LED Trailer Lights

[JPatton]

This might be a bit OT but I use this trailer to haul my tractors on. I have some wiring issues on my trailer. So while I am rewiring, I want to upgrade to LED lighting. Here is my problem. As I search the internet, I have found lights with 7 LEDs, 10 LEDS, and so on all the way up to 62 LEDs. What do I need? Which ones are the best? Why so many configurations? Are the ones with 7 or 10 using larger ones? Do the ones with 62 put out more light? How do I know which ones to buy. The cost doesn't seem to be much different. Anyone care to en"light"en me?

Thanks

J

 

[Walt Davies]

The more LEDs the brighter the lights are.

Walt

 

[john *.?-!.* cub owner]

10 leds should be sufficient. If your main problem is lights burning out, they are a good deal, but if you are like me and smash them on a regular basis, just get the cheapest ones.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I love them leds. they come on so danged fast, they're so visible. I feel 'safer'

 

[Anonymous-0]

Very expensive.

 

[IH2444]

LOL, yep I would just cry everytime I smashed one up.

 

[TomH in PA]

I don't understand the need for the really bright ones. You can't tell by looking at one if it's the regular tail light or the brakes.

 

[kito169]

I went to LED's because I don't have to replace bulbs or remove corrosion from sockets any more.

 

[kito169]

I went to LED's because I don't have to replace bulbs or remove corrosion from sockets any more.

 

[buickanddeere]

LED's don't work in snow country. No heat to melt the ice/snow off the lenses.

 

[JPatton]

Tom - I feel I need the bright ones because of the mounting location and angle where the rear tail/brake lights are. The trailer builder has them in a piece of 6" channel iron at the rear of the trailer. The problem is that the mounting surface is not perpendicular to the ground. It is at the same angle as the beaver tail so the lights are pointing downward. The optics in the lenses are set to have the lamps at 90 degrees to the ground. Mine are not. The are also very low. Only about a foot off the ground. This give the traffic behind me a very soft light. People are always coming up on me very fast then they need to brake to keep from running over me. I just thought a brighter light would help.

 

[JPatton]

Thanks to those that replied. I know all the reasons to use LEDs and now I know of one not to use them.....But I still do not know the difference between a 10 LED lamp and a 62 LED lamp in the way of brightness or durability. Any one else want to chime in?

Thanks

J

 

[KCTractors]

They are a lot brighter, they show through the snow. All the heavy trailer makers are putting them on.

 

[Walt Davies]

Each individual LED is the same size and brightness so to add more light you have to add more LEDs.

Walt

 

[TimS in Mo]

Grind or cut the angle iron light brackets off and reweld them (or have them rewelded) at the right angle...brighter led lights won't help you if they are still pointed at the ground.

Does your trailer sit level when towing? Using a ball mount without enough drop that makes the trailer slant up towards the tow vehicle will make this worse.

Have you considered taking the trailer back to where you got it and ask them to correct the angle of the lights? It sounds pretty unsafe to me.

 

[David, Surrey UK]

I don't know much about trailer lights, but coming from an electronics background I can tell you a bit about the LED devices themselves.

There are a number of variables. First, the efficacy (lumens per watt) can vary; some devices are inherently brighter than others. This depends on how they're made.

Second, the emission angle varies. Incandescent bulbs emit light in all directions, but LEDs tend to beam it out in a narrow beam. The narrower the beam, the brighter the light appears, but if you go off beam the light intensity dies away quickly. In practice you want a reasonably wide beam so you can be seen from all angles. The LED itself is encased in a plastic lens, and sometimes these are clear, other times translucent. The translucent ones spread the light over a wider angle but this makes them look dimmer.

Third, in a practical application like trailer lights, the LED device will probably be behind some sort of protective plastic optics, which will further affect the way the light behaves.

Fourth, the amount of light put out depends on the current passing through the LEDs. But since the eye has a logarithmic response, doubling the current won't double the apparent brightness. Too much current and the LEDs will have a short life.

Fifth, a single LED is almost a point source, but to be visible from a distance you want a large illuminated area, hence lots of LEDs are needed.

I don't suppose that's very helpful, but it's background info! :wink:

Even more about LEDs here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diodes

David