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Calif Bill Calif Bill is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,728
Default crappy LED trailer lights


"Eisboch" wrote in message
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wrote in message
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On Sep 11, 7:48 pm, wrote:
I replaced the OEM LED lights on my NEW EZlLoader trailer after 8
months cuz they all failed. Bought some "waterproof" LED lights but
they also failed after only 6 months. Now, I have gone with cheapo
bulb type lights where I can replace the bulbs.


I have never ever had a problem with LED trailer lights. I never have
to think about unhooking them when I am loading or unloading.

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I suspect problems with LED lights have far more to do with the
connections than the LED's themselves.
LED's draw so little current compared to bulbs to operate that any
corrosion on the wiring could drop the voltage enough to prevent them from
turning on.

I don't know about the most recent LED's but the ones I used to use in
control circuit displays had current limiting resistors that also acted as
voltage dividers. The LED would turn "On" at about 4.3 volts DC and "Off"
at about 3.0 volts DC, IIRC, so any voltage drop of the 12 volt supply
voltage could keep them from turning on.

Truckers have pretty much converted to LED lights because they are so
reliable. Traffic lights have also been converted to high brightness
LED's for the same reason. Granted, they don't get dunked in salt water,
but they are still exposed to some harsh environments and vibration.

Eisboch



I have had a couple of the LED lights fail. One was a recalled set from
West Marine. LED's also go dark if the voltage gets to high. I have had a
lot less problems with the LED's as opposed to the "submersible" incandesant
lights. You had to check to see if the bulb had got water on it and failed
after every launch and since I also boat salt water, everything also wanted
to corrode inside the housing. Just the moisture from the dunking would do
it.