Buyers Products 6 Inch Oval Midship Turn Signal and Side Marker Light with 9 LEDs is an auxiliary marker light used on trailers 30 ft or longer. The design of this light provides extra visibility and serves three functions: side marker, reflector, and turn signal light. The light has an amber lens and features an internal Reflex optic, which eliminates the need for a separate reflector. A grommet is also available for installation. The lights are sold in multiples of 10 and backed with a limited lifetime warranty.
Specifications
| Amp draw at 12 Volts | 0.114 |
|---|---|
| Base / Mount Type | Recessed |
| Built-In Switch | No |
| Color | Amber |
| Depth | - |
| Hard Wired or Plug | Plug |
| Height | 2.313 |
| Housing Material | Plastic |
| Lens Material | Polycarbonate |
| Lens Shape | Oval |
| Number of Wires | 3 |
| Overall Width | 6.500 |
| Plug Included | No |
| Type of Plug | PL-3 Connection |
| Voltage | 12 |
| Wattage | 1.37 |
The Buyers Products 6 Inch Oval Mid-Turn Signal and Side Marker Light with 9 LED represents a pinnacle of contemporary auxiliary lighting technology, specifically engineered to enhance safety and operational efficiency for heavy-duty commercial trailers. Designed for trailers exceeding 30 feet in length, this multi-functional lighting unit integrates critical safety features into a single, robust, and aesthetically streamlined component. It performs three essential roles: a side marker light, a turn signal light, and a passive reflector, thereby optimizing visibility and ensuring regulatory compliance across diverse operating conditions.
At the core of this product’s advanced design is its multi-functional capability. The integration of a side marker, turn signal, and reflector into one unit simplifies installation, reduces component count, and presents a cleaner vehicle profile. The side marker function provides continuous illumination, delineating the trailer's length and width to other road users, particularly crucial during periods of reduced visibility such as night, fog, rain, or snow. This constant visual reference helps motorists accurately gauge the size and proximity of the trailer, mitigating the risk of side-swipe collisions. The turn signal aspect activates synchronously with the vehicle's directional indicators, providing clear, unambiguous signaling of intended lane changes or turns. For extended trailers, a mid-turn signal is indispensable, as the primary rear turn signals can be obscured or too distant to effectively communicate driver intentions to vehicles positioned alongside the trailer's midsection. This additional point of indication significantly enhances situational awareness for surrounding traffic, contributing directly to accident prevention.
A distinctive feature of this Buyers Products light is its internal Reflex optic, integrated directly into the amber lens. This innovative design eliminates the need for a separate, external reflector, streamlining the unit's profile and reducing potential points of damage or failure. The Reflex optic utilizes an array of precisely engineered micro-prisms or facets molded into the lens material. These geometric structures are designed to retroreflect incident light directly back to its source with minimal scattering. This property ensures that even if the active LED lighting component is temporarily inoperative or unpowered, the trailer remains passively visible when illuminated by the headlamps of an approaching vehicle. This inherent redundancy enhances safety, especially during unexpected electrical failures or when the vehicle is parked without power. The amber coloration of the lens adheres to industry standards and regulatory requirements for side-mounted warning and marker lights, ensuring consistent visual communication across all road users.
The illumination source for this advanced lighting unit comprises 9 high-efficiency Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). LED technology offers numerous advantages over traditional incandescent bulbs, making it the preferred choice for demanding commercial applications. Firstly, LEDs exhibit significantly higher energy efficiency. With an impressively low amp draw of 0.114 Amperes at 12 Volts and a nominal wattage of 1.37 Watts, these lights impose minimal load on the vehicle's electrical system. This translates into reduced fuel consumption by the alternator, contributing to lower operational costs and a reduced carbon footprint for fleet operators. Secondly, LEDs possess an exceptionally long operational lifespan, typically exceeding 50,000 hours, which is orders of magnitude greater than incandescent bulbs. This longevity drastically reduces maintenance intervals, minimizing vehicle downtime and labor costs associated with frequent bulb replacements. Furthermore, LEDs are solid-state devices, meaning they are inherently more resistant to shock, vibration, and impact, factors prevalent in heavy-duty trucking environments. Unlike incandescent filaments that can easily break, LEDs maintain their integrity under harsh conditions. Their rapid illumination characteristic also provides an immediate and clear signal, which can shorten reaction times for other drivers. The consistent and uniform light output across the 9 LEDs ensures a highly visible and unmistakable signal.
The physical construction of the 6 Inch Oval Mid-Turn Signal-Side Marker Light is engineered for maximum durability and resistance to environmental stressors. The lens is fabricated from high-grade polycarbonate, a thermoplastic polymer renowned for its exceptional impact resistance, optical clarity, and UV stability. This material choice ensures that the lens can withstand impacts from road debris, resist scratching, and maintain its amber color and transparency over extended periods without yellowing or clouding due to ultraviolet radiation exposure. The housing material is constructed from robust plastic, providing a lightweight yet durable enclosure that is resistant to corrosion, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. This material pairing ensures the light's operational integrity across a wide range of climatic conditions, from freezing winters to scorching summers, and through exposure to road salts, cleaning agents, and other environmental contaminants. The specified overall width of 6.500 inches and height of 2.313 inches conform to common industry standards for oval-shaped lighting units, facilitating straightforward integration and replacement.
Installation flexibility and secure mounting are critical considerations for auxiliary lighting. This product is designed for a recessed mount, which provides a flush, integrated appearance and offers enhanced protection against accidental damage. Recessed mounting typically involves cutting an opening into the trailer body and securing the light within that cavity. To ensure a tight, sealed, and shock-absorbent fit, a compatible grommet is available for installation. The grommet plays a vital role in cushioning the light against vibrations and impacts, preventing premature wear, and creating a watertight seal around the perimeter of the light. This sealing mechanism is crucial for preventing moisture and contaminants from infiltrating the electrical components, which could lead to corrosion or short circuits. While the plug itself is not included, the light is designed for a PL-3 connection, which is a widely recognized and robust standard in commercial vehicle lighting. The PL-3 connection typically features a multi-pin connector with a secure locking mechanism, ensuring reliable electrical contact and resistance to dislodgement due to vibration. The 3-wire configuration supports the multi-functional operation, allowing for separate control of the side marker and turn signal functions, as well as a common ground connection.
The electrical specifications further underscore the light's compatibility and efficiency. Operating at a standard 12-volt DC system, this light is perfectly suited for the vast majority of commercial trailers and heavy-duty vehicles. The precise wattage of 1.37W and low amp draw of 0.114A highlight its energy-saving design, reducing the overall electrical load on the vehicle's power generation system. The absence of a built-in switch emphasizes its integration into the trailer's existing wiring harness, allowing control through the vehicle's primary lighting circuits. This ensures seamless operation in conjunction with the vehicle's other safety features and controls. While the depth is not explicitly provided, the recessed mount design implies a profile engineered for optimal integration without protruding excessively from the trailer’s surface.
Regulatory compliance is paramount for commercial vehicle lighting. The Buyers Products 6 Inch Oval Mid-Turn Signal-Side Marker Light with 9 LED is engineered to meet or exceed applicable standards set forth by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), particularly FMVSS 108. These standards dictate specific requirements for the visibility, intensity, color, and placement of lighting devices on motor vehicles and trailers to ensure maximum safety. For trailers 30 feet or longer, supplemental midship lighting is often a regulatory mandate, and this product serves precisely that purpose. By providing clear side marker and turn signal indications, it significantly enhances the trailer's conspicuity, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring that fleet operators remain compliant with all federal and state regulations. This not only avoids potential fines and legal liabilities but also bolsters the company's reputation for safety and reliability.
The commitment to quality and durability is solidified by Buyers Products' offering of a limited lifetime warranty for this lighting unit. This warranty provides substantial assurance to customers regarding the long-term performance and reliability of the product, reflecting the manufacturer's confidence in its design, materials, and manufacturing processes. A limited lifetime warranty signifies that the product is expected to last for the operational life of the trailer it is installed upon, under normal use conditions. This level of backing minimizes the total cost of ownership for fleet managers and owner-operators by mitigating concerns about premature failures and replacement expenses. Furthermore, the light units are sold in multiples of 10, which is an advantageous packaging strategy for fleet operations, maintenance shops, and distributors. This bulk packaging facilitates efficient inventory management, streamlines procurement processes, and often results in more cost-effective purchasing for entities that require multiple units for installation on new trailers or for replacement stock across their fleet.
In conclusion, the Buyers Products 6 Inch Amber Oval Mid-Turn Signal-Side Marker Light with 9 LED is a meticulously engineered, multi-functional auxiliary lighting solution that addresses the complex safety and operational requirements of modern heavy-duty trailers. Its integration of side marker, turn signal, and internal Reflex reflector capabilities, powered by energy-efficient and durable LED technology, provides superior visibility and contributes significantly to road safety. Constructed from robust polycarbonate and plastic materials, and designed for a secure, recessed mount with a standard PL-3 connection, it offers exceptional resistance to environmental stressors and prolonged operational life. Compliance with industry regulatory standards, coupled with a limited lifetime warranty and practical bulk packaging, establishes this product as a premium choice for fleet operators and trailer manufacturers seeking to enhance safety, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure consistent, reliable performance for their long haul assets.
