LED's - a new one for the Lecies in our midst

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 11:26
ThreadID: 53696 Views:2642 Replies:3 FollowUps:4
This Thread has been Archived
I have just completed a replacement of lights on the boat trailer as all the rear safety lighting had suffered the ravages of immersion in salt-water, despite being supposedly "water proof".

I chose to fit the totally sealed LED, 190x100mm square combo units. The sealed in wiring that protrudes from the back of the lights is about the same as normal "accessories" wire and there are 72 LED's in each combo (brake/park & blinker) ie. 36 in each component.

Now, having read much expert opinion on wiring/wattage capacities in previous forums (see 49993 by Willem) it has, as an after-thought, dawwned on me that I might have over loaded the trailers 7 core wiring looms. Maybe.

So, I looked at the packaging to see what wattage the LED's draw, and they don't say anything. Just that they are 12V & not a thing about the wattage. And now the question remains, how much juice am I pulling down the wire when I engage the brakes and or blinkers.

BTW, they look great, work well and don't blow the fuses (yet) and are all wired back to the installed fuse system.

But the question remains . . . . . . . what's the wattage ?



Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Louie the fly - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 11:49

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 11:49
I have LED lights on my boat trailer as standard equipment. It only goes into fresh water but I always unplug from the car before backing the trailer in. Just a habit I suppose. Had a crook indicator when I took delivery but it got replaced by the dealer straight away.

LED's wattage varies from around 45nW to 130mW depending on they type. a 3mm white high intensity LED has an output of 130mW according to my books.. Therefore, if all lights were on, which can happen, you could be using 18.8 watts. Compared to incandescent bulbs, quite a bit less.

AnswerID: 282674

Reply By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 11:54

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 11:54
LED's use stuff all power, cannot give a direct comparison, don't know the techno speak, but do know that they only draw a small percentage of the power required to run an incandescent globe and you worries about it overloading your plug are groundless, in fact I think you will find that if you where to run a second trailer(hyperthetically) with the light system behind your first trailer, it will be just as bright and well with in plugs capabilities
Shane
AnswerID: 282675

Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (FNQ) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 12:33

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 12:33
Shane
Spot on , look at the older triple Roads , trailer 1 bright, trailer 2 50%, trailer 3 20% if lucky, then look at the triples with LEDs all 3 trailers 100%

.
gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 547192

Follow Up By: Member - Peter H (WA) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 14:08

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 14:08
Hi Cocka

I have built led lighting for my bus. Albeit internal. I have 3 banks of 36 led's (ea led is 140,000mcd). When all 3 banks are on at the same time, they use a total of 1.12amps @12 v. So others have said, there is no way you are overloading the current wiring.

Peter
0
FollowupID: 547212

Reply By: kiwicol - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 19:21

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 19:21
These lights are able to take both 12v and 24v without any modifications between the two. Col
AnswerID: 282739

Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 20:03

Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 at 20:03
Which ones ?
0
FollowupID: 547268

Follow Up By: BMKal - Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 03:59

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 at 03:59
Any ones. Pretty much ALL LED tail light combinatins available on the market these days will operate at any voltave between about 6V and 30V
0
FollowupID: 547335

Sponsored Links