one wire will be ground and other will be power. What I did was put a eyelet on the ground and screwed it into the trailers frame. Then for the power simply find the wire cut it and tap into it. I used crimp and seal connectors. So one end will have the trailers wire and the lights wire in one connection, then on the other end of the connector will be the trailer wire to continue down the line. Repeat for next light or whatever you have. This is hooking them in parallel. Hope this helps.

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Are your new lights rated for dc or ac power?

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First off, thank you for your service and good luck with every trail in Canada! (Look me up if you ever want to explore the UP in MI, MN or West Yellowstone areas!)

Someone else will be able to explain the "color code" but DC wires are "normally" Red and Black. AC wires can be Black and White. The tricky part comes in because for some reason in the Negative ground DC world which is what your tow vehicle and trailer will be, Red is the battery + and Black is - (Ground if you will) but AC white would be "Neutral" and Black "hot" or the feed connected to a breaker.

(Muddy the waters yet?)

In your 6 LED sets, we need to confirm what they were designed to do, you have a picture with part number or does it tell you voltage range and application?

We will also want to know the current draw, each LED and the "dome" light bulbs in your trailer right now. (My guess is 2 of those are going to draw more amps then the 6 LED but need to find out more what you have to ensure that thought is correct)

If you are not adding a battery in the trailer your tow vehicle is where the only fuse will be, the issue that comes into play is the longer the wire, the more voltage loss which then will increase the amps needed to run all these lights.

"Diode" just prevents current flow in the "wrong" direction, your LED might have them installed depending on what you have. (This just means if you swap +/- nothing happens, if a device needed a diode, but one was not installed and then connected the wrong way, "poof" there went x $$$)

In my trailer I added a battery, fuses, charger controller for solar lights which has a diode in it by the way, as swapped the dome bulbs to LED which use less current and then added more LED lights.

Good luck!

 

Guys, Thanks for the responses!!

These are the LEDs I purchased:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-bright-1m-2m-3m-5m-5630-SMD-12V-LED-strip-light-home-Shop-car-Decoration/222610866543?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3Dcc8dd8a5b3f641fc8b92b75e0af30dcd%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D222610866543%26itm%3D222610866543%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2060778&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

So, the wires are black and red, not black and white like I first mentioned.

The pics I've attached are what I currently have, I no longer have the original packaging so I'm not 100% on what the amp draw is.

The bottom picture is what I was going to do, Tap into the blue wire which powers the dome lights, is this correct?

 

Did some digging and same model number different link says 6 amps for 1 16 foot roll, if you really plan to do 6 as you posted before you are well over what the wire in the tow vehicle can supply. (You will need to confirm the fuse but we know with out looking it will not be large enough for 6 and the wire would also be too small)

No clue where the blue wire you speak of is at in your trailer. These new lights don't look like they have a switch so you want to be after the switch for your current dome lights correct? (Color wires at the switch going to your dome lights now?)

Perhaps someone else that has used those lights can chime in but info so far says your going to pop your fuse. . .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16ft-5630-Super-Bright-Waterproof-300-LED-Strip-Light-DC12V-6A-W-3M-Tape-Lamp-US/123771074945?hash=item1cd154b981:m:m4Q1qKrSrfsjCsigyPCeAQA&var=424413840485

Is your current dome light already LED bulb? (LED bulb would draw less than the standard old style filament type)

Per the photo you sent it looks like your "blue wire" inside the trailer, normally blue should be power to your electric trailer brakes but not to likely to have been "inside" your trailer. (?) (23 foot trailer means you have brakes, if electric you likely have this 7 way round plug with flat blade in it not round pegs or pins?)

https://centanadienphucthanh.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/trailer-wiring-diagram-7-pin-round-awesome-7-way-semi-trailer-wiring-diagram-wiring-diagram-and-schematics-photograph-of-trailer-wiring-diagram-7-pin-round.jpg

 

Did some digging and same model number different link says 6 amps for 1 16 foot roll, if you really plan to do 6 as you posted before you are well over what the wire in the tow vehicle can supply. (You will need to confirm the fuse but we know with out looking it will not be large enough for 6 and the wire would also be too small)

No clue where the blue wire you speak of is at in your trailer. These new lights don't look like they have a switch so you want to be after the switch for your current dome lights correct? (Color wires at the switch going to your dome lights now?)

