I am working on redoing the lighting in 4 cargo trailers of various sizes with LED strips and ran into an issue last evening.
In one trailer i have one premade string of LEDs on a switch. Last evening i added a 3" flood light to the outside of the trailer to illuminate the drop gate. After doing so, the string of LEDs on the inside were much dimmer. I'm sure it's just the different loads of the two lighting devices. Need some help figuring out how to balance these two loads so they both work well.
These are the strings i'm using:
Onforu 16.4ft LED Strip Light, 5m 12v Ribbon Light, 2835 LEDs
Voltage: 12V
Max Current: 1A
Size of LEDs: 2835 LED
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DZRNQCW
This is the flood light:
ROADSHOCK 3 In. LED Flood Light
Voltage 12/24
Number of LEDs 4 (no other specs)
Wattage 15
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-led-flood-light-64322.html
*Wired in parallel on the same switch. Should they be wired in series? Would that help?
(sorry, thinking of options while i'm writing this...)
The setup will be the same in all 4 trailers, the only difference will be how many of the LED strips i use.
So far i've done:
Trailer #1 (16') - one 5meter LED string spaced out every other rafter (4 sections), one 3" flood light
Trailer #2 - one and a half 5 meter LED strings spaced out every other rafter (6 sections)
Trailer #3 -
Trailer #4 (large gooseneck) -
We are converting or adding interior lights to get light in the trailers without having to run the trucks they are connected to. This type of lighting can run for a long time with minimal effect on the battery.
Trailer #1 (16') - had two tiny incandescent (turn signal style bulb) dome lights
Trailer #2 - has an inverter, but only runs when the truck is running, had 3 fluorescent light fixtures
Trailer #3 - has an inverter, but only runs when the truck is running, and a couple fluorescent light fixtures
Trailer #4 (large gooseneck) - has absolutely nothing
- All trailers are of various sizes & age, each one is different.
- Each truck/trailer's voltage varies with the large gooseneck being the lowest at planned tapping spot. I may run a new line up to the hitch, ...it's that bad, and not positive that will be that much better.
As far as budget.... All of this is for a non-profit. (so out of my pocket as a donation)
- I bought 6 of the LED strips so far
- 2 Flood lights were donated
- i'm sure i'll have to add some kind of booster/driver or balancer as well.
Let me know if more info is needed. I can measure current voltages or current draws later this week.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You.
In one trailer i have one premade string of LEDs on a switch. Last evening i added a 3" flood light to the outside of the trailer to illuminate the drop gate. After doing so, the string of LEDs on the inside were much dimmer. I'm sure it's just the different loads of the two lighting devices. Need some help figuring out how to balance these two loads so they both work well.
These are the strings i'm using:
Onforu 16.4ft LED Strip Light, 5m 12v Ribbon Light, 2835 LEDs
Voltage: 12V
Max Current: 1A
Size of LEDs: 2835 LED
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DZRNQCW
This is the flood light:
ROADSHOCK 3 In. LED Flood Light
Voltage 12/24
Number of LEDs 4 (no other specs)
Wattage 15
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-led-flood-light-64322.html
*Wired in parallel on the same switch. Should they be wired in series? Would that help?
(sorry, thinking of options while i'm writing this...)
The setup will be the same in all 4 trailers, the only difference will be how many of the LED strips i use.
So far i've done:
Trailer #1 (16') - one 5meter LED string spaced out every other rafter (4 sections), one 3" flood light
Trailer #2 - one and a half 5 meter LED strings spaced out every other rafter (6 sections)
Trailer #3 -
Trailer #4 (large gooseneck) -
We are converting or adding interior lights to get light in the trailers without having to run the trucks they are connected to. This type of lighting can run for a long time with minimal effect on the battery.
Trailer #1 (16') - had two tiny incandescent (turn signal style bulb) dome lights
Trailer #2 - has an inverter, but only runs when the truck is running, had 3 fluorescent light fixtures
Trailer #3 - has an inverter, but only runs when the truck is running, and a couple fluorescent light fixtures
Trailer #4 (large gooseneck) - has absolutely nothing
- All trailers are of various sizes & age, each one is different.
- Each truck/trailer's voltage varies with the large gooseneck being the lowest at planned tapping spot. I may run a new line up to the hitch, ...it's that bad, and not positive that will be that much better.
As far as budget.... All of this is for a non-profit. (so out of my pocket as a donation)
- I bought 6 of the LED strips so far
- 2 Flood lights were donated
- i'm sure i'll have to add some kind of booster/driver or balancer as well.
Let me know if more info is needed. I can measure current voltages or current draws later this week.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You.