Can a Trailer have a Mix of LED and Incandescent Lights

Question

Question:

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

asked by: Richard P

0

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

0

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?

Answer 1

There are many things that can affect the voltage on the brake output wire from your brake controller to your trailer brakes such as the power setting on your brake controller, how you are testing the wire and if you are testing it with the brakes or…

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Answer 2

One main difference between LED lights and incandescents is the amount of power each one draws. I did a little research and found that if you were to have LEDs and incandescents on the same circuit, it would be too much power draw for the LEDs…

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Answer 3

Hey Joe. The GloLight LED Trailer Light w/ Flange item #STL178RB is sold individually. This submersible LED light has brake, tail, and turn signal functions. It measures 7-1/2" wide x 3-5/16" tall x 1-1/8" thick and extends out…

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Answer 4

For the GloLight LED Trailer Tail Light #STL178RB that you referenced the white wire is the ground wire, the red wire is the stop/turn signal wire and the black wire is the taillight/running light circuit.

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Answer 5

It's not common for hyper-flash to occur on a trailer but this comes down to which trailer wiring harness is installed on the tow vehicle. If you are tied into the vehicles tail light circuits as opposed to a tow package port then hyper-flash is…

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Answer 6

Hey Peter! If you can find an LED compatible 2057 bulb then yes you can replace it but we do not have one so sorry I can not help you there. As far as adding a resistor goes, maybe? You may not need load resistors when you switch to LED bulbs. The…

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Answer 7

You may not even need load resistors to switch to LED lights. The best thing to do is to try the lights without load resistors first. No need to purchase something you may not need until you know need it. Load resistors such as #DI34ZR dissipate heat…

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Answer 8

The white wire on the back of the GloLight LED Trailer Tail Light part #STL178RB is for the ground. If you were wiring it to a trailer connector like part #HMC20031 then you would just need to make sure that it is attached to the ground terminal and…

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Answer 9

For Trailer Light Mounting Bracket #BK70BB you would use light #STL111RB with grommet #a70gb and wiring pigtail #A47PB. I have included links to videos of all three of these parts for you. Light #STL178RB would not fit in the mounting bracket since…

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Answer 10

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 11

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 12

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Can a Trailer have a Mix of LED and Incandescent Lights

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