Converting Regular Bulbs to LEDS

[GolfVenture]

I would like to convert Regular Bulbs to LEDs.

For starters

1)

Brake

Turn Signals

Can I use white LEDs or do I need to get colored LEDs?

2) I have a trailer in which I purchased a set of new LED lights.

(Brake, Turn Signals, Running).

Can I hook them up straight or are there considerations?

3)

Dash Lights

Are they all the same size?

Same ? regarding color. White or respective color.

Will some be too bright?

4) Did I miss any lights

5) Is there a better source regarding quality and price than the local auto store?

6) Are there any draw backs to this?

[dynodon]

The techonology is changing all the time, and the wide variety of style and more important, quality is mind boggling.

 

I bought some bulbs for my '86 VR for the brake light, and hated them. From EXACTLY DIRECTLY BEHIND, they were bright. But get off angle at all and they were very dim, and almost no light from about 45 degrees on to the side. I took them back. These were bought at a parts store and did not have any side facing led's as some typical bulb replacements do.

 

The better replacements are arrays of bulbs on a card that are good for only a few bikes.

 

I got an LED brake/run light setup for my wife's Shadow Ace Tour. a ring of clear bulbs that glow red and let the original yellow turn bulb show through. This was a nice safety addition to the back of the bike.

 

The problem with LED turn conversions is they need a resistor or capacitor (sorry, something like that) so that the flash rate doesn't go too fast. That is why you see a lot of cars with LED stop and run lights, but not so many with LED turns.

 

Whatever you buy, try to make sure you can return it. (many electronics items are not returnable). Make sure you can see the lights from the side, because even if from straight on they can be bright, if you are now invisible from the side, you are in more danger than before!

[XV1100SE]

1) Brake / Turn Signals

Can I use white LEDs or do I need to get colored LEDs?

=> depends on the lens covering them. On my Gen2 the lenses are clear and the LED's (brake/run/turn) glow red or orange. If you have coloured lenses then you don't need coloured LED's

 

2) I have a trailer in which I purchased a set of new LED lights.

(Brake, Turn Signals, Running).

Can I hook them up straight or are there considerations?

=> I ran mine thru an isolator and this did not affect the blink frequency or self cancelling (do a search here for Reese and you'll find my thread)

5) Is there a better source regarding quality and price than the local auto store?

=> CustomDynamics.com. I got the brake/run/turn and 100 LED brake light cluster from them. Easy to deal with, good follow up from them

 

6) Are there any draw backs to this?

=> I wouldn't call it a drawback but with LED turn signals on the bike you need a load balancer (one for front signals if you convert them, one for rear if you convert them)

 

Definitely much brighter than bulbs !

[BigBear]

I went with the Custom Dynamics LEDs.

 

Here are some before and after pics....judge for yourslef!

[BigBear]

Runnings ligths then brake lights

[Evan]

The techonology is changing all the time, and the wide variety of style and more important, quality is mind boggling.

I bought some bulbs for my '86 VR for the brake light, and hated them. From EXACTLY DIRECTLY BEHIND, they were bright. But get off angle at all and they were very dim, and almost no light from about 45 degrees on to the side. I took them back. These were bought at a parts store and did not have any side facing led's as some typical bulb replacements do. -----

I did the same with my trailer lights - bought 1257 led bulbs. They worked and were a bit more noticeably from straight back, but definitely worse from an angle and also, it was harder to tell the difference betwean tail and brake/signal, so I didn't sue them.

[Flyinfool]

I would like to convert Regular Bulbs to LEDs.

 

For starters

 

1)

Brake

Turn Signals

 

Can I use white LEDs or do I need to get colored LEDs?

 

You can use white but you are wasting most of the light, it is better to the LED color that matches the aplication

 

2) I have a trailer in which I purchased a set of new LED lights.

(Brake, Turn Signals, Running).

 

Can I hook them up straight or are there considerations?

Yes you can just hook them up in the trailer, the only possible issue would be if you have an older isolator that is not rated for LED trailer lights, The older isolators will have weird actions with LED.

 

3)

Dash Lights

Are they all the same size?

Yes

Same ? regarding color. White or respective color.

