Trailer lights operated by battery

Tomjim

Is it possible to buy trailer lights which are operated by a battery rather than the normal plug in lights

PoorFarmer

It still needs to send a signal for indicators, brakelights etc so I imagine if such a system exists then it would be expensive

The Rabbi

Is this what you mean?
https://www.recoveryworld.co.uk/product/led-wireless-trailer-lights-magnetic/

_Brian

The Rabbi wrote: »

Is this what you mean?
https://www.recoveryworld.co.uk/product/led-wireless-trailer-lights-magnetic/

Is the picture wrong with that product.

I can clearly see wires from the 7 pin plug to each light ?

emaherx

_Brian wrote: »

Is the picture wrong with that product.

I can clearly see wires from the 7 pin plug to each light ?

Wire from one light unit to the other with wireless sender unit/7pin plug sitting on top.

Tomjim

The problem with lights worked from the car is they never work properly and they may come on and off. I'm only looking for something cheap that you turn a switch on and a light comes on. Would get by with no brake lights working. Anything like this that would be cheap

Melodeon

A couple of bicycle lights will give you red rear lights, but you'll have neither brake or indicator lights and would thus be liable to running afoul of law enforcement, and both they and your insurance company would likely take a dim view if you end up in a collision of some sort.

Farmer

Best solution is good quality LEDs permanently wired with all joints soldered and sealed. Your only point of failure then is the plug and socket which is easy to check and can generally be sorted with a spray of wd40. A pair of side marler lights lets you see from the driver's seat that at least your parking lights are connected. If you wanted, you could probably set up something to reflect forward the right hand indicator thus confirming it's operation.

I think I'd have more faith in this setup than wondering.about the charge of the remote battery, wireless communications etc. and you'd still have the failure point of the 7 pin socket

_Brian

Tomjim wrote: »

The problem with lights worked from the car is they never work properly and they may come on and off. I'm only looking for something cheap that you turn a switch on and a light comes on. Would get by with no brake lights working. Anything like this that would be cheap

Good led lights properly fitted, soldered joints etc
Plug and socket sprayed occasionally with WD40

We’ve two trailers running led lights and they always work.

Nekarsulm

Did I read somewhere that cars with LED lights don't like operating trailer lights with filament bulbs?
I think there are relays or resistors or something you can add.

Turbohymac

Regardless what the lights are fitted to and what vehicle is towing you must have all lights working at rear..including fog light.. that's if you're to follow the exact rules of the road but for me I wouldn't go on ANY public road without brake .tails and stops that's the absolute minimum and I never have problems with the 7 pin plug.. it's very basic maintenance. As for newer vehicles that will bring on warning lights on dash if standard trailer lights plugged in or led lights in cars which run at reduced voltage you simply fit a trailer light relay box which is piss easy to wire up. Just needs ignition 12volt and common earth and locate it back near cars taillights and run in signals from all rear lights ..and the box then bangs out the required 12v to whichever light on trailer needs the power.
Simply sticking a pair of red lights on the back of a trailer independent to the towing vehicle is lunacy...cops would have a field day when someone runs up your arse cos you failed to give any signal of slowing down...ie no brake lights..or intent to turn left or right ..
Just ensure if your towing vehicle has a hitch it should have a properly wired and functional 7 pin socket.. and all trailers .cow boxeas.car transporters. Etc that's being towed has proper rear lights.side markers if it's long and reflectors ..then. you won't have problems... I never have issues with those 7 pin plugs and my van is over 10 years old and I pull 3 different trailers

emaherx

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Did I read somewhere that cars with LED lights don't like operating trailer lights with filament bulbs?
I think there are relays or resistors or something you can add.

Fasher units for LEDs and filement type bulbs are different as they depend on resistance of bulb for flash timing. For vehicles designed for filement type bulbs simple fix is add resistors in series to trailer lights to make them more like filement bulbs.


But vehicles designed for LED there may be a bigger issue as you need to lower the resistance of the filement bulbs so you can't just add resistors in series. You might be able to add one in parallel but this will dim the bulbs. Probably best solution is an isolated trailer circuit using a relay and I'd be surprised if most modern vehicles designed with towing in mind do not have this anyway.

For older vehicles which have issues with flash timing due to a mix of bulb types you can get an after market flasher unit with a variable resistor built in, then you just turn the knob till you get acceptable flash timing.

LED lights on my trailers don't make the trailer dash light flash on the tractor or in the Jeep. Also LED lights don't flash just go constant on when connected to the flasher unit on my 135. For trailers I do use with the 135 I have added the resistors. (This also fixes dash light issue in other tractors/jeep)

emaherx

Tomjim wrote: »

The problem with lights worked from the car is they never work properly and they may come on and off. I'm only looking for something cheap that you turn a switch on and a light comes on. Would get by with no brake lights working. Anything like this that would be cheap

This is utter nonsense!
Properly maintained there is no issue with trailer lights as designed for cars and tried and tested for decades.

If you have intermittent light issues fix them or get someone who knows what they are doing. As mentioned a spray of WD40 works wonders. Replacing plugs on trailers or sockets on the vehicle is simple and only takes a few min.

Worst thing to meet on the road is trailers without basic working indicators/brake lights.