Classic AquaSport
Aquasport Mechanicals - things that need a wrench, screwdriver or multimeter => Trailers => Topic started by: Curious on July 11, 2012, 02:17:20 PM
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I've yet to find trailer lights that work for more than two or three dunkings (in salt water). Any thoughts?
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Dry Launch, I have these lights on my trailer and they get dunked in salt water only. They have been on the trailer nine years and they have been trouble free.
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Second Dry Launch.
They been on my 2007 trailer since new and had them on my CCP (they're still there) trailer since 96.
If the bulbs were LEDs they'd never burn out but with that said, I've only replaced one filament bulb in my last two trailers.
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3 Boats in service, all saltwater.
One trailer has drylaunch for 10 years, never touched and I do check them. You can't beat the inverted glass concept for keeping water out of bulds and connections plus no tools needed to change a bulb.
The other two trailers have sealed LED's for over 5 years, no problems. The most important thing for long light life is clean, watertight connections liquid neoprened and heatshrunk.
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You could always put guide posts on your trailer, then you could mount any lights to the top of them and they would last because they won't get wet.
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I'd go with LEDs due to the lack of heat build-up and subsequent thermo-shock, but Scotts suggestion of using the guide-on posts to mount the lights is another alternative...
But then listen to CB and Fernando about Dry Launch lights...http://www.drylaunch.com/ (http://www.drylaunch.com/)
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Drylaunch 701s or 702s are the ticket. :thumleft:
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Dry launch are a proven great solution. Sealed LED with water tight connections are great. As already mentioned... LED on the guide poles is the best option by far. Once you get LED you will never go back... super bright pure color, low current draw, and they don't burn out!
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Dry launch are a proven great solution. Sealed LED with water tight connections are great. As already mentioned... LED on the guide poles is the best option by far. Once you get LED you will never go back... super bright pure color, low current draw, and they don't burn out!
I'm with the guide post posse. Get in heavy/wind current....you'll never run a trailer without 'em...especially in cold water.
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Yup.
http://www.pipe-light.com/purchase.php (http://www.pipe-light.com/purchase.php)
I have had LED Pipe Lights on this since 2006 without a flicker. My splices are up in the light and I ran the wires all the way to the coupler with no splices. Run a dedicated ground from each light too. Never depend on the trailer frame for a ground connection.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Johnny_B/BackCountry/BackCountryApril2010_005.jpg)
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Thanks for the replies, guys. Guide posts with lights up high were my initial thought but I think I'll try out the dry launch lights first just so I don't have to add the guide posts. Also, how do you guys typically affix the ground wire to the trailer? John Jones, I'm interested in your seperate ground for each light idea- can you elaborate a little?
Thanks, Dan
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Each light will have three wires one being the ground wire. Typically the ground wire will have a ring terminal that will be grounded to the trailer where the light is mounted to the trailer. Since the ground wire is being submerged it will eventually start to give you problems. As John suggests, instead of grounding the light in this manner at the back of the trailer have the ground wire come all the way up to the tongue and ground it to the white wire on the pigtail.
Good choice on going with the Dry Launch lights, you will not be disappointed.
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^ what he said ^
Not only will your lights be more reliable but some folks suspect that using the trailer frame as part of the light wiring can cause corrosion due to the electrical current flow.
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On my last boat (trailered in nothing but saltwater, and pretty frequently) I went through the exact iterations that this thread has: Regular lights came with the trailer from the factory in 2004, went to LED's down in the factory spots, lasted longer, but still had to keep up on the integrity of the connections down there in the saltwater. Finally went to LED's on the guide posts...and thats where I assume the guy will have them that purchased my boat (though he plans to keep it in the water, so it won't matter near as much to him).
I'd put LED's on the guide posts and call it a day.
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99% of boat electrical problems are ground related...99.99% of trailer electrical problems are ground related!!
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Amen
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I'm interested in your seperate ground for each light idea- can you elaborate a little?
A pic of my ground set up is here http://www.theaquasportboatclub.com/vie ... f=11&t=277 (http://www.theaquasportboatclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=277)