Can an Incandescent License Plate Light Blow the Reverse Light Fuse

Updated 10/19/2016 | Published 10/18/2016

Question:

Currently have a 11/2 dome like incandesent light. Think its drawing too much cause it will blow fuse when hooked up. Will the led version you sell work? Since its an led bulb will it draw less, therefore not blow fuse?

asked by: Jon

Expert Reply:

It sounds like there is a short that is causing the fuse to blow and not that the license plate light is overdrawing the circuit. If it is a short then changing to an LED light won't help because the short would still cause the fuse to blow.

So the first thing you'll want to do is find and repair the short. The most likely culprit is a dirty or corroded vehicle or trailer side connector. Make sure both are clean and free of corrosion inside, where the wires attach, and outside on the pins. Inspect the wiring to the light and fix any pinched or damaged wires.

If the problem persists then either the short was not found or the light is indeed drawing too much power. If other things run off of the reverse light circuit, such as a reverse lockout solenoid, then the combined draw could be overloading the circuit. But if it is just a light on that circuit it is unlikely it can overdraw the circuit alone.

If you do have other things running off the reverse light circuit then I do recommend going to an LED light such as # LPL11CB. They do draw just a fraction of the power compared to an incandescent light. This one for example draws 0.0306 amps. That is much, much less than a regular bulb would draw.

expert reply by: Michael H