LED with incandescent trailer lights

[agallant80]

I need to replace the two rear lights on my boat, something flew up from the road and ripped one of them off. I want to go LED the only issue I see is that I have side marker lights that are incandescent. Should I change everything over to LED or can I use a combo of the two (keep the incandescent side marker lights and add on the LED break lights).

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

Either way works fine.... Personally I do em all at the same time but you can mix n match all you want.

 

[agallant80]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I just looked online and I saw that the side markers were only about $5/each. I may just end up replacing everything with LED. Depends on how much time I have when I go and do it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I suggest you wire the side lights from the tongue and not splice the wire mid-line. That is always a problem spot that will knock out the more important rear lights.
I took my side lights off and replaced them with reflectors when I needed to get inspected and had access problems with the sides. Here, you don't have to have them but if you do, they have to work. My big white hull is plenty visible without tiny yellow lights.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I need to replace the two rear lights on my boat, something flew up from the road and ripped one of them off. I want to go LED the only issue I see is that I have side marker lights that are incandescent. Should I change everything over to LED or can I use a combo of the two (keep the incandescent side marker lights and add on the LED break lights).

Nope. I've mixed them. LED tails with incan. sides. No issues.

I really like the brightness of the LED tails. They get your attention.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I suggest you wire the side lights from the tongue and not splice the wire mid-line. That is always a problem spot that will knock out the more important rear lights.

As long as you DON'T use these you will be fine.

Those will guarantee that the wire will get corroded inside the insulation many inches away from that connection. I am replacing trailer wiring because of them.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

As long as you DON'T use these you will be fine.

Those will guarantee that the wire will get corroded inside the insulation many inches away from that connection. I am replacing trailer wiring because of them.

+1, those should be outlawed.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

As long as you DON'T use these you will be fine.

Those will guarantee that the wire will get corroded inside the insulation many inches away from that connection. I am replacing trailer wiring because of them.

Those are given away by trailer wiring suppliers to guarantee returning parts business

 

[agallant80]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

As long as you DON'T use these you will be fine.

Those will guarantee that the wire will get corroded inside the insulation many inches away from that connection. I am replacing trailer wiring because of them.

I was just going to twist the wires together and wrap it up with some electrical tape......

For real, I will solder and shrink wrap them.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I was just going to twist the wires together and wrap it up with some electrical tape......

For real, I will solder and shrink wrap them.

What you planned to do is 200% better than those.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I wish they made some sort of waterproof crimp connector that you could join 3 wires with. I think that using the shrink wrap and then putting that liquid goop on them would be the best to keep the water out.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

Liquid Electrical Tape is a WONDER of the world. Ranks right up there with duct tape.

 

[alldodge]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I need to replace the two rear lights on my boat, something flew up from the road and ripped one of them off. I want to go LED the only issue I see is that I have side marker lights that are incandescent. Should I change everything over to LED or can I use a combo of the two (keep the incandescent side marker lights and add on the LED break lights).

Agree

Either way works fine.... Personally I do em all at the same time but you can mix n match all you want.

Agree

As long as you DON'T use these you will be fine.

Those will guarantee that the wire will get corroded inside the insulation many inches away from that connection. I am replacing trailer wiring because of them.

Agree

I wish they made some sort of waterproof crimp connector that you could join 3 wires with. I think that using the shrink wrap and then putting that liquid goop on them would be the best to keep the water out.

I like solder splices. Use a heat gun the solder welds all the wires together and the outside ends seal the splice

TE CONNECTIVITY Butt Splice Connector,PK12 - Splice Connectors - 10K488|CPGI-CWT-9003-12 - Grainger Industrial Supply

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I like solder splices. Use a heat gun the solder welds all the wires together and the outside ends seal the splice

Only problem is if you branch out a wire to a clearance light you have 2 wires on one of the sides which won't seal well. That is why you need some sort of sealant to keep water out.

 

[alldodge]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

Only problem is if you branch out a wire to a clearance light you have 2 wires on one of the sides which won't seal well. That is why you need some sort of sealant to keep water out.

Don't agree, started using these things when building gun firing control panels for the Navy. They sealed tight with more then one wire, would not put more then two wires out each end, but they do work very well.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

Don't agree, started using these things when building gun firing control panels for the Navy. They sealed tight with more then one wire, would not put more then two wires out each end, but they do work very well.

How does it seal in the space between the 2 wires? Is there sealant in the connector that flows around it?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

Only problem is if you branch out a wire to a clearance light you have 2 wires on one of the sides which won't seal well. That is why you need some sort of sealant to keep water out.

Try these guys... Step down butt connectors. They still don't seal obviously, 2 wires into 1 will never seal, but they at least give a MUCH better fit!

NSPA Step Down Butt Splice Connectors

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

heat shrink butt splices do well, too. I add a larger sleeve of heat shrink on top of it, too.

The only problem with solder, unless it's inside something stiff, is that it can crack with age and bouncing, which is why we don't use solid wire in boats.

And don't forget to leave extra wire for the next repair of the connection. Oh yes you will.

 

[agallant80]

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

I guess I could just use the good old crimp connector sealed with liquid electric tape

Heat Shrink Butt Connectors

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: LED with incandescent trailer lights

Only problem is if you branch out a wire to a clearance light you have 2 wires on one of the sides which won't seal well. That is why you need some sort of sealant to keep water out.

which is why I suggest wiring them from the tongue, not mid line. This is from a salt water boater.