A word on LED lights

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » October 5, 2009, 10:04 am

For your interior lights and instruments, note that LED's all need to have a voltage resistor inline to work properly.
If you buy them make sure you get one with the resistor in place.
They will have a white tube on the bottom and two wires coming out.
About a 1/2-3/4 inch overall length.
Just the LED by itself will not work properly for brakes and such.
Also, make sure you get the 12 volt unit as they come in the 120 volt configuration too.
Should run about $7 bucks or so each.
I used them for my turn signal indicators, high beam, and back lighting in my instrument panel, and for the fuel pump "on" indicator light next to the toggle switch.
U@ss

STOFFER · Post by **STOFFER** » October 7, 2009, 5:36 am

thanks

ABA · Post by **ABA** » October 9, 2009, 9:23 pm

What about the ones they have now to replace the brake light/turn signal bulbs ....this is for later model vehicles but they have them for earlier models
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LJJEFM

Any body tried them yet?

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » October 10, 2009, 5:51 pm

Look close at the pins.
The resistor is wired into the bulb just above the pins.
The LED's I used were single bulb units with a little white tube on the bottom where the resistor is and two wires coming out the end. These are designed mostly for electronic projects but work really well for what I'm using them for. I like the ones you posted too and might try to find a place for them later.
Thanks,
U@ss

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » October 11, 2009, 5:29 pm

ABA wrote:What about the ones they have now to replace the brake light/turn signal bulbs ....this is for later model vehicles but they have them for earlier models
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LJJEFM

Any body tried them yet?

A year or so ago I bought some of the LED bulbs made to fit the older light sockets from NPD, I don't recall the brand. Unless looking at them straight on, they were less bright than the original style bulbs - I think it was something like 6-8 LEDs, which seemed like way to few. Also I am not sure if it was the pattern in the plastic, or the actual # of LED's in this bulb, but I didn't feel this bulb was going to be safe to use.

I returned them to NPD. First time they ever seemed unhappy to take something back. Maybe because it was an electronics type of thing. Or maybe just that particular employee.

I too want to make sure whatever daydreamer is behind me can see my brake lights. I plan on mounting a 3rd light either up high on the cab or under the tailgate for a bit of extra insurance.

tbritt · Post by **tbritt** » October 11, 2009, 5:52 pm

Dot, I did the same thing you did same dealer, put them in and bingo they were not what I wanted, took them out and tossed them in the tool box, a few months later I needed a blub for my trailer and there they were...put one in and tested it out...low and behold it glowed bright a$$ red....duh..red blub red lens..

cut some clear plastic lens for the trailer and still as bright as ever..never trust a blub by it's color...

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » October 11, 2009, 5:58 pm

To clarify, the LED replacements I used were clear, not red.

tbritt · Post by **tbritt** » October 11, 2009, 6:06 pm

No harm no foul, mine were clear....looking at them,but when I put the voltage to them they glowed RED.. my fault for putting the lens back on..

07mike · Post by **07mike** » October 12, 2009, 5:48 pm

Tried led bulbs for my taillights in my 66, first pair had about 7 leds in the center for taillights anf about 15 around them for brake/turn signal.Next pair I tried were true double element leds about 20 l;eds per bulb.They looked very bright with out the lens, with the lens they were bright only when you viewed them straight on. Took them out and put in Ron Francis bright bulbs. Really bright now but they run very warm, have dimples in my plastic lens

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » October 12, 2009, 6:54 pm

That's why I used them for instrument lights and not running lights. I just didn't like having to pull my gauge cluster to replace those old style little bulbs.
The LED's are great for those interior lights.
U@ss

ABA · Post by **ABA** » October 12, 2009, 7:18 pm

tbritt wrote:Dot, I did the same thing you did same dealer, put them in and bingo they were not what I wanted, took them out and tossed them in the tool box, a few months later I needed a blub for my trailer and there they were...put one in and tested it out...low and behold it glowed bright a$$ red....duh..red blub red lens.. cut some clear plastic lens for the trailer and still as bright as ever..never trust a blub by it's color...

Hmm, I wonder how those red bulbs would look behind some blue dot lenses?

6166 Junkyard Dog · Post by **6166 Junkyard Dog** » October 21, 2009, 10:29 pm

just when do you think too many LED Lights are too much ????

64 f100 · Post by **64 f100** » October 27, 2009, 11:13 pm

Red dots behind blue dots are purples. However, I bought some led tailight bulbs recently, and surprise surprise they were mad with better contacts , these had elongated oval spots on the bulbs. The contact sliped right in and mad good contacted without having to fight the bulb, , unlike the old bulbs with the round dots for contacts. Someone had sence enough to improve a minor part and make something work better for a change.

Rich

Mr. D · Post by **Mr. D** » October 30, 2009, 8:23 pm

I tried the leds in my tailights and liked the regular bulb better. Oh Well

Max · Post by **Max** » November 9, 2009, 4:03 pm

One thing to keep in mind about LED's is the light is very focused and unless you have it diffused behind a dispersing lense or with a reflector, might not provide the same amount of radiated light - such as behind a taillight.

I've seen LED taillight lenses that are huge because they'll have an ample amount of LED lights to compensate for the radiated light that a standard bulb gives off.

Also why you shouldn't ever look directly at an LED bulb when lit. Just have to use them properly and they're sweet!