Rewiring Boat Trailer - LED vs Conventional ??

[Capt Cotton]

Ok, I realize that this is nowhere as interesting as the "Hot Girl Friday" postings, but I am looking for some advice. I want to rewire my trailer and everything seems to point to LEDs. But lately it seems that I am reading some negatives and I may be leaning back towards the conventionals.

Give me some feedback. Who has them? Who has converted? Good, bad, what's the deal?

[jawz12]

Ok, I realize that this is nowhere as interesting as the "Hot Girl Friday" postings, but I am looking for some advice. I want to rewire my trailer and everything seems to point to LEDs. But lately it seems that I am reading some negatives and I may be leaning back towards the conventionals.

Give me some feedback. Who has them? Who has converted? Good, bad, what's the deal?

LED is the way to go...several mfg's offer a kit,local marine retailers should have one...my service trailers have been converted to LED,these "beauties" get dunked more in a week than most boaters use their trailer in a season,no problems...

[Capt Cotton]

Hey Jawz, do you unplug the trailer before dunking? Seems to make sense, but just another factor that has to play into it.

[jawz12]

Hey Jawz, do you unplug the trailer before dunking? Seems to make sense, but just another factor that has to play into it.

never... seems that step is allways skipped...

[seapower]

I rewired my trailer for LED's, the light's are much brighter. But I still am not getting the 1000's of hour's that are claimed. I've had to replace clearence light's, and have a tail light that has blown the side section. All trips total maybe 12 to 14, I have not found the silver bullet yet. But they are brighter!!! Frank

[Bligh]

I just switched my trailer over to led. No test yet. survived one dunking so far?

[nautiduck]

The LEDs are definately the way to go making sure the installation is right is a little more labor intensive. You have to make sure the grounds are perfect with them though, that can lead to early failure. Make sure even if they are waterproof put a little silicon around the wire entrance to the lights any water that gets in to the light housing will play havoc with the circuitry, its not as forgiving as the internal wiring with lamps. Also make sure your wiring connections are sealed, corrosion can cause fluctuations just like a bad ground and can shorten the lifespan. If you do it right the first time they will last longer than the trailer. With LEDs you dont have to unplug.

[Ultralite]

I second the point that you will never get the longevity claimed for LED lights, particularly on a trailer dunked in salt. My experience is that the housings will crack and leak regardless of the type of light used. Once they leak, saltwater does not discriminate between the two lights. I've have incandescent lights go 12 years and I've had LEDs go 2 years. Save yourself the money, buy the incandescents.

[jazzrockskier]

I installed LED's on my trailer, one dunking so far. One thing I did was not use the trailer frame as the ground, ran a separate ground wire to all the lamps. The old lamp grounds to the frame were a big point of failure on the old system, wire corroded and broke at the ground lugs. Will keep everyone posted on how the LED's work out.

[gottaflylee]

http://www.pipe-light.com/
is what you want, I have them and been very happy with them, never dunk them again and have held up very well. May have 7,000 road miles on them and launch them 500 times of so with no failure. I am very happy with them. Also no more busted lights now that they have been moved up higher than the boat...