LED Driving Lights and Directionals

[Roadie Rob]

I did a search on the forum and was surprised not to find anything new under "LED lights". They have been out there for some time now and I know others have commented on replacing some bulbs here and there.


As simple as going to eBay and looking up 194 and 3157 LED. The driving lights are 6 pure white LED's and the directionals are clear (no egg yoke look) with 45 amber LED's (9 front facing, 36 side facing LED's in 4 rows x 9 per row).


Total was $30 for all 4. They look even better in the dark.


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[marlboromike]

that is good info...looking into this

[xmicro_Redline]

What did you do about the fact that they are lower voltage?? Didn't they blink faster when installed?

Please try and give more detail, links etc.

Thanks!

[marlboromike]

good question paul

[SkyMan 08]

Originally Posted by xmicro_Redline

What did you do about the fact that they are lower voltage?? Didn't they blink faster when installed?

Please try and give more detail, links etc.

Thanks!

They are still the same voltage. the leds have a lower current usage (amperage) than a regular halogen bulb.the newer systems are electronic and do not rely on the current load like the old Mechanical bi-metallic flasher system.( like when i put some in my El Camino and had to change to an electronic flasher).. so it does not make a difference..

[Roadie Rob]

Originally Posted by SkyMan 08

They are still the same voltage. the leds have a lower current usage (amperage) than a regular halogen bulb.the newer systems are electronic and do not rely on the current load like the old Mechanical bi-metallic flasher system.( like when i put some in my El Camino and had to change to an electronic flasher).. so it does not make a difference..

Just like SkyMan 08 said. They flash fine and the extra length of the unit actually adds more reflection. It looks like the whole light "box" is bright amber in the dark, not just a little bulb.

Not sure if eBay is considered a "vendor" on the forum but this is my set (there are a ton of LED lights so you have you choice of auction / price / vendor thus this should not constitute "a plug" per se). The only thing I had to do onthe 45-LED was bend out the wires a bit. They were tucked in too far to make contact. Full LED headlights are expected to be on eBay in December. Red LED's for tail lights are also to be found on eBay.

Amber 45-LEd

Pure white 6-LED

Amber 6-LED side marker

[xmicro_Redline]

According to past posts you need a load balancer to stop it from hyper flashing. DOes the 2008 have different lighting systems??????


Sky Lights

LED Turn Headlight Turn Signals


Maybe the lights you bought for the directions have built in load balancers. Also some older model SKY's (mine is one of them ) have 3757 bulbs NOT 3157, just FYI

[forkee]

i know there is a tab that is in the way, can i just trim that with a file?

i would like to get that in white if it doesn't blink like its broken. and it has to fit...

[BlueSkyRL]

Actually LED technology is really starting to take off. In the last 6-8 months the lumens output has jumped from 3-4 lumens to 100 lumens on a single LED. In my line of work we use a lot of LEDS in many different configurations, numbers, and uses. Here is a link to one of the vendors that has a single element LED that will make you see spots in your eyes for several minutes afterward...its that bright

http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/315x-xLX3.htm

[SkyMan 08]

Originally Posted by xmicro_Redline

According to past posts you need a load balancer to stop it from hyper flashing. DOes the 2008 have different lighting systems??????


Sky Lights

LED Turn Headlight Turn Signals


Maybe the lights you bought for the directions have built in load balancers. Also some older model SKY's (mine is one of them ) have 3757 bulbs NOT 3157, just FYI

Mine had the 3757 bulbs, Had to go to the dealer to get a replacement when mine got busted by the truck tread that hit it... UGH it was 14 dollars...

By the way they have it wrong in their posts on the other thread, A low load like an LED in a normal signal circuit will cause the signal to stop flashing, a high load, like adding a standard trailer light bulb will cause it to flash faster.
The problem I had on My El Camino is the cheap bulbs I had bought only had 9 led's and did not have enough resistance to flash the flasher... I bought the electronic flasher and solved the problem.. Many cars today, I don't know if the Sky is one, uses an electronically controled flasher... the computer actually flashes the bulbs so load is not a factor.. Some of the more expensive LED bulbs have either got the compensating resistor, or has enough led bulbs not to make a difference.. The reason I thought The Sky had one was when my turn signal bulb got busted my signal lighs flashed normally...I didn't know it was out until I saw the reflection of the car in the back in another one when i had the signal on and didn't see it flashing.
I hope this helps.

