Any thoughts/experience on LED indicator bulbs

[nurse]

Found these whilst googling about today and having just put in an LED bulb in the parking light (only a couple of pounds in cost), i was wondering if anyone was using these, or knew what the Lumen rating our standard indicator bulbes are!  Was thinking they may be a nice little stocking filler from the wife or kids

www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/pr/581-led-extreme-py21w/

www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/pr/382-led-canbus-bulbs/

Not sure if these are the right fitment but you get the general idea!

[Dads_FJ]

They may not flash correctly, some (most?) LED lamps have a very high resistance compared to incandescent lamps, and the flasher circuit is dependent on the resistance to make it work.  Try the ones you purchased for the parking lamp in place of the signals and see...

[FJmonkey]

They may not flash correctly, some (most?) LED lamps have a very high resistance compared to incandescent lamps, and the flasher circuit is dependent on the resistance to make it work.  Try the ones you purchased for the parking lamp in place of the signals and see...

You can add a small resister if the light does not have one built in. I have already tested this on my 86' with LEDs I will install for turn signals.

[nurse]

They may not flash correctly, some (most?) LED lamps have a very high resistance compared to incandescent lamps, and the flasher circuit is dependent on the resistance to make it work.  Try the ones you purchased for the parking lamp in place of the signals and see...

Good thinking batman!  Worth a try!

[/quote]
You can add a small resister if the light does not have one built in. I have already tested this on my 86' with LEDs I will install for turn signals.
[/quote]

When you say small resistor, what sort of size is that? And where abouts did you get behind behind fairing to house it?

[FJmonkey]

When you say small resistor, what sort of size is that? And where abouts did you get behind behind fairing to house it?

I have not mounted them yet but I hooked one up to the rear indicator light make sure it would work. I will have to look at what size and rating it is and post it later. All you need to do is short the positive to ground with the resister. The resister takes very little current allowing good voltage to the LED and provides just enough resistance to fool the flash module. I also did a burn in test with the resister and LED connected to a 12V power supply for 10 hours continuous with no problems with heat from the resistor. And since it flashes and only some of the time I feel it is very safe solution. 

[aviationfred]

I have LED signal bulbs installed. The rear ones are higher quality and have a small circuit board built in, flash like normal. The front ones are cheaper and cause the signals to flash real fast. I have 25 Watt 8 ohm inline resistors ordered that I will install in the front signal wiring. They should be here in a few days. I will let you know how they work.


Fred

[backstreetheros]

you will need resistors otherwise they will flash fast.

went through the whole LED, SMD and HID conversion on my sprinter...
HID headlights, SMD sidelights and SMD indicators...


HID reverse lights, SMD brake lights, SMD rear lights, SMD indicators, SMD numberplate lights




the HIDs on my transit were probably a bit too bright...

[backstreetheros]

this is what 168 SMD side repeaters look like... 

[rktmanfj]

Damn... I'd love to have a Sprinter.   

[nurse]

Backstreethero stop it your burning my eyes.  Bloody white van man!    Well at risk of moving this from general enquiry thread to a mod, aside from removing the entire front fairing to get to the back of the indicator assembly, how the heck are you gonna get the resistor back there.  Am I missing a cunning trick to get easy access?  If it as a total strip down job I will probably just go with the silver osram bulbs that flash orange!

[backstreetheros]

haha i do apologize  , they are great for driving, not great for being an oncoming vehicle...
with regards to fairings... i can't really comment due to not having any but the resisters are only small. mine are slightly smaller than a disposable lighter.

[giantkiller]

Backstreethero stop it your burning my eyes.  Bloody white van man!    Well at risk of moving this from general enquiry thread to a mod, aside from removing the entire front fairing to get to the back of the indicator assembly, how the heck are you gonna get the resistor back there.  Am I missing a cunning trick to get easy access?  If it as a total strip down job I will probably just go with the silver osram bulbs that flash orange!

Taking the upper fairing off is supereasy (on an 86 anyway) I've had mine off and on so many times putting the GSXR front end on mine. I could probably do it in 5min. The hardest part is getting the push pins out of the front of the scoops.
You should make this a full mod thread I'm interested in the details.

[RichBaker]

They may not flash correctly, some (most?) LED lamps have a very high resistance compared to incandescent lamps, and the flasher circuit is dependent on the resistance to make it work.  Try the ones you purchased for the parking lamp in place of the signals and see...

It's not so much the resistance value as it is the much lower current draw of an LED. The standard flasher uses a bimetallic element that depends on the current thru it to heat it and make it "bend" open... There are electronic flashers available from most auto parts stores that can be retro-fitted to work with LED lamps.

[FJmonkey]

It's not so much the resistance value as it is the much lower current draw of an LED. The standard flasher uses a bimetallic element that depends on the current thru it to heat it and make it "bend" open... There are electronic flashers available from most auto parts stores that can be retro-fitted to work with LED lamps.

I thought it was the fact that an LED if measured is OPEN, just gas between the contact points, just like a blown bulb, and zero continuity..... The resistor fixes the problem with the flasher unit. Does that mean that even small rocks can't float?

[RichBaker]

The resistors are used to increase the current flowing thru the flasher's bimetallic element. An electronic flasher uses a timing circuit to turn the current on and off, it is NOT dependant on the amount of current flowing...

A bimetallic device uses the amount of current flowing thru a circuit to heat the element. As it heats, the 2 metals expand at different rates, therefore causing the bimetallic element to bend away from the unfixed pole, therefore creating an open. When open, it cools and bends back to the unfixed pole, and closing the circuit, and the cycle begins all over....

Since LEDs use MUCH less current, the bimetallic element never opens, and the signlas don't flash.  If you've ever used a trailer with the standard flasher, you probably noticed that the flash rate was much faster when the lights were connected. This is because the current draw is higher and the bimetal element heats up faster...