Can a Trailer have a Mix of LED and Incandescent Lights

Updated 03/03/2026 | Published 07/30/2012

Question:

can you mix led lights with standard light on a utility trailer.

asked by: Richard P

Expert Reply:

It is not recommended to mix LEDs with incandescent lights on a trailer. The problem is the amount of power required by each type. LEDs require much less power than incandescents. If one of each where on the same circuit, the draw from the incandescents could damage the LEDs.

Although I have seen and heard of it being done successfully so it does not seem to be a hard and fast rule. But we still recommend either going all LED or all incandescent to lessen the likelihood of any potential electrical problems.

expert reply by: Michael H

Billy C.

7/30/2020

I'm sorry, but this answer is entirely INCORRECT. Your vehicle and it's trailer wiring, because of the high usage of incadecent lights, is designed for the higher amp draw typical of incadecent lights. Converting 1-to-1 an incadecent light to an LED light is nothing more than putting in a much more efficient (less resistive) incadecent light from your vehicle's perspective. And you can see what your vehicle's electrical system is designed to be looking at the fuse(s) that feed your trailer wiring. If you're adding more lights, just keep a tally of your lights and their draw/amperage to ensure you don't exceed your vehicle capacity. LEDs and incadencents do NOT adversely affect each other. ~guy who designs things electrical daily~

Jeff L.

4/4/2022

@BillyC thank you for this. I cannot locate small 2" red lights so I am switching all 3 rear 2" ones grouped together to LED.

Tim

3/3/2026

@BillyC I had one incandescent marker light with 10 LED marker lights, and it caused the taillight wire to feedback directly to ground. I replaced the marker light with the same LED as the 10 others and the feedback is now gone. Another side effect that it caused was the electric trailer brakes were locking up in reverse if I touched my brakes at all and I would have to unplug the trailer to backup. That problem is now gone. So, one light will cause an issue. This from a guy who doesn't design things electrical everyday but has real world experience of fixing things that happen that experts say can never happen.

Joe

7/20/2024

I am trying to replace 2 of 5 incandescent clearance lights on the front of my enclosed trailer with LED lights... the LED lights work fine when connected to a 12v source but will not work when connected to the trailer wiring... does anyone know why this won't work?