct they simply wont conduct. Right now some of the LED based product I've observed is a little pricey but I expect the prices should move lower as the technology matures and more players enter the LED trailer lamp market to make it a low cost comidity. As long as the manufacturer ot the trailer lamp does a good job designing the PCB/lens/enclosure assembly to properly to resist moisture and shock/vibration one could expect to not have to service the lamps over the life of the vehicle. I think it's safe to say the obvious superiority of the LED based lamps will obosolete traditional incandescent filiment bulbs in a few short years in vehicle tail lamp and trailer lamp applications.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

It is wise to always disconnect the power plug between towing vehicle, and trailer before backing into the water.

 

[Lark40]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

I think that the wiring disconnection is far less critical after you convert to LED's.

 

[neumanns]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

Bondo... You may want to reconsider. LED's on boats are wonderful because they are usually fair weather outfits however they do have a down side. They emit very little heat therfore they will not melt the snow off of the light's . This leads to two problems #1 is safty, what the person behind you cannot see he cannot react to. #2 is obstructed lights can result in a traffic stop even if a result of snow. That is why they are not very popular amongst the commercial crowd. I'm not saying dont do it, I am just saying this is something to consider before you do.

 

[Bondo]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

Good Point neumanns...<br /> Luckly, I work for a Black Topping outfit.... <br />We work May 1st to Thanksgiving.....<br />I Love being Semi-Retired......

 

[n0ukf]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

Mcg, you still might want to inspect/service the lamps to clean or prevent corrosion in the socket.<br /><br />neumanns, I usually don't tow the boat if it's snowing. At that point it's usually time to haul the icefishing houses.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

I was going to say the same thing amiga, snow and boats are only an issue for the marine rescue boys heading out for some yahoo that ignores the THIN ICE warnings AND personally i think letting someone that stupid be absorbed by the Darwinian Paradigm is just common sense, but there I go being insensitive .... (of course, once thawed out they should be slapped twice, shot with sh!t and arrested for stinkin ....<br /><br />but thats just my take!<br /><br />onward ...<br /><br />Rays Rules for Good Lighting<br /><br />1 all connections soldered, hit with "liquid lectrical tape" THEN siliconed<br /><br />2 Ground wires to all lights, tapped into ground feed on connector<br /><br />3 remove bulbs, clean out socket with wire battery terminal brush, shot of WD 40, clean bulb bases, shot of WD40<br /><br />4 To stop annoying "fast flash" and other maladies, I go to radio shack, get three heavy duty 12v relays, and run a 30 amp fused wire back the trunk - mount the relays to a board and let tail run on one, left and right on the other two<br /><br />that way all the tail and flash/brake lights do is supply control voltage to the relays, the trunk feed run from the battery supplies the lighting voltage<br /><br />Schematic can prolly whip up a diagram in ten seconds flat, but trust me, youll figure it out<br /><br />THEN you can hook up additional lights, including rear facing externally switched foglights, so backing into a dark ramp for some night fishing isnt a problem, and I hardwired an outdoor 12 volt plug to hang a 12 volt trouble light to let me see what I am doing, no flashlights needed<br /><br />and if you have to change a flat tire at 330 AM you simply plug it in, good to go!

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

C awayray, looks like you have your act together.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

I really dont lakeman, but Im runnin a good con at fakin it! <br /><br />but I feel you cant have too many lights or power hook ups, I had a bus terminal in the back of my van (radio shack, push down on the connector and slide the wire in) and when I wanted to add a doo dad back there, just wire it in, easy ...<br /><br />Big Green, The Towing Machine (Operation Tow Beast was the code word for its creation) had something I added in after being followed by some azzhole that had his blazing new at the time hi beam Halogens on .... remember when they first came out gang??? I was sooooooooo PIISSSSED that I went out the very first thing the next day and got million candlepower foglights and pointed them BACKWARDS, wired them into a momentary contact switch on the lighting console, and dubbed them "Azzhole Beams"<br /><br />lemme tell ya, those stinkin, gloating sh!tbags that blaze away at you knowing you cant do anything but stop and beat the living sh!t out of them INSTANTLY turn off the hi beams when a wall of Death Star level light comes blazing back at them, funny to watch em weave around as their pinheaded brains get used to being able to see something other than a supernova going off in their eyeballs<br /><br />

 

[BrianFD]

Re: L.E.D. Lights???

Castaway,<br />What an excellent idea for those following with their hi-beams on!<br />I have another solution, however. I carry one of those cheap laser pointers. When some tailgater with his hi-beams or fog lamps run up on me, I shine the pointer into the rear-view hoping to hit them directly in the retina. Once permanently blinded they back off quick.