Again you can use white but are better off with the matching color.

 

Will some be too bright?

Too bright is a relative personal thing. I think the incandescents are to dim, I can not see them in sunlight.

 

4) Did I miss any lights?

That should do it.

 

5) Is there a better source regarding quality and price than the local auto store?

www.superbrightleds.com

 

6) Are there any draw backs to this?

Yes

 

You will need to jumper the CMU so that it does not give constant warnings about burned out tail and brake bulbs.

 

The turn signals will flash really fast if you just put in the LED bulbs.

There are 3 options

1. Live with the fast flash. Some people here like it fast.

2. Add in load resistors to get the flash rate back down.

3. Change to a electronic flasher, but this will lose the automatic turn signal canceling unless you also play some other electrical games.

[GolfVenture]

How do you do the following:

 

You will need to jumper the CMU so that it does not give constant warnings about burned out tail and brake bulbs.

(How does one Jump the CMU)

 

The turn signals will flash really fast if you just put in the LED bulbs.

There are 3 options

1. Live with the fast flash. Some people here like it fast.

2. Add in load resistors to get the flash rate back down.

(Can I do this From the parts I have left over from making the Rear reflector light up - Extra resistors and Diodes and circuit board).

3. Change to a electronic flasher, but this will lose the automatic turn signal canceling unless you also play some other electrical games.

[Flyinfool]

How do you do the following:

 

You will need to jumper the CMU so that it does not give constant warnings about burned out tail and brake bulbs.

(How does one Jump the CMU)

 

The turn signals will flash really fast if you just put in the LED bulbs.

There are 3 options

1. Live with the fast flash. Some people here like it fast.

2. Add in load resistors to get the flash rate back down.

(Can I do this From the parts I have left over from making the Rear reflector light up - Extra resistors and Diodes and circuit board).

3. Change to a electronic flasher, but this will lose the automatic turn signal canceling unless you also play some other electrical games.

 

There are several threads on here somewhere about how to do the jumpers. I won't have time to look for them till later, if you do not find them first.

 

No the extra resistors and diodes that you have left over are not what you need for the load resistors. That would be way to easy.

[GolfVenture]

Ok, what do I do to Add in load resistors to get the flash rate back down.

[TheKid]

Two Words to answer all questions really

 

"Custom Dynamics"

 

Call them they will have lights for the application in mind. Also will give directions/instructions on how to get it all put together.

 

Great people at that company.

[Snaggletooth]

I have replaced almost every bulb in my '84 with LED's from this source.

 

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2F1157.htm

 

All the marker and running lights I use are the wedge type bulb as well as the dash lights.

 

These are just plug and play with no modifications. I have not done the brake and turn signals yet as I'm adding a hitch and still playing with what to do with a trailer. Brake light will be done this winter but they will require a load resistor for each bulb.

 

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Ftail-brake-turn.html%23flasher

 

 

As far as what color bulbs to use, buy the same color as the lens. White or colors are filtered out using a different color lens.

 

Take at look around this site. It is extensive and will provide just about any bulb you need. Bulbs are available in different intensitys so you can go mild or bright depending on what you buy.

 

Each bulb section has a spec sheet for the bulb you are looking at with measurements to make sure it will fit within the space provided.

 

I've had mine for three years with no failures on 26 bulbs. Great support from the company also.

 

Mike

Edited October 28, 2011 by Snaggletooth

[Flyinfool]

Load resistors are fine for turn signals or even brake lights. But you do not want load resistors for the tail or running lights, It will defeat all of the power savings of the LEDs. So if you are going in to jumper the running lights you might as well jumper everything while you are there.

[Guest Slab_Ryder]

I find that my QUICK flashing turn signals, GRAB your eye... or so I'm told. The LED clusters are very bright!

[Snaggletooth]

Here are a couple pics of the changes I made to the markers using the WLED X5 LED's.

 

To compare, the two upper left lights are the new WLED X5's in RED. All the other lights are standard 194 bulbs.

 

They do have the high power bulbs that are a bit brighter but the fit looked to be a bit tight.

 

You can see the red is much more defined even compared to the 194 bulbs that almost look orange.