COMMENT My Purchase Of LED Tail/Brake 3156 Lights

[MEXICOWANDERER]

First of all, my toad has tail light housings that must be treated as being unique to the marque. A Dodge Ram or Chevrolet Silverado would be the color of a different horse as far as uniform light dispersion and angle coverage.

I sought one thing and one thing only - a brighter 0 angle emission. Straight to the rear.

Here is the link to the eBay site I purchased from...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4PCS-White-3157-3156-3057-3056-4157-15SMD-5730-LED-Bulbs-for-Brake-Tail-Ligh...

Both tail lights were equally bright with conventional 3156 incandescent bulbs. Tail and stop/turn illumination equal.

One lamp was changed to LED. Since I trust NOT my eyesight, I gathered FIVE mechanics plus Alicia, to express their opinion regarding a comparison. First tail lighting was illuminated. Then the flashers were enabled for a minute.

All stared and all witnessed the test.

Bottom line: The difference between left and right lighting is indistinguishable as far as intensity or color. Both for tail lights and for flashers. Unanimous consensus. Without side comments.

They certainly look the same to me.

But....my focus is on reliability with the bulbs. Fewer failures.

I have RUDE plans to augment the 3rd brake light intensity to avoid rear ender's from idiots with cell phones growing out of their ears.

Plus 18mm LED amber and red side marker flashers announcing turn signal action.

As far as the LED tail lights are concerned, read the eBay ad and come to your own conclusions...

[landyacht318]

I bought RED leds to replace the incandescent 1157's in my brake/signal lights. I also added the third brake light, had to run a new wire upto the brake light switch for the 3rd brake light as tapping nearby wiring would have the 3rd light come on with the turn signal


Side by side comnparison with a 3196 bulb, which is 150 more lumens than an 1157, IIRC, the LED was slightly brighter, and a deeper red color, making the incandescent appear almost orange in comparison. I got a few opinions asking them to look at the brakes and flashers from all angles and the opinions were the same or they could tell no difference until the hazard flashers were on and the LED fired full on full off instantly where the incandescent was a slower rise and fall.

Older vehicles with dimpled lenses work better with LED bulbs than newer veicles whose reflectors are dimpled, each dimple reflecting an image of the incandescent filament.

One major thing to worry about with LED drop in bulbs in signal fixtures is the 'dual filament' bulbs. Many do not have enough brightness difference between running lights, and brake/ signal lights. SO one cannot see that the car in front is indeed braking, or thinks the person ahead is driving around with a foot on the brakes

Many also cannot be seen well at angles other than from right behind. While LEDs behind red lenses make for pink brake lights.

The make digital flashers. I did not need load resistors.

I tried some Amber LEDs in my front amber turn signals but they proved obnoxiously irritating, and I went back to 3196 incandescent bulbs up there.

LEDs tend to get dimmer when hot, So I held the brake down for 5 minutes at 14.7v, and the LED did get much closer to the Incandescent 3196 in intensity and was only marginally brighter once it was hot.

Mine draw 0.56 amps on high and 0.12 amps on low, IIRC.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/03/piston-slap-traversing-world-led-retrofit-bulbs/

[happycamper002]

I have converted all my RV tail lights to Bargman LED (sold by CW) but I got them from Amazon. I replaced them not by choice but I was forced to. I busted them when I hit the concrete pylon holding my wrought iron gate. Knocked the gate down by a 17000 lb rolling buggy. (shame on me)

Nowhere in your post mentions load resistors that are needed for these LEDs, although, if you look at the bottom, it specifically says to use load resistors.

These prevent hyper flash because LEDs do not draw enough current for the generic bi-metal flasher to work properly. It does make the LED flash but super fast that your observers didn't even notice.

I have three sectional rear lights for one side. One red for brake, one back up clear white and another red. Depending on how your rig is wired, the two reds come on when braking but also flash to announce your intention. These are controlled at the cab. Lever position for direction and reverse gear.

I did some research before I started this because as you know, CAL DMV is very strict in terms of what DOT requires. I don't want to get pulled over because my lights do not conform to DOT.

If nailed, you will get a ticket ordering you to have it corrected--failure to do so is like driving violation'. . . you see the judge, pay the fine blah,blah,blah.
After having it corrected you have to drive the rig to the DMV for inspection to make sure you've actually done it. That's after paying the girl at the window.

The white back up light doesn't come with LED-- just the generic filament type.

Bargman engineers probably did this per DOT. I don't want to raise hackles on this so, I just let it be. Could it be the critical light for safety?

You will need load resistors for each light, 50 Watts, 6 ohms. You will find them on eBay. A 50 watt resistor does get hot, so, mount it on a non combustible material. I mounted mine with a heatsink with stand off away from any combustible surface.

Let me reiterate this heat build up. Don't call Jacoby and Myers if the heat gets out of control because I didn't say so.

I don't know about strobing lights. Probably the best way to attract those guys in blue?

All the best.

[ktmrfs]

Chris Bryant wrote:
Strobing stop lights get attention without being too rude 🙂

I installed a similar unit on several of my cars. it does get attention.

[ktmrfs]

KJINTF wrote:
LED sounds like new untested technology
They might blow up or something worse
Why not stay with the tried and true incandescent technology?

LED lights have been OEM for car tail lights, turn signals, 3rd brake light etc. etc. for at least a decade, maybe even longer on many cars.

Personally, on one car with LED lights, after around years none have failed. can't say that about incandesents.

[fj12ryder]

I used Cree LED lights to replace the standard bulbs on my motorcycle tail light. I put one bulb in to check the brightness contrast to the incandescent bulb. Much brighter so I now have the LED in there and very happy with them. Good luck.

[KJINTF]

LED sounds like new untested technology
They might blow up or something worse
Why not stay with the tried and true incandescent technology?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

960,000mcd red 10 mm LED's 900 ms duration - single shot. Alongside the 3rd brake light. What else can I do? I do not want to annoy following drivers in stop & go traffic.

But once again LEDs have limitations. Light emitted versus heat dispersion.

I have bench tested the 18mm amber and red side flashing LEDs and they really do work to alert traffic I intend to enter onto a highway. They also are legal. I am glad the toad is old enough to accept such a disfigurement with grace.

[Chris_Bryant]

Strobing stop lights get attention without being too rude 🙂

[Lwiddis]

"I have RUDE plans to augment the 3rd brake light intensity to avoid rear ender's from idiots with cell phones'

You could use WWII searchlights for all brake lights and it wouldn't help.