LED trailer lights

[Soul Man]

Did a search. Nothing on here, found some posts from '05 and '06 on PWC today....

Was set to buy from WestMarine, but read the reviews and everyone said they leaked water even after 2-3 launches (supposed to be fully sealed).



Who has LED's? Are they fully waterproof? Do you use them in salt water or only fresh? What brand?



I want something totally sealed, since I figure with the long life of LED's I want this to be the last set of lights I put on my trailer. I don't want "submersible", I want fully sealed and preferably with the circuit board potted in epoxy.



Old post mentioned Hellamarine as having good, but expensive lights. Don't mind spending more money if I can a set that I won't ever have to worry about..

 

[michael950]

I bought a set of LEDs from Academy, a local outdoors retailer, and they have Optronics (which can be found on eBay).

I like them, don't recall if they are fully sealed, I soldered the connections and covered them with an adhesive lined heat shrink tubing (instead of the clip splices).

Closest they have seen to salt is brackish water. Remaining use is fresh.


I believe it was the TLL-16RK kit, approx $50.

 

[Kny21]

I have these now on my trailers.... only have had them for 6 mos. or so but no problems yet..... The external housing is not W/P itself but I believe the circuit board is podded and LEDs are sealed good enough, even if the LEDs get wet I wouldn't worry.

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=6337&categoryID=282

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

I bought a set from a vender on ebay last year, $46 shipped to me, kit came with wire, nuts, lights basically everything.

they are GREAT, fresh water only, but toally sealed from what I can tell.

I even busted the corner of one splitting firewood this winter, and its still going, its sealed inside the actual housing too.

I think this was the shop I bought from, the lights look the same and the price is really close to the same.

 

[Soul Man]

Wow, thanks guys. Anyone else? 3 replies in 11 min, pretty sweet!

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

one tip, dont use the cheap crimp connectors they provide, solder the wires, and wrap with heatshrink!

 

[Kny21]

one tip, dont use the cheap crimp connectors they provide, solder the wires, and wrap with heatshrink!

Wallyworld sells adhesive lined heat shrink butt connetors now.... :biggthumpup:

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

I still prefer solder

but those would be better than the cheap unsealed crimp ones.

either way, you get the point!

Wallyworld sells adhesive lined heat shrink butt connetors now.... :biggthumpup:

 

[jvann13]

I got a pair from the auto parts store (Advanced) and they say they are sealed and look to be completely water proof. Optronics is the name. I just put them on a trailer I just bought so I have no long term report.

I will show them to you if you want. HA HA

 

[michael950]

one tip, dont use the cheap crimp connectors they provide, solder the wires, and wrap with heatshrink!

I.. I soldered the connections and covered them with an adhesive lined heat shrink tubing (instead of the clip splices).

Do it right the first time :biggthumpup:

 

[YAMA CAT]

We have LED's. They work great and they take a beating. We broke both of the Red Lens covers off and they are still working.

 

[michael950]

Best thing... no more crusty bulb bases/sockets.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

they are REALLY bright too, now my truck taillights look old. haha

I feel safer with those back there, the side marker lights are so bright I can see stuff on the sides of the road in my rearview now.

 

[bbates]

i also use liquid electical tape on all the ends of the heat shrink, with salt water esp i take no chances

 

[michael950]

i also use liquid electical tape on all the ends of the heat shrink, with salt water esp i take no chances

Now I remember...


Soldered connections, liquid electrical tape connections, adhesive heat shrink tubing.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

I also wrapped mine in a fuzzy care bear blanket.

:biggthumpup:

 

[Rickster]

I have LED's on my trailer (www.eastermarine.com) and absolutely love them.

They have only been dipped in salt water a few times, but even tho one of the rear lights was smashed at work, they still are working fine!

I used butt connectors and liquid electrical tape.

 

[QuickMick]

I have LED lights on my trailer. Over 4 years and running strong. I bought the round lights from a TW&F place so if one ever gets busted I can go buy another light. Yes they are water tight, use dielectric grease on the pin sockets.

Then I caught wallyworld selling LED light kits for 20.00 and bought two kits, one for my flat bed trailer and a spare.

Go with the leds.

 

[Boris]

I put a set of these on my trailer about 8 months ago.
http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=6337&categoryID=282
All connections soldered, heat shrunk and liquid electrical tape coated.
The first set started losing led's almost right away so, I took them back and got a new set.
Soldered, heat shrunk,......... but this time instead of grounding them to the trailer frame I ran a dedicated ground to each light.

Still lost one led on the right side light but all else is good.

They do get dunked in the salt as that's all I have around here.

 

[QuickMick]

I put a set of these on my trailer about 8 months ago.
http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=6337&categoryID=282
All connections soldered, heat shrunk and liquid electrical tape coated.
The first set started losing led's almost right away so, I took them back and got a new set.
Soldered, heat shrunk,......... but this time instead of grounding them to the trailer frame I ran a dedicated ground to each light.

Still lost one led on the right side light but all else is good.

They do get dunked in the salt as that's all I have around here.

Thats pretty much the same kit I got from wallyworld.