Sealed LED Tail Lights on Trailer Do Not Illuminate But Incandescent Type Will Work

Updated 07/15/2013 | Published 07/12/2013

Products Featured in This Question

LED Combination Tail Light Kit for Trailers under 80" Wide - Submersible - Driver and Passenger

(3202)

$62.85

Trailer Tail Light - Stop, Turn, Tail - Incandescent - Round - Red Lens - Passenger Side

(2499)

$9.62

Question:

have 20 deck over trailer with sealed beam L.E.D. lights all lights work except round 4 inch taillights - LED will not light up, regular which draws more power will work here but not LED. No problem with ground or anything like that power is all there but LED taillights will not work. Help!

asked by: Lisa

Expert Reply:

The Optronics Submersible LED Trailer Light Kit, part # TLL9RK, provides a lifetime warranty on the the LEDs and features water-proof housings. This particular product uses two threaded stainless steel studs for mounting to your trailer and a 3-wire configuration for electrical connection to your trailer wiring. The light includes separate wires for ground (white wire), stop/turn signals (green and yellow wires) and running lights (carried on the brown wire).

There are similar products from Optronics, Peterson and other manufacturers, such as # ST24RB for example, that use the mounting stud as the ground connection. If the lights you are using on your trailer use the mounting stud to establish a ground connection it is essential that there be a clean rust- and paint-free metal surface for mounting to ensure a solid ground.

If your incandescent-type tail lights operate properly when connected to the same trailer wiring then there may be a problem with the LEDs in your tail lights. Depending on the manufacturer and specific product you may be able to obtain warranty coverage.

It is also possible that you have an intermittent problem with the tail light wiring. If any parts of the trailer wiring are rubbing on the frame (or have cracked or worn insulation) this could cause a fault condition that could come and go based on the position of the wires at any given time. You might want to refer to the linked article concerning troubleshooting trailer wiring.

expert reply by: Adam R