I’ve been MIA for a while but I just re-wired my trailer and thought I would share something that worked out well for me…. I am not claiming to be the first to think of this, BUT, I’ve never seen it nor have I even heard of it… I got tired of messing with my trailer lights and went to put on the pole lights and since I was going to get the lights out of the water I was going to eliminate ALL connections in between so that I would have any problem. Here is where I have the problem, I have a 24ft boat and I didn’t realize this but trailer wire only comes in 25ft length. With the whole trailer and going up the poles to the lights I would need more than that. I looked at buying wire but at a buck something per foot that was about to get expensive. So after a lot of thought and wanting to do this right I came up with the idea of using an outdoor extension cord. I figure it had 3 wires inside and a protective outer coating. I bought a 100ft cord and cut it half, It worked out perfectly… after running the wire form the tongue to the lights I then used the whites as the ground, one color for “stop” and the other for “turn”. You just have to make sure you remember that there isn’t a different color for right side and left side. So you have make sure that you mark them somehow. But other than that it worked perfect. If anyone is interested I can give you some more details.
Made sure I had access to the connestion if they ever need to be changed out. Their just under the top cap.
Added a small LED light to the front so that you can see the pole in low light situations.
didn’t have to but I drilled a small hole in the trailer to insure that the wire went up the center of the upright.
Pungo 120
It is not our cause to perish in the defense of Lady Liberty, but to bring that eternal sleep unto those tyrants who would pursue her demise.
works great
we have been install pipe lights like that since we first got them.
I would suggest doing away with the wire nuts, and getting some heat shrink butt connectors.
only drawback to the pipe lights, they dont use tinned copper wire
thanks chris… I work at the fire department and it was a temp. fix… but haven’t changed it, I think that happens alot more that any of us care to admit. thats for the input, didn’t realize that.
May your reels continue to sing and your lines stay tight
Do you have side clearance lights wired onto your trailer? I am not sure of the legal requirements for them based on trailer size. They are an added pain due to the need to tap in and expose the insides of your nicely insulated cord. I had to carefully seal my clearance light connections (liquid electrical tape and heat shrink wrap) to prevent another weak link in the “most times they work” episodes.
boat fly
best cure for that…
run a seperate line from the pig tail.
it uses a little more wire, but elimates the corrosion issues causeing the main lights not to work
Lose the wire nuts. That is a weak link. It’s not a problem buying wire in 25’ rolls if you use the right connectors. Heat shrink butt connectors with adhesive will last longer then the wire. I’ve had these connections in my bilge for 15 years. The wire will need to be replaced before the connections. I know it’s not always possible to know what type of connectors you will need several days before the project starts but if you do, order them online. Half the cost of these connectors compared to West Marine. A better quality product in my opinion. If your really serious about the connections check out the soldered butt connectors. I use this company and have been very satisfied. Good price, they ship the same day and the ground shipping is usually two days from Florida. http://www.sherco-auto.com/krimpaseal.htm
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08’ Yamaha 90
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You can use extension cords for other things also. I used one to redo the electric shift hook up in my sons 72 johnson. Solid from lower unit all the way to the top.
scouting 4 goodies… no buz kill here, in that they mentioned tri plex, which is basically the same thing but its like $1.90 or so per foot, which I looked at first, and I needed about 90ft, you do the math. but the extention cord was only about $12.00 WAY more cost effecient.
May your reels continue to sing and your lines stay tight
Drop cord and above-water connections and lights are definately the way to go.
My 2 cents:
If you aren’t using triplex to get a ground to your LED lights that is not affected by submersion in the water, your lights will go bad faster than if you used triplex. LED’s need a very good ground, so that’s why the triplex, whereby a continuous ground can go from the tow vehicle’s pigtail ground and splice into the trailer at the tongue all the way to the top of the pole lights, is worth it in my opinion. I have used an extension cord to wire trailers 3 times. Once 4 years ago with duplex, and the LED’s burnt out quickly (lights were above the water, as were all connections except each side’s ground to the trailer). Next two times, 4 years ago and last year, the LED’s have absolutely no issues to this day. I use oil resistant triplex in a 14 gauge. I believe I found the last one in a 75ft length for under $30.00. My trailer for the Mako is 23 or 24ft long, and you need another 5 or 6 feet on each side to get up to the lights so a 50ft drop cord wouldn’t work. A 50ft cord did the trailer for a 17ft boat easily though. I feel like $30.00 is perfectly fine when it will save the expensive LED’s from burning out. LED’s will last a very long time so long as a bad ground doesn’t cause them to burn out (which cannot be replaced cheaply like the old style bulbs without replacing the entire light assembly). You can always buy the cord off a spool by the foot at a hardware or home improvement store also.
hey phin, when you used the extention cord befor was did you use 3 wire cord or 2 wire. I used three wire and ran a continuious shot from the tongue to the light with no add ins
May your reels continue to sing and your lines stay tight
hey phin, when you used the extention cord befor was did you use 3 wire cord or 2 wire. I used three wire and ran a continuious shot from the tongue to the light with no add ins
May your reels continue to sing and your lines stay tight
I used 2 wire cord one time, which doesn’t accomplish what 3 wire cord will. I am calling 3 wire cord tri-plex, and that’s what I’m saying is the way to go. Sounds like you did it this way.
Great thinking guy’s. I am still having a problem here an there, off and on after two wiring jobs. The next time will be with the ideas posted here…
Thanks…
not a problem inlet… and yes phin I did use the 3 wire… sorry about the confussion, I did electrical work for years and there is a wire called triplex but its expensive… and I, like I am sure alot of are, was looking for a good substitute and that when I cam up with this.
May your reels continue to sing and your lines stay tight
DFree… I had those but took them back… they seemed kinda bright… as you can see I added a small LED light to the front, you should be able to see in one of the pics… not too bright but you can see very well in the dark…
May your reels continue to sing and your lines stay tight
