I'm thinking about using some LEDs to brighten up my truck's appearance. I've seen the bulb-replacement units on eBay and was wondering if they are as bright as they say they are? Will replacing my bulbs with LED bulbs cause any electrical problems? One site said that I needed a resistor for each turn signal LED bulb so it would flash at the normal rate?

Anyone used these LEDs and have any tips or suggestions before I buy $100 worth of bulbs?

Pics would be great, too!

(I have some 'before' pics of my truck, but haven't figured out how to post them yet...)

 

Rob,

I was considering the same modification. I decided to hold off after someone on another board told me about his experience. He said with the standard reflectors that the LED lights just did not look right. The light just does not spread like a bulb does, and you may lose some visibility from the side because the light emitting from the LEDs will go straight back and not 360 degrees like a bulb.

 

Don’t do it! I wasted money on this once before. The incandescent bulbs that the lights are designed for emit light in almost every direction. Your lights have reflectors built in to pick up and spread out the light over the entire area of the lens, then the lens is cut to further spread the light making a nice bright light over the hole area on the lens. When you use light emitting diodes (LED) the light is directional and only shines in the direction the bulb is facing. Even if the light is brighter it only lights up a small portion of your lens. The built in reflectors and cut on lens does not get to do its job and the overall effect is less light. LED’s only work good in cars that they were designed for or those silly looking clear lenses that were designed for them, and no self respecting Ford truck owner would EVER use after market clear ricer lenses. The 2056 and 2057 incandescent bulbs are a little brighter than 1156 and 1157’s but I have not really been able to tell much difference.

 

Lot's of pro's and con's here. I'm going to wait a while longer myself. Technology is changing and modifications will soon follow. One thing is for sure though. LED's are not a fad. And with technology, the rediculous pricing will drop also. Talk to you guys later....

 

Hey guys! Told you things would change! I just got in and had to reply. I saw this bike and his tail-lamps were L.E.D., but the diodes were longer and protruded (is that a word?) to the sides of the tail-lamps. There were about 20 total and did a few tricks, but for the daytime, they were quite noticable. I'll get back with you guys 8/6. The guy gave me his bus. card and told me to call him for the co. info. Talk with you guys soon!

 

Lumileds has a line of LEDs called the Luxeon that are used in emergency warning equipment (one of my specialties) and traffic lights. They are ridiculously bright. The newest models would be too bright to use in a tail light assembly. They incorporate special lenses to help disperse the light off-axis, although it still won't be nearly as effective as an incandescent or halogen bulb.

Pretty soon, LEDs will be illuminating everything. Lumileds is slated to begin manufacturing LED automobile headlights by 2007. LED tail lights are already here, although not necessarily available or suitable for every application. I watched years ago as LEDs hit the emergency warning market, and the old die-hards passed them off as plastic bicycle lights and fads. Now with the prices dropping significantly (where a blue LED dash-mount warning light was twice the price of a red, and a white LED light was three times the price, red and blue are now the same price and a white one is only $8 more) as literally everyone starts to buy up this exciting technology, you'll see more and more developments and advances in the LED sector. The old die-hards have even converted to LED emergency lights and are singing their praise non-stop.

If anyone knows of tail light bulbs being manufactured with Luxeon emitters, I sure would like to know about it!

SnubNose

 

Oh yeah, was gonna include this link: http://www.luxeon.com

SnubNose

 

Hey guys! Thanks for waiting... The company is called Intergreated--- something. The guy wasn't too sure of the rest of the name. I'll check out the web and get back with you guys.
Again, thanks for being patient!!!