LED clearance lights and floor building questons

[looped]

i plan to run these...

...and one of these on top


just hoping this isnt too much overkill

Is the one on top intended as a Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL third brake light)? If the trailer has combined stop/turn lamps (not separate turn signals), then a central brake light will need a converter circuit to run it properly, so it doesn't flash with the turn signals.

I don't think a CHMSL is overkill at all... people expect them now, so a vehicle without is less noticeable when it brakes.

ahh i didnt think of that. just got the 4 wire adapter (t-one connecter) in the mail today and after looking at the wiring i see you are correct..

well i guess i will nix the chmsl and rely on the pair of lights for the rear. according to the product info each of the tail lights has 40 led lamps in there so that should be enough.

for the plate i am thinking the little led bulbs in the fixing bolts idea and using an old 55-56 chevy front plate mount for it since it would be hidden from view.

[Creamcracker]

My build is on a HF trailer --- I have extended the side walls down to the bottom of the frame -- this means that my side marker lights will be attached directly to the wood side walls --- not to the frame. The HF trailer has a ground which is attached to a screw in the tongue area.

My Question -- does this ground all the lights that are on the circuit? or does each individual light have to be grounded also to the frame in some way?
Thanks Philip

[Alphacarina]

I found these at Lowes, made by Peterson. $10 each as I remember.

They're marketed by Peterson - Made in China just like all the others out there

Very similar ones are available on eBay for about half that price - I bought 5 red ones and 2 amber ones for $31.50 plus $5 shipping

Mine have 6 LED's in them and are 100% sealed - I think yours have only 2 ?

Don

[Alphacarina]

My build is on a HF trailer --- I have extended the side walls down to the bottom of the frame -- this means that my side marker lights will be attached directly to the wood side walls --- not to the frame. The HF trailer has a ground which is attached to a screw in the tongue area.

My Question -- does this ground all the lights that are on the circuit? or does each individual light have to be grounded also to the frame in some way?

Yes - Each light requires 2 connections. One to the +12 volt wire which is hot when your tow vehicle has it's lights on and one to ground

You can have a connection to ground from each individual light (the trailer frame if you prefer) or you can connect the ground wire of several lights together (with a common wire) and then make one connection from the common wire to the trailer frame . . . . or you can forget about the trailer frame all together and connect the ground wire of each light to a common wire and then to the ground wire in the coupler, omitting the frame connection

Just make sure each light has a path back to the ground wire in the trailer wire coupler . . . . one way or the other

Don

[Creamcracker]

So the one wire to the trailer is not a common ground for all of them -- I wish they would make the instructions a little clearer -- I know...they're in chinese.
OOH my 300th post!