Who unplugs lights?

[Big Al1]

I never unplug my trailer lights when unloading / loading the boat. But my bulbs don’t last but a few months. I use my boat about 3 times a week. I have the submersible type that is vented at the bottom. Bought from Wal-mart. I guess they have sprung a leak. One of the lights terminals (where the bulb plugs in) is rusted out. The other one is fine but the bulbs in it burn out just as fast as the corroded one. I’ve double checked the housing for cracks and checked the gaskets. I even added some grease in the terminals for corrosion. But the bulbs only last a month or two. Anyone else have this problem? Must I unplug the lights?

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

Big Al1, I have the style of trailer lights that are like the inverted bell jar which traps air into the light so no water can get in, but even still - it only takes a few seconds to unplug the harness and your bulbs will last the season. If water or moisture gets in, then the bulb will blow when submerged.<br />Just rember to plug the harness back in at the top of the ramp after you tie the transom down!<br /><br />Mike.

 

[DJ]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

Always.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I always unplug when I remember.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

Always..

 

[NathanY]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I unplug too.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

Never, I have my lights mounted at the top of my 24" guide ons. If water gets in there then I have more trouble than burnt out bulbs.

 

[tgodiver]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I've never heard of unplugging the lights. What purpose would that serve? I thought the trailers lights were suppose to the waterproof? I have the optronics that says they are waterproof. Since you have vents in the lights, could water be seeping in there. <br /><br />I just replaced my trailers lights as well because the socket holders were rusty as well.

 

[DJ]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

tgodiver,<br /><br />Some lights are truly sealed. Most are not.<br /><br />For those that are not, water is going to get in somewhere. You cannot stop it.<br /><br />The reason for unplugging the harness is to stop cold water from hitting HOT bulbs. When that happens-they POP.

 

[cpasseno03]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I rarely unplug them, Like you say cold water would make them pop, I dont know how else it would hurt them.... except for the rusting, but unplugging them wouldnt help a whole lot with rust... Why is it such a big deal? Am I missing out on something? its no worry to me though...my current trailer doesnt even have any <br />Craig

 

[BassMan283]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

Never. I have a Shorelander. A friend of mine has a 13 year old Shorelander, never unplugs and still has all the original bulbs.

 

[DaleT]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I always unplug. Most of the ramps I use are on the shallow end so my harness gets pretty close to the water. It's a lot easier to replace a blown bulb in my trailer than to get to the fuse box plus the lights in the trailer.

 

[Lark40]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

After 40 years of leaking lights and blown bulbs, I just bought sealed LED lights for both trailers.<br /><br />Hope they live up to the advertising. Almost too good to be true.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I never unplug light. At night use then for a boat guide. My light are dry launch. Open at the bottom but trap air so light stays dry. I replace about 2 bulbs since 1980 but did have one where the screws rusted so put in a stainless steel screw.<br /><br />I like lot of light so am also going to add many led side marker light now that the price has come down. Has anyone found any LED BACKUP lights and if so where and how much??

 

[tgodiver]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I have a clear dome that covers the lights and sockets that is inside the case of the lights, so that the water does not touch the bulbs when submerged. The lights cames light that. I guess I would not have to unplug the lights then? Does that sound right?<br /><br />I thought all lights were built that way? Do you mean that some lights allow water to be in contact with the socket and bulbs when submerged in the water? Sounds like a bad design flaw for sure.

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

tgodiver, not all lights are truly waterproof and most are not even water resistant after several uses. Moisture always seems to get into the lamp and cold water and hot bulbs never last.<br /><br />Most owners have changed a bulb more than once and know of the benefits of unplugging the trailer harness before the trailer gets wet.<br />If you have the L.E.D. trailer lights, then it may be possible that you do not have to unplug them!<br /><br />Mike.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I never do and I think I have leds! but I never had a prob!!<br /><br />why unplug them!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

Lark40<br />Where did you get the LED's from?

 

[Lark40]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

I just picked mine up from BoatUS. They are made by SeaSense.<br /><br />I am now seeing them in the WestMarine catalogs, also. <br /><br />Supposed to light faster, be brighter, use 1/10 the electricity of bulbs, last 100,000 hours and be completely waterproof.<br /><br />If they are just a fraction of those claims, there will no future for regular lights. Cost is about twice ($40/set) right now.

 

[Buckstar]

Re: Who unplugs lights?

There is a big difference between submersible lights and waterproof lights. Waterproof lights shoudl be just that, however submersible lights are not waterproof. The little paper that comes with those light has information about use and care of the lights, I would bet a paycheck that the INSTRUCTION SHEET says, before backing a trailer into the water, unplug the wire between the towing vehicle and the trailer so you do not energize the lights underwater, That's why the lights fail, without unplugging them you energize them under water, when you hit the brake. Don't you know by now, electricity and water don't go together.