Led Trailer lights

The main problem is I keep frying out 15 amp fuses in my truck-rewired my trailer, thought I might have a short somewhere in there. Fried another fuse had to drive 50 miles w/o trailer running lights or dash lights-no fun. I have LED lights burnt out on my right and left fixture. Could this be causing a short that is frying my fuse?
Anyway I want to replace my LEDS with something that is watertight and quality-any reccomendations. And why am I frying these fuses?!?!?!?!
Thanks

tim hurley wrote:

Could this be causing a short that is frying my fuse?

I’d like to say not a chance. But I don’t have any recommendations.

I do know you shouldn’t regularly blow fuses in the truck just because they are incandescent lights. If there’s a short leds won’t help.

Have LED lights on my trailer…no problems at all. You have another problem beyond just the LED lights.
Sounds like you might have other issues. Truck year ??

I have LED lights already but I think they were a poor brand-LED bulbs should not be bad after only a few years-I think those bulbs have shorted out at the bulb I spoke with one mechanic who thinks this is the problem. I thought LEDs were kind of a low voltage deal though-also what if I swapped by 15 for a 20 amp fuse?

OH BTW-1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee-Believe it has the factory towing package-Big cylindrical plug connector at the vehicle.

Tim,
Help us understand what you actually did when you re-wired the trailer. Are there side marker lights? What about a center-rear 3-light bar?

Since it’s the running light circuit, I’d run (2) dedicated wires from the plug down to each taillight, and eliminate any other lights. Then, you be able to determine if the LED taillights are bad, or one of the other lights, or the new wires you ran.

Does your trailer have the 7-round plug, or a 4-flat? If you are using an adapter, maybe there’s a short in the adapter, try another one.

Changing to bigger fuses is a bad idea.

HRG

I had the trailer rewired to try to solve the fuse issue-I’ve had the burnt out bulbs for about a year now. I do have the side marker but no center light. A round cylindrical adapter connects to a 4 flat-these are new when the lights were done about a week ago. I will skip the larger fuse idea—Thanks

Do you have access to another trailer, to eliminate if it’s the vehicle or the trailer?

I’d guess you have a set of wires somewhere that have rubbed through the plastic coating or have been pinched and are arching and blowing the fuse.

Don’t put in a bigger fuse.

Connectors are problem areas as well as any place wire is bent sharply.

tim hurley wrote:

I have LED lights already but I think they were a poor brand-LED bulbs should not be bad after only a few years-I think those bulbs have shorted out at the bulb I spoke with one mechanic who thinks this is the problem. I thought LEDs were kind of a low voltage deal though-also what if I swapped by 15 for a 20 amp fuse?

Oops, missed that. I was reading and typing while “listening” to my wife.

LED’s are a very low amp draw. It’s got to be a short somewhere. I’m thinking somewhere in the truck.

When I installed my side LEDs my truck fuse blew as well and same issues. The light is grounded through the trailer, but the power bullet connector was still slightly touching the trailer as well. Needed to drill bigger hole and wrap in tape to solve. Something to check out.

LEDs are very unusual devices. They typically require very little voltage to illuminate. To operate them at 12 volts they need some special circuitry to either reduce the voltage or chop it into very short pulses. A bad LED bulb could very easily appear to be a dead short.

Replace all your bad bulbs and check again.

I’m bringing it to Roseville Auto and marine-They work on cars and boats-perfect right? I hate electrical problems-mechanical stuff you can look and listen and figure out the problem and then the cost. Electrical you are paying for an honest search or paying for Hal the computer. Fingers crossed I’ll let you know what they find-Thanks for all the help.

Looks like the fixture for the rear taillight on my truck was bad and that was causing a short. My taillight was out and I did not think that was the problem but I mentioned it and I was glad that I did-you don’t want those guys searching blind on your dime. Anyway if you bet ‘truck’ on this you win. Will also be replacing my LEDS think all LED fixtures are the same? No!

tim hurley wrote:

I’m bringing it to Roseville Auto and marine-They work on cars and boats-perfect right? I hate electrical problems-mechanical stuff you can look and listen and figure out the problem and then the cost. Electrical you are paying for an honest search or paying for Hal the computer. Fingers crossed I’ll let you know what they find-Thanks for all the help.

I’m happy to hear you worked it out. It’s funny because, given time, no electrical problem really intimidates me. But mechanical issues, I’m totally useless there.

tim hurley wrote:

…think all LED fixtures are the same? No!

.

Curious if they were from a company that starts with “Super” and ends with “LEDs”. I had terrible luck with them and finally just scrapped the numerous warranty replacements and bought something different.

I STILL HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS! UUUUGH, so all was good going to the lake, parked the truck then lost all power, turned the key and did not even get a click, problems have all happened after I have launched. So I did the only thing I could do-I went fishing anyway! Got back still dead-got a jump from the invasive species guy and it would not start. Bad feeling to be 60 miles away from home and to need a tow. AAA did start it with a jump-went straight home shut off the car tried to start it again and nothing. Had the alarm system disabled could that be the problem? Bringing it back to the mechanic on Friday-getting tired of this!
Any ideas? Anyone/
Thanks