To plug or not to plug, that is the question

Hey all,

New boat owner, and I have had some say disconnect the lights before you back the trailer down the ramp. Others say with the newer light fixtures, you are fine not doing it. I have a new boat, but don't have LED lights. I also wonder how many times I would forget to plug them back in, after loading up for the trip home. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif

What do you think, plug or unplug http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

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I leave mine plugged in, with the sealed units today there is not much of a chance they will break from thermal shock. If one does go out I would rather change the bulb unit than forget to plug the lights back in and have someone run into the back of my boat.

Leave them plugged in.

i leave mine plugged in and they are fine

I unplug mine. Not too hard to remember to plug them back in - it's just part of the routine. Put the transom saver on, attach the transom tie downs, etc, etc.

I leave mine plugged in ..

I leave mine plugged in...

Leave them in...

Well so far, I have left them plugged in. The trailer has been in for 5 round trips that I know of, and no problems. I pulled one of the tail lights apart, just to see, and they look pretty sealed. There is an o-ring around an inner chamber inside the actual light ficture. I bought a pack of bulbs just incase.

Thanks all for the input. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif

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I have done both with two different boats. My last boat I redid the trailer and put on those cheap set of tail lights from walmart, that have a hole in them on the bottom, supposedly creating an air chamber and keeping the light safe, however, behind the light fixture water would leak in, and after leaving them plugged in, I would blow the light out.

However, I have a newer boat and trailer, with newer style lights, I leave it plugged in and haven't had a problem. I still every now and then unplug it though, because its not hard to check the safety chain again, and the connections while strapping the boat down, transom saver, pulling drain plug, etc.

Just depends on how great the lights are in my opinion. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif

If you have disk brakes, you'll have to leave your lights plugged in so the reverse solinoid will operate.

I have left mine plugged in for the last 3 years and have not had any issues.

I unplug mine. It is mostly due to the fact that I am not leaving my 7 pin adapter plugged in for someone to come along and steal. So unplugging is part of my pre launch routine.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Skeet’r89 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I unplug mine. It is mostly due to the fact that I am not leaving my 7 pin adapter plugged in for someone to come along and steal. So unplugging is part of my pre launch routine.</TD></TR></TABLE>


same here http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

There's no reason to unplug on a trailer with sealed bulbs. If they are cracked and you unplug, they will fill with water which will splash around and blow the bulb as you leave the ramp. If you back in with them plugged in, they will blow as soon as they fill. Doesn't make any difference, and the lights in the water are sure handy on a dark ramp.

I noticed Saturday, after trailering my boat, that there is water in the light ficture, but mine have two compartments, and the water dosn't seem to get inside the compartment with the bulbs. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

Install led and forget about it http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/pimp2.gif

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ragin_cajun92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i leave mine plugged in and they are fine</TD></TR></TABLE>

http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iron banks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Install led and forget about it http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/pimp2.gif </TD></TR></TABLE> http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif