Write-up: conversion to RED LED backlighting
Rotary Freak
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 1
From: Ames, IA
Actually, someone on the forum sells plug-in LED tail light bulbs. A single LED is not enough, but a cluster of 25 or 35 of them is plenty. The trick is that LED tail lights will appear to the computer as a burned out bulb, so you have to cut the tail light warning light (or add resistors to up the current flow, which defeats part of the purpose of the LED lights). For the turn signals, you do have to put resistors in or the flasher will flicker more than flash.
Advantages of the LED tail lights: The drain on the electrical system is significantly reduced (I think the stock brake light setup draws close to 100W), and the lights come on instantly. If you've ever driven behind a car with LED tail lamps, it really gets your attention when they come on. Plus, they can be as bright or brighter than the stock bulbs, and basically don't burn out. You may lose one or two LEDs over the first few years, but with a large cluster of them it doesn't matter - it doesn't affect brightness significantly. And for all practical purposes, the LED tail lights will last the rest of the life of the car (unless you're keeping it for another 50 years or something).
Also, whoever is doing the writeup, please attach the images to the post, and link to those attached images - that way external hosting doesn't matter, and the pics will always be with the thread.
-=Russ=-
Advantages of the LED tail lights: The drain on the electrical system is significantly reduced (I think the stock brake light setup draws close to 100W), and the lights come on instantly. If you've ever driven behind a car with LED tail lamps, it really gets your attention when they come on. Plus, they can be as bright or brighter than the stock bulbs, and basically don't burn out. You may lose one or two LEDs over the first few years, but with a large cluster of them it doesn't matter - it doesn't affect brightness significantly. And for all practical purposes, the LED tail lights will last the rest of the life of the car (unless you're keeping it for another 50 years or something).
Also, whoever is doing the writeup, please attach the images to the post, and link to those attached images - that way external hosting doesn't matter, and the pics will always be with the thread.
-=Russ=-
Eat, sleep, work, mod.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,517
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
Originally Posted by Syonyk
Actually, someone on the forum sells plug-in LED tail light bulbs. A single LED is not enough, but a cluster of 25 or 35 of them is plenty. The trick is that LED tail lights will appear to the computer as a burned out bulb, so you have to cut the tail light warning light (or add resistors to up the current flow, which defeats part of the purpose of the LED lights). For the turn signals, you do have to put resistors in or the flasher will flicker more than flash.
Advantages of the LED tail lights: The drain on the electrical system is significantly reduced (I think the stock brake light setup draws close to 100W), and the lights come on instantly. If you've ever driven behind a car with LED tail lamps, it really gets your attention when they come on. Plus, they can be as bright or brighter than the stock bulbs, and basically don't burn out. You may lose one or two LEDs over the first few years, but with a large cluster of them it doesn't matter - it doesn't affect brightness significantly. And for all practical purposes, the LED tail lights will last the rest of the life of the car (unless you're keeping it for another 50 years or something).
Also, whoever is doing the writeup, please attach the images to the post, and link to those attached images - that way external hosting doesn't matter, and the pics will always be with the thread.
-=Russ=-
Advantages of the LED tail lights: The drain on the electrical system is significantly reduced (I think the stock brake light setup draws close to 100W), and the lights come on instantly. If you've ever driven behind a car with LED tail lamps, it really gets your attention when they come on. Plus, they can be as bright or brighter than the stock bulbs, and basically don't burn out. You may lose one or two LEDs over the first few years, but with a large cluster of them it doesn't matter - it doesn't affect brightness significantly. And for all practical purposes, the LED tail lights will last the rest of the life of the car (unless you're keeping it for another 50 years or something).
Also, whoever is doing the writeup, please attach the images to the post, and link to those attached images - that way external hosting doesn't matter, and the pics will always be with the thread.
-=Russ=-
Thread Starter
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 845
Likes: 38
From: Oscoda, MI
The point of using LEDs is increased life and lower current draw. Lower current draw means less strain on a stock 70-80 AMP alternator. Plus less heat than a regular bulb.
In this case, I just did this because I wanted to and thought it had worked so well I'd share it. Anyway, my writeup shouldn't be considered the end-all be-all of converisons--as you can see in the pics that there is room for improvement and certain disadvantages.
In this case, I just did this because I wanted to and thought it had worked so well I'd share it. Anyway, my writeup shouldn't be considered the end-all be-all of converisons--as you can see in the pics that there is room for improvement and certain disadvantages.