Perhaps someone else that has used those lights can chime in but info so far says your going to pop your fuse. . .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16ft-5630-Super-Bright-Waterproof-300-LED-Strip-Light-DC12V-6A-W-3M-Tape-Lamp-US/123771074945?hash=item1cd154b981:m:m4Q1qKrSrfsjCsigyPCeAQA&var=424413840485

Is your current dome light already LED bulb? (LED bulb would draw less than the standard old style filament type)

Per the photo you sent it looks like your "blue wire" inside the trailer, normally blue should be power to your electric trailer brakes but not to likely to have been "inside" your trailer. (?) (23 foot trailer means you have brakes, if electric you likely have this 7 way round plug with flat blade in it not round pegs or pins?)
https://centanadienphucthanh.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/trailer-wiring-diagram-7-pin-round-awesome-7-way-semi-trailer-wiring-diagram-wiring-diagram-and-schematics-photograph-of-trailer-wiring-diagram-7-pin-round.jpg

I did replace the standard dome lights with an LED bulb, it helped a lot. My eyes are getting older so I still need more light. I do have the 7 prong plug, the blue wire is definitely the "hot" wire which feeds my dome lights. They have a 10 amp fuse in the junction inside the nose of the trailer.

That electrical splice adapter I posted a pic of, is that correct or is there something better/safer?

Thanks in advance!

 

I totally understand the need for more light!

When I was a kid my dad would have me hold a "trouble light" when he was fixing something, when he was not looking I would shut off or move the light and would tell him I could see just fine without the light. . .(Now I fully understand why he could not. . .)

Lot of those splice adapters out there, I don't use them. In my eyes they do not offer enough contact surface, if they get wet they will fail over time. (I solider and heat-shrink but the next guy will say that will make the wire fail at the end of the solider joint, I've never see that but then again I have nothing with a "million miles" on it either)

Other than total amp draw it sounds like you are on the correct path. (6 amps per sting sounds why too high but I don't have those lights to confirm, hope you have an amp meter to test 1 string)

Pics when done!

 

DONE!! See attached pics at night.

Thanks for the input doo-talkers. I had one bad strip, probably my fault, even without it, it's bright inside!! No fuse problems, once I figured things out, it probably took 3 hrs to complete.

 

Are you happy with the results?
How long was ea h role of lights?

 

Are you happy with the results?
How long was ea h role of lights?

Absolutely happy with the end result, I also replaced the standard bulb in the dome light with an LED replacement type. The total cost was maybe $100.

I ordered six - 8 foot led strip lights, four white and two red. I can send more pics if you'd like, of how I connected everything.

I couldn't see well enough in the trailer at night to do anything, it's like daylight now with the lights, this will make working on my kids sleds and ATVs and cleaning my 1200 a lot more convenient.

 

Why red and white lights? Are they both on at the same time?

 

6 footers and a 18 AH battery. i cant see how 16 feet draw 6 amps. my 18 feet and 2 dome lights are like 3 amps

 

also have a flood light . this is all wired to the 18 amp hour battery

 

My setup with a 7amp/hr battery. its wired to the tow vehicle so it charges anytime I tow. Also the rear flood light is wired to the backup circuit so when the flood light switch is in 1 position its a backup light, position 2 its a manual on switch for the flood light. $25.00 in parts including battery

 

Why red and white lights? Are they both on at the same time?

I wanted something different, that's the only
reason I have red lights in the nose portion. ALL the lights are on at the same time. I needed more light and this set up is great. I also upgraded the dome light bulbs to super bright LEDs which were a "plug right in".

 

This is the current LED tape light setup I have. Runs off a spare motorcycle battery that I had laying around , charges when I plug the trailer into the garage.

Also have LED's over the ramp doors.

 

led light strips work sweet....
now the light tape is a joke
the glue will not hold, so plan on attaching it with fasteners
lumen output is all over the place for light strips
1500lm is what a old 100w bulb makes
which is usually around 25w led

 

I put LED light strips under my boat trailer on the frame to light up the trailer bunks in the water at night and they work awesome and the glue on the tape holds fine. I just cleaned the frame really good with rubbing alcohol before sticking them on. I wired them right into the clearance light circuit.

 

Just curious to what you are using to hang your fuel caddies to the wall with?

 

Hmm, I don't think such complex systems are easy enough to stick together with just glue. Even super strong glue, the strongest you can find on the internet. I keep my smart light strips in the car with silicone mounting clips, and it's much more reliable. I suggest you do the same. Also, I don't think the 6 lines need any kind of fuse to connect to the power. A friend of mine has a complicated LED strip system in his house (living room), but he only uses 5 lines. And he never complains about it. So I think you should give it a try. I like the way his living room looks, and I'm even thinking of doing the same thing.