led replace bulbs
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Houston usa
led replace bulbs
Looking for some drivers with experience converting to LED in tails,directional, etc. My experience is they are not quite ready for auto use=although they are big in the truck (18 wheel) business. For us they are not as bright-directional=and freak out the flasher which thinks its a burned out bulb. (I can't even find the flasher on my Excursion to replace with an electronic one. )
The technology is on its way as several traffic lights in my area have been replaced with LED. Perhaps development in our market is hindered by the oncoming 48volt auto standard.
Appreciate anyone with experience-thanks
excur003 in Texas
The technology is on its way as several traffic lights in my area have been replaced with LED. Perhaps development in our market is hindered by the oncoming 48volt auto standard.
Appreciate anyone with experience-thanks
excur003 in Texas
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Allegan Michigan
led replace bulbs
Just some food for thought. The LED has much lower resistance than an incandescent bulb. If the flasher unit doesn’t see the proper resistance it will not flash. I am thinking this is how the flasher units work but I might be wrong. If this is the case you might think about adding a resistor across the line to increase the draw on the system to get the flasher unit to fire. Throw some ohms law on paper and it should work. 
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Memphis, TN
led replace bulbs
An LED has lower resistance than an incandescent, but an LED replacement bulb has much HIGHER resistance, due to a resistor added in series to limit the current & voltage. Adding a resistor parallel to the LED will have the desired effect, though, by reducing the total resistance of the circuit allowing the flasher unit to heat up & work. An electronic replacement flasher is a much easier solution, though...
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led replace bulbs
I have a 98 Windstar, and I've seen a lot of the "big trucks" with LED replacements, so I started looking for some for my ride.I wound up using the 3156 and 3157 replacements from www.ledtronics.com. The brakelights worked fine, but as a previous poster emntioned, the turn signals acted as though the bulbs were burned out with very rapid blinking.
You do have to put a resistor in parallel with the each LED turn signal circuit. You can find a kit shown at www.jamstrait.com called the "aluminim power resistor". I needed four (one for each turn signal location), and I clamped them onto the leads as close to the bulbs as they would fit.
For the DYI-ers out there, these resistors are 6-ohm, 1% resistors in aluminum covers with cooling fins. When in use, these resistors are drawing about 2 amps, so don't try a lower level resistor, or one that won't handle that level of current.
Now my turn signals snap on and off, as do my brake lamps. My only complaint is that the front turn signals seem a little washed out in the daylight, probably due to the clear lenses.
My latest desire is to replace the CHMSL bulbs. Any ideas out there?
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led replace bulbs
I assume you mean the Ford Lightning? Does the CHMSL drop into the Windstar, or are you moving over the LED harness and bulbs?
Any part numbers or sources?
Any part numbers or sources?
Last edited by chickenman; Aug 23, 2003 at 02:58 PM.
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From: Chicago Area
led replace bulbs
Sorry, I didn't notice you have a Windstar. It plugs into an F 150, but I can only guess on your vehicle.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Durham, NC
led replace bulbs
Originally posted by steve83
An LED has lower resistance than an incandescent, but an LED replacement bulb has much HIGHER resistance, due to a resistor added in series to limit the current & voltage. Adding a resistor parallel to the LED will have the desired effect, though, by reducing the total resistance of the circuit allowing the flasher unit to heat up & work. An electronic replacement flasher is a much easier solution, though...
An LED has lower resistance than an incandescent, but an LED replacement bulb has much HIGHER resistance, due to a resistor added in series to limit the current & voltage. Adding a resistor parallel to the LED will have the desired effect, though, by reducing the total resistance of the circuit allowing the flasher unit to heat up & work. An electronic replacement flasher is a much easier solution, though...
The effective resistance of an LED will vary, depending on the
amount of forward bias current.
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led replace bulbs
Originally posted by MrBSS
Sorry, I didn't notice you have a Windstar. It plugs into an F 150, but I can only guess on your vehicle.
Sorry, I didn't notice you have a Windstar. It plugs into an F 150, but I can only guess on your vehicle.
Maybe I can cannibalize it for the lamps and harness.
Maybe I need to see a picture of it first, though. Any ideas?
Thanks,
CM
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