LED headlights installed
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
If our trucks had to be perfect and every system optimal, we wouldn't be driving them. My lights are weak, so I avoid driving at night. My suspension, brakes, and steering are stock, so I drive slower. My paint and body work aren't perfect, but people still appreciate seeing it.
Jim
Jim
My goal is to be able to drive it daily, so wipers, headlights, etc all need to work.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,911
Likes: 1,192
From: Deerbrook, WI
Good Morning Bob. How are you liking your halogen headlights? I have some, and tried them, but decided if anything they weren't as bright as the regular bulbs. A possible reason is poor grounding, but nothing I tried to improve the grounds seemed to help.
Jim
Jim
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
They’re much brighter and whiter than the stock bulbs, but not as bright and white as the LEDs. For the few times I’ll be driving at night I’m sure they’ll be fine.
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 577
Likes: 175
From: Thompsons Station, TN
Led lights anti flicker
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
The issue I’m having, after troubleshooting, is that the bright circuit flashes on and off randomly, I believe because of the poor quality of the regulator circuit on the bulb.
I’ve learned that these bulbs don’t actually have low and high beams. On low beam 1/2 of the LEDs light up, on high, the other 1/2 are added. Using very dark sunglasses, I’ve been able to see that when switching from high to low, the second 1/2 of the LEDs flash on and off.
Simply put, these LEDs are defective and the vendor won’t respond to my emails, so I simply threw away the money.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 803
Thx, I appreciate your input, but after analyzing, LED flicker isn’t my issue. I already installed an anti flicker resistor, it made no difference.
The issue I’m having, after troubleshooting, is that the bright circuit flashes on and off randomly, I believe because of the poor quality of the regulator circuit on the bulb.
I’ve learned that these bulbs don’t actually have low and high beams. On low beam 1/2 of the LEDs light up, on high, the other 1/2 are added. Using very dark sunglasses, I’ve been able to see that when switching from high to low, the second 1/2 of the LEDs flash on and off.
Simply put, these LEDs are defective and the vendor won’t respond to my emails, so I simply threw away the money.
The issue I’m having, after troubleshooting, is that the bright circuit flashes on and off randomly, I believe because of the poor quality of the regulator circuit on the bulb.
I’ve learned that these bulbs don’t actually have low and high beams. On low beam 1/2 of the LEDs light up, on high, the other 1/2 are added. Using very dark sunglasses, I’ve been able to see that when switching from high to low, the second 1/2 of the LEDs flash on and off.
Simply put, these LEDs are defective and the vendor won’t respond to my emails, so I simply threw away the money.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
I just thought of something, what kind of switch is your high beam switch , like, is it a factory high beam(I have no idea when cars got high beams) or is it something you put in? The reason I ask is because LEDs are sensitive to bad circuit hygeine and something like a switch thats mechanically allowing current through from, say, vibrations, or doesnt cleanly cut off the high beams when in low beam selection from either construction or defect etc.. would never light up a halogen, but the LED needs far less for it to light up. If its only passing a bit of current, it can be enough to notice as youre driving let alone visually from outside of your cab.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 803
An "easy" way to check this i guess could be to have a halogen on one side and LED on another, I assume they feed from the same relay.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
Im not all that knowledgeable with electronics to know if this is something do-able or smart but are you able to put any kind of resistor between the relay and the light? I dont know what kind of current, and how much being its on 6 volt, but an LED being activated by less than intended electricity can often be made to stay off if there is some resistance in the wiring added, because the LEDs need so little , a nice clean straight shot from a relay if that said relay lets anything past it could light it quite a bit. id say a good way to know whether this all happens is if the flashing is at full brightness. flicker from low current can make the brightness any odd amount relative to the normal brightness esp when it comes to how many chips light up vs the PWM effect on a single chip.
An "easy" way to check this i guess could be to have a halogen on one side and LED on another, I assume they feed from the same relay.
An "easy" way to check this i guess could be to have a halogen on one side and LED on another, I assume they feed from the same relay.
Relays can bounce. They are mechanical switches activated by electro magnets. So if the relay is bouncing, LEDs can respond in milliseconds where halogens take longer. So if the relay is bouncing, the LEDs will show it, but the halogens won’t.
Oh, and I did try a resistor, it didn’t help. Good thought and thx again.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 803
I am knowledgeable with electronics, although my degree faded and yellow by now.
Relays can bounce. They are mechanical switches activated by electro magnets. So if the relay is bouncing, LEDs can respond in milliseconds where halogens take longer. So if the relay is bouncing, the LEDs will show it, but the halogens won’t.
Oh, and I did try a resistor, it didn’t help. Good thought and thx again.
Relays can bounce. They are mechanical switches activated by electro magnets. So if the relay is bouncing, LEDs can respond in milliseconds where halogens take longer. So if the relay is bouncing, the LEDs will show it, but the halogens won’t.
Oh, and I did try a resistor, it didn’t help. Good thought and thx again.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 102
Likes: 38
From: Central NJ
It's really not hard to use relays to get the LED lights to work properly. A lot of talk about flickering, but nobody has mentioned putting a scope on to check whether it's a voltage supply issue, or an LED problem. If anyone wants to do some good testing in the NJ area, let me know. I have everything needed to test and determine a root cause of the issues. I'm out of work on light duty for another 10 days, so I have a lot of free time, right now. I don't have a 6V vehicle for testing, but I have the equipment to get it figured out.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 803
It's really not hard to use relays to get the LED lights to work properly. A lot of talk about flickering, but nobody has mentioned putting a scope on to check whether it's a voltage supply issue, or an LED problem. If anyone wants to do some good testing in the NJ area, let me know. I have everything needed to test and determine a root cause of the issues. I'm out of work on light duty for another 10 days, so I have a lot of free time, right now. I don't have a 6V vehicle for testing, but I have the equipment to get it figured out.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
It's really not hard to use relays to get the LED lights to work properly. A lot of talk about flickering, but nobody has mentioned putting a scope on to check whether it's a voltage supply issue, or an LED problem. If anyone wants to do some good testing in the NJ area, let me know. I have everything needed to test and determine a root cause of the issues. I'm out of work on light duty for another 10 days, so I have a lot of free time, right now. I don't have a 6V vehicle for testing, but I have the equipment to get it figured out.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
WarOzz
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
87
Apr 30, 2012 11:21 AM
Brown Falcon
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
29
Dec 17, 2011 12:58 PM
Spool&Go
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
30
Nov 17, 2010 03:42 PM