Trailer Lights How Many?

[KrisNMo]

I'm in the process of rewiring my 16' flatbed trailer, I like the look of alot of lights but don't want to overload the wire. Anybody know for sure how many lights the standard trailer wiring can handle? As it is I have 3 yellow on each side, 1 red on each side, 3 in the middle rear and the 2 taillights. This seems to be ok but I want to add 1 more yellow on each side and 1 more red on each side.

 

[Scooby074]

you should be OK with a couple more lights for ampacity assuming its at least 18 Ga trailer wire, but your going to be near the max. 18Ga can handle 16A. Without knowing what marker lights you have, you have to check the wattage of your lights for sure, but most marker lights are around 1A per bulb or less. Your brake lights are on a different circuit so it wont count.

But, have you thought about changing to LED? You could run a TON of lights if you made the change plus you'd have the durability of led.

 

[Wis Bang]

Stick w/ what is required by DOT & supplement w/ retro-reflective tape...

Adding extra lights [truckers call 'em 'chicken lights'] mean they ALL have to be in working order Plus putting red where DOT wants amber WILL get you stopped...

If you do want to run a lot of extras go w/ LED they draw alot less amps.

 

[KrisNMo]

Thanks guys,
I actually already did just order the led bulbs for my taillights so it wil help. I should be ok I believe the new trailer wire loom I bought is 14 gauge.

Been a long day cutting and welding, cut off the old tailllight brackets and welded together new light boxes made out of 4" angle so my lights will not get hit again, broken and knocked off. Also bought and installed taillights that they use on the larger Ford trucks so I can now have reverse lights on the trailer to help see a little better in the dark.

 

[LBrown59]

I'm in the process of rewiring my 16' flatbed trailer, I like the look of alot of lights but don't want to overload the wire. Anybody know for sure how many lights the standard trailer wiring can handle? As it is I have 3 yellow on each side, 1 red on each side, 3 in the middle rear and the 2 taillights. This seems to be ok but I want to add 1 more yellow on each side and 1 more red on each side.

How bout Back UP lites?

 

[Scooby074]

Thanks guys,
. Also bought and installed taillights that they use on the larger Ford trucks so I can now have reverse lights on the trailer to help see a little better in the dark.

You should be good with 14Ga. It is good to 32A. The limiting factor now is your trucks wiring.

Any pictures of the install? Pictures are big around these parts.

 

[KrisNMo]

I'll have pics tomorrow, I still have to wire up everything, just received new wheels and the new treated wood is laying on the floor of the garage.


Somehow I lost my registered name on here from when I registered last year, just had to reregister tonight and become a newbie again.

 

[KrisNMo]

Stick w/ what is required by DOT & supplement w/ retro-reflective tape...

Adding extra lights [truckers call 'em 'chicken lights'] mean they ALL have to be in working order Plus putting red where DOT wants amber WILL get you stopped...

If you do want to run a lot of extras go w/ LED they draw alot less amps.

All of them working is not a problem, I am pretty picky about my trailer. I check my lights, tires, hitch and brakes almost everytime I hitch up and stop.

 

[Wis Bang]

Just keep the extra red at the rear! I have retro-reflective tape that I add to any trailer for extra visibility.

I always put odd pieces on my door above & below the latch to oncoming cars can see your open door...

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Been a long day cutting and welding, cut off the old tailllight brackets and welded together new light boxes made out of 4" angle so my lights will not get hit again, broken and knocked off.

Here is a picture of my tail lights.

 

[MarkLeininger]

A few years ago before LEDs were available I bought a new horse trailer that had so many lights on it I had to add a separate circuit to my SUV to get the turn signals to work and to keep from blowing the fuse. I bought one of these gizmos to solve the problem.

 

[pat32rf]

I've always wondered why #14 wire is only rated to handle 15amps when used on a stationary project (buildings or machinery), but when you stick it in a vehicle suddenly it can carry a lot more?? Ohms law still applies weither its 12volt or 600volt.
It may run cooler when hanging under a trailer but the voltage drop (resistance) is the same.

 

[Scooby074]

I've always wondered why #14 wire is only rated to handle 15amps when used on a stationary project (buildings or machinery), but when you stick it in a vehicle suddenly it can carry a lot more?? Ohms law still applies weither its 12volt or 600volt.
It may run cooler when hanging under a trailer but the voltage drop (resistance) is the same.

My understanding of the difference is due to the increased safety factor of building wiring and the fact that the wire is in free air. The NEC really errs on the side of caution. Even 32 A+(in automotive) on a 14Ga is still underrated.

American Wire Gauge table and AWG Electrical Current Load Limits

 

[KrisNMo]

Well finally finished the taillights, they should work nice having the backup lights and extra support. Also added a spare tire mount on the side since I had the steel laying around, new tires/wheels and all this started because I was only going to replace the wood decking.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That is the way it always works.

Nice job.

Chris

 

[radioman]

Very nice restoration. I esp. like the spare tire mount. I gotta admit that i wished I did that when my tire blew out at one time and it was on a sunday afternoon, no stores open, fully loaded trailer in the middle of no where. Needless to say, I did what i had to do with a wrong type of tire and hobbled home with the single axel trailer. Now you have refreshed my memory and reinstate my old resolve to put a spare tire on my other trailers as well.