Patrick - LED Taillight problems

[DanEC]

Talked to Superbrightleds and they were totally baffled. It sounded like they had never heard of a problem on the tail light circuit - only the signal and brake light one.

Did a little more testing and this is where it gets a little wierd, I have the driver-side light hooked up to the car but hanging loose. With light switch off, I connected the ground on my battery charger to the bulb socket. With both the yellow and red harness wires plugged in - I touch the + lead to the yellow terminal and the bulb lights - touch it to the red terminal and no light. I unplugged the yellow terminal and touched the + lead back to the red terminal and the bulb lit. Also touched it to the un-connected yellow terminal and that side lit also. It will not light on both circuits with the yellow lead plugged in.

Apparently there is some sort of issue backfeeding through the trailer relay unit is all I can figure. It looks like I've gone as far as I can and these just are not going to work in my car for some reason. May Bob will think of something.

My next project is to try to get my lake pump for the sprinkler system running by replacing the 220/24 starter relay. Hope this electrical project goes better.

[glenview289]

Some time back, about 3-4 years ago, I converted my Unique to LEDs. At that time there was discussion about the low current draw of LEDs that would notwork with some trailer relay switches. I'm sure a search on this will bring up something. Not an EE, but do remember this could be an issue.

Bill

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by glenview289

Some time back, about 3-4 years ago, I converted my Unique to LEDs. At that time there was discussion about the low current draw of LEDs that would notwork with some trailer relay switches. I'm sure a search on this will bring up something. Not an EE, but do remember this could be an issue.

Bill

To help Bliss with his tail light/trailer relay problems, I went out and measured the voltage drop across my trailer relay (with the circuit operating, of course). My stock trailer relay was eating up 1.7volts with the battery source putting out 12.5volts. There are better relays than our "stock" ones. They are touted as "heavy duty" trailer relays. He's had problems before with his relay, too. Some of the guys in other forums report voltage drops of well over 2 volts for some of the relays.

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by glenview289

Some time back, about 3-4 years ago, I converted my Unique to LEDs. At that time there was discussion about the low current draw of LEDs that would notwork with some trailer relay switches. I'm sure a search on this will bring up something. Not an EE, but do remember this could be an issue.

Bill

I remember that thread...didn't the end result be that a resistor had to be added at the back of the car for the lights to work?

It's been a while, but there's that dim memory, perhaps I'll go back to the Unique website and see if I can find the thread.

Cheers!

Doug