Replace turn signals/brake light with LED bulbs

[twobjshelbys]

Has anyone replaced the bulbs with LED versions? I must have kicked up a rock somewhere along the drive today as a kindly gentleman warned me at a stop light. I spent a whopping $3.99 for two replacement bulbs (why can you nver buy one of anything like this?)

Anyway, it reminded me that I've always thought they were a little dim compared to modern tail lights, so I thought of replacing them with LED bulbs. Does anyone have recommendations? The tail light/turn signals are 1157s. I'd probably replace the front markers too.

[Rwillia4]

A search will yield a lot of people have gone to LEDs with good success. try: http://www.customdynamics.com/motorc...s_LED_Clusters_
you want to look for the 1.8" clusters. They are MUCH brighter and easier on the electrical system.

[Pete Munroe]

Tried to replace the tail lights with two LED's I picked up at Pep Boys.

MY ERA has what I would suppose a pretty much standard lighting system and uses 1157 bulbs and bi-metallic type blinker switch.

Problem as far as I can tell is LEDs are so efficient the current draw is TOO LOW to make the turn signal blinker operate. They ARE bright, just won't activate the blinker.

Looked on line and for many applications that didn't have LEDs to start off with, you need to add a resistor in series to increase the current draw. The load is high enough that the resistors have to be tough ones equipped with a heat sink...sort of like a ballast resistor.

With the resistor in series with the light, the current draw is higher, and then the blinker gets hot enough to work.

Besides the expense, when you add the resistor the light output of the LED drops. So the point was what...? Sort of back where you started.

VERY disappointed as the LED are VERY bright when all the power goes to the light, but the resistor apparently drops it way down.

ANy one if there is an "easy solution" like a electronic blinker circuit instead of the old bi-metallic spring?

Research on the web before you spend $40 for 4 LEDs...I have two bulbs for sale...they were $10 each...

PS...my electrical knowledge is limited, so read up. Your situation may be different..

[PoppyMod]

Originally Posted by Pete Munroe

Tried to replace the tail lights with two LED's I picked up at Pep Boys.

MY ERA has what I would suppose a pretty much standard lighting system and uses 1157 bulbs and bi-metallic type blinker switch.

Problem as far as I can tell is LEDs are so efficient the current draw is TOO LOW to make the turn signal blinker operate. They ARE bright, just won't activate the blinker.

Looked on line and for many applications that didn't have LEDs to start off with, you need to add a resistor in series to increase the current draw. The load is high enough that the resistors have to be tough ones equipped with a heat sink...sort of like a ballast resistor.

With the resistor in series with the light, the current draw is higher, and then the blinker gets hot enough to work.

Besides the expense, when you add the resistor the light output of the LED drops. So the point was what...? Sort of back where you started.

VERY disappointed as the LED are VERY bright when all the power goes to the light, but the resistor apparently drops it way down.

ANy one if there is an "easy solution" like a electronic blinker circuit instead of the old bi-metallic spring?

Research on the web before you spend $40 for 4 LEDs...I have two bulbs for sale...they were $10 each...

PS...my electrical knowledge is limited, so read up. Your situation may be different..

Hi,

Check with www.mustangproject.com. They sell two types one is electronic and the other is as noted:

"Our standard electronic kits are silent. However, we have a new flasher module now available MP-FLA-CLICK which gives you that vintage clicking sound!"

Good Luck!

[Rwillia4]

Pete,
I also tried the pep boy route also and was very unsatisfied with the results. However, I have had no problems with the bulbs above. They are worth every dollar.

[ha_pe_1968]

Hi!
Just have modified my turn signal and my brake light at the rear to LED. Here in Austria you need amber turn signals. My car has the red rectangular taillights. With the amber LED's you get a perfect amber turn signal light even thru the red taillights. My back running and brake light was not really visible when it was sunny. Bought my LEDs from "www.superbrightleds.com" They have the right sockets 1156 or 1157 and are for 12V. Each lamp have 3 Lumileds 1.5W power LED's with special lenses and they are really a lot brighter then the normal lamps.
One good thing...if you only change the rear turn signal the relay still works.
If you change front and rear then you have to modify the relay. Think one LED is about $23.

Peter

[Learjockey1]

I just did this with www.superbrightleds.com. I had the Honda incandescent SLO bulbs but here in Germany I was afraid people would not be able to differentiate the brightness difference with all of the new tech bulbs and size of the Audi Porsche and MB lights.
They downright plug/ play, bright without the reflectors. I have single rectangular rear lights. They snap on and off

BA15 45 High Power LED Tower bulb at $ 24.95 each . Red 1157-R45-T

[Double Venom]

All the posts are right.

Simple, the LED's do not draw enough "Juice' For a normal "flasher" to work.

"Watson STREET WORKS", (INTERNET SITE) sells a small set of Resistors that are put in line for the front and rear lights. Simple fix and easy to do. (Split both "feeds" front and rear, install a resistor in each line-done)

Now there are new LEDs on the market that have the resistors built in but don't seem to be as bright, but are better than stock 1157's.

Bottom line, smart exchange, new vs. old and for anyone building a Cobra / Streetrod now.

Dv

[Blas]

If you visit a shop that specializes in the aux lighting for 18 wheelers and such, or a well stocked parts shop, or just search "LED Flasher" on the web, they make a flasher unit made for LED's.

[FUNFER2]

The turn signal LEDs have been spoken about, how are the LED brake & tail light from the company's listed, are they plug & play or do you need to add something to the electrical system ?

[kobrabytes]

I tried some, but they didn't appear to put out as much light as the incandescent...

Also in the rear thy wont work with the socket setup on my Kirkham. The bulbs are mounted so the light comes out of the side, and not the end.

[twobjshelbys]

The issue with the lights being vertically mounted but the LEDs being directional is a concern. I'll have to look at the various setups to see if they can be made to work. I was thinking of designing a reflector/diffuser but by that time the light output would be reduced. I'll have to make a trip to Checker or someplace for ideas.

[joyridin']

I just added a relay to get the lights to blink. Works great although they were advertised as a plug in deal.

[CobERA]

Here's a link to an older thread.

LED Tail Lights - Again

Since I only replaced the rear lights, the blinkers work just fine.

[BFBurk]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents. To increase current in a circuit you add resistance in parallel, not series. For example; 2 identical bulbs in parallel will double the current flow. Paralleling an LED assembly with a resistor or with the original bulb will allow you to have more current draw.

I really like what Mikey_P did and will try to duplicate what he did.

I tried the superbright incandescent bulbs in the past and they get very hot. I burned a hole in my car cover when I put the cover in the trunk and it contacted the very hot bulb.

Thanks

[am9648]

I bought and installed the 1157's from Custom Dynamics and could not get them to work on the daily driver or my cobra, the socket housing would not hold them, I purchased a set from Superbrights and all work fine for tail/brake light.

I have not converted my turn signals, but if I do, I will keep the incadescent in the front and install the LED's for the rears to create the resistance without changing the flasher.

am

[era556]

try ron francis wiring. they sell a replacement bulb called bright lights that is not an led but twice as bright as a 1157.

[Mikey_P]

I built a set using the retangular lights as a base. The LED's came from Custom Dynamics. Here are a couple of pics.