I am in the thrilling position of having found an amazing trailer mechanic who only charges $35 an hour for labor! He gave me an estimate on adding exterior flood lights. Since I've never really paid attention to anyone else's flood lights, I have some questions. I want to do this right the FIRST time!
Do I want white or amber lights? Does amber light really attract bugs less than white light?
What wattage should I look for? I want them to be just bright enough to see what I'm doing, but not so bright as to unnecessarily bother anyone else in camp.
Is there anything else I should keep in mind when selecting my lights, like metal cages over them, or size, or anything like that?
I have a slant-load trailer. I was thinking three lights... one to the left of the door to the dressing room (which is on the drivers' side), one on the rear (over the horse door), and one somewhere on the curb side so I can switch it on quickly at night to check on my horse.
Any thoughts are welcome! :-)
Thanks, Sharon L. in Maine (who has already broached the subject of adding deep-cycle batteries and propane tanks... but is trying not to think too far ahead of my budget!)
Posted 2009-05-13 2:17 PM (#104860 - in reply to #104854) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Bucksport, Maine
See, that's why I'm asking. I don't know! I want something that will help me see at 4am feeding or 10pm beerfest... without annoying the neighbors too much. I think, looking at that link, that I want the utility light. It looks more durable, it's vertically adjustable, and since I want an external switch anyway, that's not a downside.
Posted 2009-05-13 3:03 PM (#104861 - in reply to #104854) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Member
Posts: 28 Location: Southern Indiana
I would go with a LED floodlight From Grote. They're not cheap. Something like 90 bucks apiece. But well worth it. They put out a nice amount of light. I've got one on the back of my trailer and it lights the area behind the trailer up nice and it doesn't seem to have the glare about it. Plus its thin and never have to worry about light bulbs. If you like I can see what I have and let you know what model it is.
Posted 2009-05-13 3:58 PM (#104865 - in reply to #104854) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
If you are just going to use the drivers side as your picnic (liquid goodies) the porch light would be best. You can leave it on most of the night and not worry to much about your battery. Spotlights, especially halogen take a lot of juice. If the passenger side is to just check the horses or unsaddle the spotlight would be good there. Same with the rear load light. Spot lights should be used short time.
I also use my rear load lights as back up lights. They allow you to see where you are backing up in the dark. The ones on my trailer are very bright and very low profile. I'll have to go look at them to see what make they are, as they came with the trailer.
Just went to look at the lights. No name on them anywhere, but they are 4 1/2" wide and only 1 1/2" tall. They really put out the light.
Posted 2009-05-14 1:33 AM (#104885 - in reply to #104863) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
The main thing is to use proper gauge wire to match the total wattage you will be using so your lights will get enough juice. I put two 55 watt rectangular halogen lights on the back of our trailer using the stock wiring and they looked like mood lights. Rewired it with heavier gauge wire and now they are nice and bright. I got them for about $12 each at Walmart or Tractor Supply. For the sides, I would just use porch type lights with regular incandescent bulb. They won't be too bright, 15 watts each I believe. Amber might attract less bugs, I suppose, but probably not enough to matter.
Posted 2009-05-14 10:48 AM (#104923 - in reply to #104854) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
I would really try to do the LED's, they will consume way less of your battery power especially if it's lights you plan to leave on for a while, I'm assuming you won't be plugged in. Might check ebay and see what you can see there that would work.
Posted 2009-05-14 12:23 PM (#104927 - in reply to #104896) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Our Sundowner has 2 halogen 3x5 lights on the top rear post and I never use them and in my opinion are no good in that place, because the lights I have in the horse compartment are so bright. I am adding 1 4x6 hal. work/flood light to eash side top rail. We have used this set up on other trailers and works really well. Mine is a 3 horse so I am going to install 1 light right over the middle stall on the top rail on each side.
Just remember to get the flood light and not the trap?? light or spot light, they have a different patteren and does not really work well for load lights. (the flood has a wide patteren)
Posted 2009-05-14 12:36 PM (#104929 - in reply to #104854) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Bucksport, Maine
I hear ya HTB, the rear light won't be a loading light, it will be for using to tack up before 4:30am endurance ride starts. And also maybe to back up, though I'm finding "back up lights" also exist, and that might be easier because it seems they would automatically come on when I shift into reverse.
Posted 2009-05-14 1:29 PM (#104930 - in reply to #104929) Subject: RE: Trailer flood lights?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by Sharon on 2009-05-14 12:36 PM
I hear ya HTB, the rear light won't be a loading light, it will be for using to tack up before 4:30am endurance ride starts. And also maybe to back up, though I'm finding "back up lights" also exist, and that might be easier because it seems they would automatically come on when I shift into reverse.
They are all called load lights weather you load with them or tact with them. We just use ours to tack up with and set up camp if we are running late and get to the camp after dark.
I am working on converting the rear lights on ours to the back up lights, but I have found the way I have the side light mounted I have been using them as back up lights.
Trailer flood lights?
I'll talk to my mechanic and work something out.