adding LED lights inside of enclosed trailer

[scott_l]

hello all, I have an enclosed trailer that currently has one small light in it. I want to add a couple LED lights to get some more light inside for loading and what not at night.

I have found a couple LED strip lights that are rated for 12-30 volts so I am good there but the part I have no idea about is if I have the trailer connected to the truck, the trailer running lights are on (tail lights and side marker lights) how much additional power will I have available coming from the truck to illuminate the new internal LED lights? I have no idea how much power is available at the trailer wire harness (with nothing connected), I have no idea how much power tail lights and side markers lights consume (traditional non LED as that is what is currently on the trailer). The lights I am looking at consume 960 MA or 1.9 amp depending on the size. I would like to add two if I can. Can any one educate me, or help me out?

thanks

 

[latner]

Get yourself a clamp meter that can read DC amps. Check the fuse size that feeds the lighting circuit, use your meter to determine current load. Assuming wire size is correct for fuse size, add new lighting load so total load is no more than 75% of fuse size. If it is a 15A fuse, keep total load at no more than ~ 11A.

 

[mrbb]

word of advice, if your adding LED light strips, make sure you get the waterproof versions of them, they sell both,m and if you don;t they will go bad FAST on you

next, LED lights strips take super small amounts of power, so tapping into your running lights or, will most likely be just fine
if your going to add them, you might want to think about adding a timer to them, or even a motion activated switch, this way you never forget to shut them off and they don;t run while the trailer is being towed(or not for long)
most trailer parts stores for RV;s sell both timers and motion activated 12 volt switches!


I will also throw this out there for you
I am GUESSING your trailer is a smaller sized trailer, maybe a clam shell like deal with a standard 4 way plug and hook up to your tow vehicles
if your interested in doing something better that is rather SIMPLE and your tow vehicle has a 7 way plug on it
you can BUY a new 7 way junction box(pretty cheap) buy a 4 way pig tail, and then NO cutting of your OEM wires at all, just tie in the new wires from pig tail into junction box, in junction box there will then be a LIVE hot wire, and you will also then have a live hot lead/connection in junction box to add back up lights, again, super simple, NO cutting any OEM wires, and Back up light make life SO much easier ona trailer, if you never had them, and use them once, you will never want a trailer without them again!
CHeal ATV/off road leds light bars work awesome and are also cheap!

and in the end you will have a simple PLUG and play hook up to your tow vehicle with the new 7 way plug
and if ever needed, all you have to do is unplug the 4 away from junction box and you can plug that back into truck and have your old set up
YOU would loose back up lights and interior lights wired thru the junction box
but again, its super simple deal, as LONG as your truck has the 7 way plug that is
can all be done, lights and back up lights for about a 100 buck a and you will have a way upgraded trailer for lights inside and out!

just food for thought if your looking to upgrade here?

I did this last yr to my trailer and well worth the time to do so, about 2 hours running all wires and making it water tight! dielectric coated all connections too!
recommend you do that as well to anything you do ad, and solder connections and ad good shrink wrap, , corrosion is the number one reason trailer lights fail!

take the time and do connections right and save yourself a lot of frustration chasing lights that go out, flicker or??

- - - Updated - - -

OH and if your trailer already is wired up for a 7 way plug, odds are it already has a junction box, and you can just wire into that for all the above, no power worries then either!

 

[scott_l]

thank you for the info guys

 

[lofsfire]

I know you have lights but to give you an idea of what will work, Look at these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXY16HZ/ref=twister_B07PXCZ4BK?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

I have the same lights spec wise (Amazon no longer has the ones I ordered.);
1.) In my truck bed on the inside of my tonneau cover. I run them off of 8AA I wired them that way one night short on time for a camping trip, it work so well I left it. 3 years later same batteries.
2.) On the sides of my trailer wired to the electric system. They work on shore power or truck. I will be putting batteries on the trailer soon. Here is a picture using my trailer as a camper. Look how dark it is off to the sides of the picture.
3.) Lastly, had a set on the inside of my old 2 place clam shell too. Worked great and was very bright. (New owner loves them.)

 

[scott_l]

thanks for the information I looked at a similar style but was concerned about the adhesive not holding long term. The ones I am looking at have screw mounts.

Impressive about the AA batteries, WE ARE ALL short on time, but I got a good laugh out of the three years later

When you have a couple minutes I would appreciate you trying to repost your picture

I know you have lights but to give you an idea of what will work, Look at these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXY16HZ/ref=twister_B07PXCZ4BK?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

I have the same lights spec wise (Amazon no longer has the ones I ordered.);
1.) In my truck bed on the inside of my tonneau cover. I run them off of 8AA I wired them that way one night short on time for a camping trip, it work so well I left it. 3 years later same batteries.
2.) On the sides of my trailer wired to the electric system. They work on shore power or truck. I will be putting batteries on the trailer soon. Here is a picture using my trailer as a camper. Look how dark it is off to the sides of the picture.
3.) Lastly, had a set on the inside of my old 2 place clam shell too. Worked great and was very bright. (New owner loves them.)

 

[lofsfire]

Does this work?