Submersible tail lights not submersible?

Pferox · February 12, 2011, 10:23:23 PM

I had a boat in FL, that was easy to launch, but a booger to put back on. The guy I bought the boat from had the original trailer break in half at the boat ramp because of salt damage, he bought a new trailer for it, but he nor I ever got it adjusted right.

I made a set of guides out of some galvanized steel and 2 or 3 inch PVC, they worked great, never did put the lights up although I did plan on doing that. This is a kit in the pic, but mine looked pretty much like that.

DBrooke · February 13, 2011, 08:07:37 AM

I did that with my old trailer, if I can find a pic I'll post it up here.

DBrooke · February 13, 2011, 08:18:02 AM

It's an older picture but you get the point.

screwballl · February 15, 2011, 12:19:30 AM

Still looking into the different options... I may just decide to grab 2 of these for $10 each:

(click image for link) 6" Submersible Oval LED Stop/Turn Trailer Tail Light, as well as pick up a new set of wires since what I have now is all patched up with various cuts. For the light wiring where it connects, I have some heat shrink tubing I will use to seal it up as tight as possible.

For the guides, I still plan to make some, probably with 3/4" galvanized pipe, seal the bottom, then place the next larger size PVC on top of that. Some years back I worked at a local Ace Hardware that does all the cutting for you to length.

Pferox · February 15, 2011, 05:34:48 AM

Sounds like a plan to me. If you know how, soldering the wire joints with heat shrink to insulate is the way to go.

screwballl · February 15, 2011, 07:30:53 PM

Yup electronics, wiring and computers all comes pretty easy to me, so I plan to solder the wires and cover with heat shrink tubing. I may even check the lights themselves when I get them and reseal them or reinforce the seal with some silicone to be safe.

bassmaster893 · February 16, 2011, 07:52:09 PM

80% of the time. a trailers wiring isn't working because of a bad ground. same with a car or truck. its always the first thing to look for. if your ground is good and still not getting good connection well, that sucks, finding a bad wire when you have hundreds of feet of wiring is not easy.

screwballl · February 16, 2011, 09:42:32 PM

I think this time I will isolate the ground and not ground it to the trailer at all, use the tow vehicle ground (if the lights let me).

Pferox · February 17, 2011, 05:44:25 AM

I usually try to use both, this way you are redundantly protected.

screwballl · February 17, 2011, 02:46:12 PM

Quote from: Pferox on February 17, 2011, 05:44:25 AM
I usually try to use both, this way you are redundantly protected.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing after I posted that. I think I will put a ground post further up the trailer that is less likely to get wet and cause a potential short from the light wiring to the ground, like I believe what happened originally.