[YellowSky]

you better get your Ebay account ready to keep buying more of those i got about 60days out of mine before they all went down the toilet.. there not quality i can tell ya that... i ditched that Idea

[BlueSkyRL]

Originally Posted by YellowSky

you better get your Ebay account ready to keep buying more of those i got about 60days out of mine before they all went down the toilet.. there not quality i can tell ya that... i ditched that Idea

There are some Junk LEDS out there...EBAY...and you need to know what your looking for. The cheap LEDS only have a load resistor inline with the LED and with varying voltages, the current level changes (ohms law). The LEDs are meant to run at a specific current. There are good ones out there that have active control circuits biult in so the current stays constant no matter what the voltage is. Look for the active circuit in the descriptions

[SSGTBARCLAY]

Does anyone have a good website for the good quality LED's out there.

[SkyMan 08]

Originally Posted by SSGTBARCLAY

Does anyone have a good website for the good quality LED's out there.

Well Maybe one of the supporting vendors carry them, I wouldn't want to step on any toes ... or get into truble..

I saw a motorcycle the other day that had a taillight that the brake light portion would flash 3 times then the outer ring would run around a circle a couple times then they all would flash again.. I thought they looked cool...

[SSGTBARCLAY]

That would be cool specially if that same supporting vendor also carried the HID head lights that way you could order them all from the same site and be running with some blinding lights at night.

[Roadie Rob]

Here's a funny follow-up...

After install, they worked just fine for a day - no hyper flashing.

Next morning, they were flashing faster. Not "hyper" but noticeably faster than stock. I may go the route of adding resistors for only $10 more just to see.

EXCEPT....(and here's the interesting kicker).....when the hazards were on. The hazards are still flashing at the normal speed? Anyone want to take a shot at explaining that one?

So it was worth my $15 to give the directionals a try, post some results, and generate good discussion. The 6-LED white and 6-LED ambers are still a nice touch.

CAVEAT EMPTOR y'all...

[marlboromike]

I believe what is needed is a good brand name that encompasses the best of all scenerios...

[xmicro_Redline]

Originally Posted by Roadie Rob

Here's a funny follow-up...

After install, they worked just fine for a day - no hyper flashing.

Next morning, they were flashing faster. Not "hyper" but noticeably faster than stock. I may go the route of adding resistors for only $10 more just to see.

EXCEPT....(and here's the interesting kicker).....when the hazards were on. The hazards are still flashing at the normal speed? Anyone want to take a shot at explaining that one?

So it was worth my $15 to give the directionals a try, post some results, and generate good discussion. The 6-LED white and 6-LED ambers are still a nice touch.

CAVEAT EMPTOR y'all...

See that I do know a little something......but only what I read and experience.

Good Luck. Keep us posted!!

[shabby]

You'll need a load resistor for each bulb, they're around $10 a pair on ebay.

[Roadie Rob]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

I believe what is needed is a good brand name that encompasses the best of all scenerios...

AMEN!


I'll try a pair of load resistors after the WIS Dells run this weekend.


Last night was the first night driving with the LED's. The 194's are too small to notice any difference (more for overall appearance). However, the 3157's are much brighter and their flash is very noticeable (even at "hyper speed" flash ).


I'll take a few pics outside tonight with the camera set at low aperature, long exposure to see if I can capture the color and intensity when in "parking" mode (or whatever the halfway point is on the directional)...

[BlueSkyRL]

Originally Posted by shabby

You'll need a load resistor for each bulb, they're around $10 a pair on ebay.

By using a load resistor..you would be eliminating one of the points toward going to LED's....low current draw