[Raymond S.]

I always unplug my lights as well. But after thinking about it I have a question. If water is going to get into the lights or connections and cause a short while in the water, isn't it still going to be there when you pull out of the water. Meaning if it's leaking into the housings it's not leaking back out or evaporating before you hook your lights back up. I don't know, I still do it as a precaution but sometimes I wonder if it's really doing anything.

 

[SalmonBum]

I've been launching boats for I don't know how long. Not once have I unpluged the lights and I have never burnt a bulb or fuse.

The one fuse I did blow was on the Snowmobile trailer. The brown wire came loose and touched metal and blew the fuse.

 

[wally-eye]

Mike, glad you got the lights figured out, now let's go fishin.

 

[john warren]

yeah,,,, i hate lights too,,,, get some duct tape and a couple roadside flares... ok so maybe it is a fire hazzard, or so the guy on the firetruck said.

 

[Hunter54]

My running lights don't work with the plug pushed all the way into the truck. I have to back the plug out a little bit, then the running lights work. Strange but true. Try wiggling the plug around or pull it part way out.

 

[glockman55]

I hate to keep beating a Dead Horse but 85% of trailer light problems are the ground. I worked on semi-trailers for over 25 years. Good Luck.

 

[waterfoul]

Well, as I said above... my issues were all solved with a new fuse. But I hope this thread is of some help to others who may be having the same sort of issues.

 

[sfw1960]

I hate to keep beating a Dead Horse but 85% of trailer light problems are the ground.

Well, as I said above... my issues were all solved with a new fuse. But I hope this thread is of some help to others who may be having the same sort of issues.

Thing is Mike , Glock's right... I bet ya took out the fuse when ya hitched the old lights up when we headed home..... and the reason the fuse blew was it got GROUNDED!!!! (a.k.a. shorted)

:lol: :lol: :lol:
It's allllllllllllllllllll good!
R

 

[waterfoul]

Actually while re-wiring the pigtail on the truck I think I may have let two wires touch... thus the blowin fuse. Oh well... the pigtail needed to be replaced anyway.

 

[greg123]

The reason I unplug lights when launching is someone told me once that the bulbs get hot from holding the brake pedal and then hit cold water and poof! Unplugging has become a habit.

Greg

 

[waterfoul]

The reason I unplug lights when launching is someone told me once that the bulbs get hot from holding the brake pedal and then hit cold water and poof! Unplugging has become a habit.

Greg

This can, and does happen!! Yet another reason I went to LED's

 

[roger23]

This is only one of the reasons I am switching to LED lights.

you are probable right the dealer said the fuse is set up to run only the vehicle lights the added load of the side marker and tail lights over load the circuit ..thus blowing the fuse that is why we always used a larger fuse the truck wiring was large enough for increased capacity may be the new stuff with out trailer tow pkg.uses smaller wire to save money one of those mysteries

 

[just ducky]

The reason I unplug lights when launching is someone told me once that the bulbs get hot from holding the brake pedal and then hit cold water and poof! Unplugging has become a habit.

Greg

Yeah I kinda reasoned that out that way too in my head, but I'm really not sure either if it's necessary...just has become a habit...kinda like peeing in the woods :lol:

 

[greg123]

I've heard it from more than one source that when a bulb is lit it is so hot that when it hits the cold water the temp inside the bulb drops so quickly it can take out the filament. Sorry for the long sentence. Makes sense to me and unplugging is cheaper then switching to LED lights. I always check lights when we leave the ramp anyways. If switching light assemblies anyway, LED is the way to go, supposed to last considerably longer.

Greg

 

[waterfoul]

I've heard it from more than one source that when a bulb is lit it is so hot that when it hits the cold water the temp inside the bulb drops so quickly it can take out the filament. Sorry for the long sentence. Makes sense to me and unplugging is cheaper then switching to LED lights. I always check lights when we leave the ramp anyways. If switching light assemblies anyway, LED is the way to go, supposed to last considerably longer.

Greg

Reasons I went to LED's:

NO more burned out bulbs when I forget to unplug at the ramp.
They are MUCH brighter and more visable.
I needed to replace one light anyway... call it an upgrade. :coolgleam
I had nothing better to do with 3 hours of my time than try to figure out what was wrong and why they didn't work! Dang fuse.

 

[greg123]

Lol, aint it always the simple things that kick you in the butt.

Greg

 

[res]

Well, as I said above... my issues were all solved with a new fuse. But I hope this thread is of some help to others who may be having the same sort of issues.

Glad it all worked out. I picked up a boat last year and had some problems with the lights. I started out swapping out a light that was smashed and then I could not get the running lights to work right. Ground was direct connected. I rewired the whole trailer before I found the fuse. The trailer did need rewired and I was able to upgrade some things but I was a slight bit irritated I did not check the fuses. Good luck on the water. Rick

 

[baydog2]

Glad it all worked out. I picked up a boat last year and had some problems with the lights. I started out swapping out a light that was smashed and then I could not get the running lights to work right. Ground was direct connected. I rewired the whole trailer before I found the fuse. The trailer did need rewired and I was able to upgrade some things but I was a slight bit irritated I did not check the fuses. Good luck on the water. Rick

Exact same thing only had 2 blown fuses. Did not know they had fuses only for the trailer.

 

[HemlockNailer]

I also have a fuse problem. 1999 GMC Astro van,recently started to blow out brake light fuses. Has happened with two different trailers hooked up, but also without a trailer attached. I have replaced the whole wiring harness back to where it was sliced into the van wiring system. Since it has to be in the vehicle somewhere between the brake pedel and the brake light, how do I find a short in that system ? It does not do it all the time, but I can't find a common occurrence of when it has happened.

 

[res]

For the truck itself I just go to a mechanic. If I can rewire a trailer for a blown fuse, just guess what I can do to a truck!!!!!!!!!:lol: :lol: Rick