Poor draining in Optronics potted LED trailer lights?

spoolin01

Seaman
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Messages
63
Have been using LED lights on my small boat trailer for a few years now and like how bright and low maintenance they are. Recently the left light went dim, from an underside impact it appears, that knocked out the license plate illumination window and knocked the potted LED puck out of place. Its now pretty water damaged.

I've got a pair of round Optronics LED replacements, but in looking at them I see that the housing itself is not water-tight, and they are not engineered to drain well at all. I launch in salt water quite a bit. I was thinking about removing the clear window from the underside of the left light, and cutting a similar hole in the right side light, so at least the housings would drain faster, and I could splash fresh water inside when rinsing. But then I wondered about risk of damage from pebbles being kicked up underneath. The lights sit right behind the tires.

So now I'm thinking I'll cut a large hole in the top of each housing, which should make rinsing even easier. Maybe even a couple of small drill holes in the bottom side, for drainage.

Wondering what you all think of the idea?
 

Grub54891

Admiral
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
6,078
I'd spend the money and get sealed lights. No matter how much you rinse it'll get in there.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,082
Drilling a hole in a tail light enclosure to allow “flushing” is about the craziest thing I’ve heard in a while.

Return them and buy a set of sealed lights
 

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,360
Sounds like you got utility trailer lights instead of boat trailer lights. I'd agree with returning and getting properly sealed lights.
 
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