24 replies to this topic

[cheekynige]

Hi,

Has anyone changed their rear light bulbs/indicators for 12V superbright LED arrays?

Cheers,

nige

[dklawson]

I have not done this but have been following threads where people have switched to LEDs.

First you need to look into the legality of this swap where you live. Second, you may need to use a solid-state flasher unit for the indicators. The lower current draw of the LEDs typically isn't enough for thermal/bimetallic flasher units to work.

[cheekynige]

Thanks for the info. What do you think of these:

Replacement indicators:

http://www.ultraleds...cf4b6b30aaa7b0e

Replacement Stop and Tail lights:

http://www.ultraleds...cf4b6b30aaa7b0e

[dklawson]

Those are similar to the ones available in the parts stores over here. As far as I know they should work fine.

Note on the bottom of the page for the first link the vendor is telling you what related items other customers have bought. The first item is a solid state flasher unit.

[cheekynige]

Ah that's awesome, I missed that bit about the flasher unit.

Cheers,

nige

[Don't Panic]

ive got the rear LEDs because i went in to halfords to get a rear bulb and they don't stock red ones (clear lens) so i had to get the leds for £13 or drive home with one light. since ive also added a large 3rd rear brake light... i don't trust other drivers so i give them all the help i can :cheese:

[cheekynige]

Out of interest did you need the solid state flasher unit or was it a simple LED replacement for the bulb?

cheers,

nige

[Don't Panic]

I've only replaced the brake/rear light bulbs with LEDs, just took the old bulbs out and but the LED ones in. They are good, much more of a difference between rear lights and braking lights as the light is more focused, I wouldn't say they are worth the £10 extra they cost me but at least they don't burn out and are more resilant to water than normal bulbs.

Edit: the 3rd brake light i added is more useful, as it is much higher up so A$$**les who tailgate can still see it.

[binge]

Ive replaced my Tail lights / brake lights with LED clustor bulbs.
SAVE LOADS of power.
MUCH brighter
LAST Forever! :grin:


Looked into doing the indicators too. BUT it knocks the flash pattern out. So you need to get a different relay. Or Bridge the wiring by the LED bulbs with a resistor of the difference between the LED and the Origional bulb.


<|Ben|>

[miniboo]

I have not done this but have been following threads where people have switched to LEDs.

First you need to look into the legality of this swap where you live. Second, you may need to use a solid-state flasher unit for the indicators. The lower current draw of the LEDs typically isn't enough for thermal/bimetallic flasher units to work.

Binge^^^^^ This is what DK said

[m1n1]

YES, i use halfords stop/tails red led bulbs in my clear rear lights and they work a treat. I did try some rear indicator led bulbs as well, HOWEVER the light they give out is distinctly lemony yellow, not orange. Plus with them fitted which ever way i flicked the indicator switch, they did not flash, only stayed on constantly.

[dklawson]

M1N1, that indicator staying on problem would be addressed by the solid-state flasher unit. The problem is that the standard units require a certain amount of current to flow through resistance wires to heat up and open bimetallic contacts in the standard flasher. The LEDs are so efficient they draw only a few milli-Amps instead of the multiple Amps of the standard incandescent bulbs. Pick up one of those solid-state flashers and try again. Since you've already invested in the bulbs you might as well get some use out of them.

[mininflorence]

Hi I just bought the Ultra clear tail lights, they suck (while i was tightening the bottom screw the plastic broke!!!! ) but now im stuck with them and im thinking of getting leds for the stop light also because the red cluster they give u has a hole in it whch lets the light out of it........ i was wondering if we need a special type of led bulb, ive been seen some with 9, 10 or 20 leds does it make a difference to the electrical system? also do we have one or two connectors at the bottom of the bulb? Thanx guys!!

[mininflorence]

Also, is it true that too many leds are not good for clear lights?

these for example
clik

[Dan]

A solid state flasher won't help to solve the problem over here. Indicator and hazard circuits are required to have bulb failure warning devices built in. The way they do it is by making the rate of flash change when a bulb burns out. So even if you use a solid state flasher it will see the lower resistance in the circuit, calculate that a bulb has burned out and increase the flash rate. The faster flash isn't permitted as indicators must flash between 1 and 2 flasher per second so you can't just put up with it. You can buy LED bulbs with buit in ballast reistors to increase the load to the same as a normal filament bulb. Incidentally the lighting regulations describe a lamp as a filament bulb and don't mention a solid state bulb at all. Whether or not this makes LED bulbs illegal here is open to interpretation but most of the manufacturers play it safe by writing 'for off road use only' on the packaging, which doesn't help your case with the MOT man.