Are LED Trailer Taillights More Likely to Blow Fuses than Incandescent Bulbs

Published 12/02/2021

Question:

i installed this on a 2014 ford transit connect and tested it with a multimeter after i hooked it up to be sure it worked and it did. alas i was still in the process of buying a boat to go with it.....when i finally did get a boat and hooked it up it blew the fuse....on further digging the boat trailer has LED lights. would this cause the fuse to blow? if i disconnect all the connectors from the vehicle lights so the wiring harness has no external connections to it, i have continuity from the black power wire on the controller to ground with my electric meter....is this correct? do i need install the load resistance kit for this now or have i damaged something in it that will require deeper fix?

asked by: Gary W

Expert Reply:

LED taillights would not cause trailer wiring circuits to blow as they actually draw considerably less than incandescent bulbs.

So that means there is a short on the wiring somewhere on the trailer. If you have no circuits active on your trailer wiring and you are getting continuity from the power wire of a circuit to ground that would indicate that circuit is shorted out to the trailer frame most likely due to cut or exposed wire that is contacting the frame. You'd need to go over the wiring looking for that and fix as needed.

expert reply by: Jameson C