Brake,tail and signal light conversion to LED

no reason to wire in a resistor to foul up your wiring system.

pending on how many leds you plan on using the tried and true old school by-metal flasher might work.

if not or you just want to cover your self. they make these electronic flashers to replace the factory flashers. these items are made to work with led lights.

only lights to be included here are your turn lights all the rest are plug and work.

but for running lights for travel time there is no reason to adapt your system to run leds. your motors alt produces more than enough to keep everything working with extra to spare.

now like my yamaha fz1 it has a odd system for making juice and as the motor was designed to be used on a track. adding lights can hurt. NO WAY to add more juice to the mix. even a couple led spot lights are too much for the system.
but this is a sports bike not a rv hauler.

even for any truck motor one can always up grade there alt to put out more juice. some can run two alts. (one for the truck one for "other").
how many batteries under the hood of your truck? newer trucks and cars should be using two any how, (to much electronics).


.

Thanks for the quick reply full of info!
I suppose I could use a rheostat and have the ability to dial the marker brightness wherever I wanted... just for the fun of it. Or even use the brake light circuit to bypass the resistor to the rear-facing markers for more brake-light effect... just for even more fun.

burningman wrote:
Those look like a good deal, do you have any yet? I'd like to know the actual size of the modules.
The description says "Modules are linked on 2-conductor 18AWG zip cord, 161mm (6.5") center-to-center spacing. 3.75" wire between each module." I'd like to know what marker lenses I can fit those behind.
I'd like to convert all my truck, camper, and trailer markers to LED (I've only done the tail lights so far) and I don't mind modifying my own stock lenses. Actually l like doing it that way, my camper tail lights are custom LEDs behind the stock lenses.

Modules are 2 3/4" in length not including the wire

5/8" Wide

about 1/4" tall (or thick)

They are prepped with 3M double sided tape on the back and feature one screw hole if you want to screw it into place.

Model number is LX-ECO3S .72W draw at 12V

One of the reviews mentioned they work down to 8V, I didn't check that but for use in my marker lights I did have to add a resistor to dim them so they were not brighter than the other markers.

Those look like a good deal, do you have any yet? I'd like to know the actual size of the modules.
The description says "Modules are linked on 2-conductor 18AWG zip cord, 161mm (6.5") center-to-center spacing. 3.75" wire between each module." I'd like to know what marker lenses I can fit those behind.
I'd like to convert all my truck, camper, and trailer markers to LED (I've only done the tail lights so far) and I don't mind modifying my own stock lenses. Actually l like doing it that way, my camper tail lights are custom LEDs behind the stock lenses.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

lpxguy wrote:

jim behr wrote:
I have a 2012 3500 silverado and pull a 14000 lb 5th wheel. I want to switch out the standard tail lights to LED. I'm sure you all have done this, any advise?

are you looking to replace the TV or 5er tail lights?

here are the ones I did my 5er with, stock flasher no problems.

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.

Changed out to these Bargman LED's on our Avion Platinum a few years ago. Amazing how people notice you want to move over with proper lighting. Well worth the bucks.

Those are the same Bargmans I have..

Do yourself a favor and buy an extra pair.. You WILL be replacing them in the near future and it will be better to have a replacemnt on hand so if it fails while on the road you can replace it..

By the way, my marker lights almost foiled my plans of getting my trailer inspected this morning.. The center marker on the rear FAILED to light this morning :M

I was somewhat prepared since several of these lights were only half lighting..

I bought a bunch of THESE modules, added a 200 ohm resistor to cut down the brightness (they ARE extremely bright). Cutting down the brightness also reduces the current drawn and WILL add considerable more LIFE to the LEDS.

Bought amber ones also and I WILL be preparing MORE of these replacements...

Now to "can open" those junky Bargmans and rework them to be reliable :S

lpxguy wrote:

jim behr wrote:
I have a 2012 3500 silverado and pull a 14000 lb 5th wheel. I want to switch out the standard tail lights to LED. I'm sure you all have done this, any advise?

are you looking to replace the TV or 5er tail lights?

here are the ones I did my 5er with, stock flasher no problems.

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.

Changed out to these Bargman LED's on our Avion Platinum a few years ago. Amazing how people notice you want to move over with proper lighting. Well worth the bucks.

burningman wrote:

The cost is nowhere near what many of us have spent other places in the interest of looking cool!

:C yeah, really......

I put LEDs in my camper and my flatbed trailer for two reasons. First, all those extra lights were a strain on my truck's wiring and I've had issues because of it. Second, my camper and trailer sit outside unused a lot. Every time I use one (or both) I'm always messing with rusty sockets trying to get them all to work. Since going LED, every time I plug in either rig, everything just works.

I've used LEDs in trucks a lot and yeah I know, theoretically they should last half of forever but in real life they don't, but the super-low current draw alone is enough to sell me on them. Plus… they DO look cool.
The cost is nowhere near what many of us have spent other places in the interest of looking cool!

If you have Command Electronics taillights originally, Command sells a DOT-approved plug in replacement kit. Extremely well-built with its own custom PCB and lens. You use the same backplate, so no new holes or sealant on the camper. Looks clean, and it's DOT-approved.

Amperage on braking lights dropped from 10.5A to 1.1A. Running lights dropped from 4.2A to 0.35A. Since it's less return potential on the ground pin, in theory it should increase trailer braking power by a very small amount.

Gdetrailer wrote:
...You factory incadescent vehicle tail lights are plenty bright and the bulbs have a long life (I have a 11 yr old vehicle with 200,000 miles on it with ALL the ORIGINAL incadescent bulbs).

Well, in MY experience, I had a rear lamp fail... in about 6 years, with very little mileage.

The LED replacement I used is SIGNIFICANTLY brighter, and uses less power, and makes my TOAD lights a little brighter as well (I suspect due to less voltage drop in the circuit).

LEDS are like new cool electronic toys. I don't take very good care of my electronic toys. I just use them. If they get subject to something that makes them fail, it just gives me a reason for an UPGRADE!!!

So, even if one of my new gizzmo LEDs fail in the reasonably new future, it won't bother me one bit to replace BOTH with the newest generation of LED lighting.