trailer lights

[Gerald N]

Hopefully somebody can answer my question so I do not find out the answer the hard way. Can I tap into the brown wire that powers the running lights on a boat trailer to power a separate accessorie light. I was thinking of putting two of the Harbor Freight add on lights with a switch on my trailer uprights so when loading or unloading in the dark I can see without a light. Just uncertain if the wire will provide enough current.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

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Just uncertain if the wire will provide enough current.

It could work great or you could melt your wiring. There isn't enough info to answer your question. It all depends on the amps the auxiliary lights will draw and the wire size already on your trailer lights.

Led auxiliary lights might work ok as they typically draw very little juice. What works for me is to turn on my boat lights. The white all around light at the stern provides enough light for me to see most everything in and around the cockpit.
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[Gerald N]

Well, the trailer wires are 22 gauge and after reading your post the wire probably would melt unless I found a decent LED setup. I will keep it simple and use boat lights since I am going to rig a LED strip under the cockpit cover and two rotating spotlights that drop into the oar locks.

Thanks

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Sounds like a wise decision. Twenty-two gauge wire is pretty small wire. Most rewire kits in the big box store are 18 gauge wire. Twenty-two gauge is light wire for even just running the trailer lights.

 

[George Goodsell]

I picked up a cheap clamp on utility light, one of those with the aluminum reflector. Cut the 110V plug off and put a cigarette lighter plug on it. RV stores have 50W screw in DC bulbs. Clamp it on the transom and it lights up the whole area behind the boat, plus we use it inside the blind while we make breakfast and wait for shooting time. Works great for working shoreline when we're night fishing too.

George