Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
#21
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
$50 for bulbs? Outrageous. Not to mention getting to the back of the dash? No thanks.
#22
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
I wouldnt even spend $50. Get $5 LED bulbs and two resistor kits for $5 each and be done. The resistor kits splices the wires for you. All you do is plug in the LED bulb into the socket, splce the wire with the clip that comes with the resistor kit and done.
$50 for bulbs? Outrageous. Not to mention getting to the back of the dash? No thanks.
$50 for bulbs? Outrageous. Not to mention getting to the back of the dash? No thanks.
Concerning the load resistors, yes, you can use that method. However, if you want to reduce power draw (the point of LEDs), it is my understanding that you cannot achieve this with a load resistor as it will "consume" the power. In addition, using a load resistor will permanently "damage" your stock wiring.
Gaining access to the flasher is not overly complicated. If you replace the flasher you do not do any harm to your existing wiring and in the event something goes wrong, you could return the vehicle to it's original state without evidence of anything to the contrary.
If you have the time, the forum would benefit from a DIY of your experience with using load resistors.
Mike
From Autolumination:
Eagle Eye Tower
11 High Powered Wide Angle SMT LEDS
These Bulbs have Advanced Surface Mount Technology LEDS. The most powerful 7443 led bulbs made
10x high powered SMT side facing LEDS - 1x 3 watt luxeon super high powered forward facing LEDS
Only 20mm diameter x 52mm overall - fits all stock housings
Last edited by mikieboyblue; 11-05-2008 at 07:52 AM.
#23
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
I havent done the load resistors yet. I just had a car meet on Saturday and someone did the load resistor. Didnt seem like there was any problems. I however dont like splicing factory wires.
If you do it from the dash cluster, I am interested in viewing a DIY. I prefer not voiding warranty or damaging factory wires.
Keep us/me updated on the lights.
If you do it from the dash cluster, I am interested in viewing a DIY. I prefer not voiding warranty or damaging factory wires.
Keep us/me updated on the lights.
#24
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
The brightest LED turn signal bulbs I have found thus far are $24.99 (see below). There are similar LED bulbs on eBay, however, I have personally had a bad experience with "no name" LED bulbs. I tried SuperBrightLEDs' 15 LED 7440/43 bulb and they were not bright enough for daylight driving (in my opinion). If you know of a supplier whom sell LED bulbs that are just as bright or brighter than the stock incandescent 21w bulb, please provide a reference.
Concerning the load resistors, yes, you can use that method. However, if you want to reduce power draw (the point of LEDs), it is my understanding that you cannot achieve this with a load resistor as it will "consume" the power. In addition, using a load resistor will permanently "damage" your stock wiring.
Gaining access to the flasher is not overly complicated. If you replace the flasher you do not do any harm to your existing wiring and in the event something goes wrong, you could return the vehicle to it's original state without evidence of anything to the contrary.
If you have the time, the forum would benefit from a DIY of your experience with using load resistors.
Mike
Concerning the load resistors, yes, you can use that method. However, if you want to reduce power draw (the point of LEDs), it is my understanding that you cannot achieve this with a load resistor as it will "consume" the power. In addition, using a load resistor will permanently "damage" your stock wiring.
Gaining access to the flasher is not overly complicated. If you replace the flasher you do not do any harm to your existing wiring and in the event something goes wrong, you could return the vehicle to it's original state without evidence of anything to the contrary.
If you have the time, the forum would benefit from a DIY of your experience with using load resistors.
Mike
Last edited by ruc2827; 05-28-2009 at 04:22 PM.
#25
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
The brightest LED turn signal bulbs I have found thus far are $24.99 (see below). There are similar LED bulbs on eBay, however, I have personally had a bad experience with "no name" LED bulbs. I tried SuperBrightLEDs' 15 LED 7440/43 bulb and they were not bright enough for daylight driving (in my opinion). If you know of a supplier whom sell LED bulbs that are just as bright or brighter than the stock incandescent 21w bulb, please provide a reference.
Concerning the load resistors, yes, you can use that method. However, if you want to reduce power draw (the point of LEDs)
No, LEDs have two advantageous aspects, INSTANT ON, and extreme reliability vs incandescent filaments.
, it is my understanding that you cannot achieve this with a load resistor as it will "consume" the power.
Agreed, but using resistors might be the easiest way to "fix" the flasher relay timing and/or bulb failure detection/indication.
In addition, using a load resistor will permanently "damage" your stock wiring.
Not bloody likely....Using the resistor(s) simply returns the electric current load factor, wattage, to something close, lower typically, than that of the incandescent bulb(s) you are replacing.
Gaining access to the flasher is not overly complicated. If you replace the flasher you do not do any harm to your existing wiring and in the event something goes wrong, you could return the vehicle to it's original state without evidence of anything to the contrary.
But great care must be excersized in replacing the flasher relay. First, you want to be sure and get a new SOLID STATE flasher. There are flasher relays on the aftermarket that will DAMAGE your wiring if you replace the fuse it blows repetitively.
Additionally many of the desireable solid state flasher relay now have a bulb failure detection circuit the will trigger a "FAST FLASH" (just like the old style) to alert you that a turn signal bulb has failed. If you don't have the expertise to open the solid state flasher and change the load sensing resistor to a value that is correct for the new, lower, LED bulb current load then the external resistor used to simulate the original incandescent buld current loading is the only option.
If you have the time, the forum would benefit from a DIY of your experience with using load resistors.
Complicated...
Many new vehicles come equipped with solid state flasher AND tail/stop light bulb failure detection. On my '01 RX300 I not only had to open up the solid state flasher relay and empirically determine (trial and error) the correct resistance for replacing the load sensing resistor, I had to do the same for three bulb failure detection circuits.
Not simple...
Unlike dual filament incandescent bulbs the tail light circuit/section of a LED bulb does not continue to draw current with the stop light circuit/section powered, illuminated. So I had to come up with a separate transistorized circuit to simulate the current draw of the LED bulb's tail light circuit/section when the bulb's stop light circuit/section was powered.
Mike
From Autolumination:
Concerning the load resistors, yes, you can use that method. However, if you want to reduce power draw (the point of LEDs)
No, LEDs have two advantageous aspects, INSTANT ON, and extreme reliability vs incandescent filaments.
, it is my understanding that you cannot achieve this with a load resistor as it will "consume" the power.
Agreed, but using resistors might be the easiest way to "fix" the flasher relay timing and/or bulb failure detection/indication.
In addition, using a load resistor will permanently "damage" your stock wiring.
Not bloody likely....Using the resistor(s) simply returns the electric current load factor, wattage, to something close, lower typically, than that of the incandescent bulb(s) you are replacing.
Gaining access to the flasher is not overly complicated. If you replace the flasher you do not do any harm to your existing wiring and in the event something goes wrong, you could return the vehicle to it's original state without evidence of anything to the contrary.
But great care must be excersized in replacing the flasher relay. First, you want to be sure and get a new SOLID STATE flasher. There are flasher relays on the aftermarket that will DAMAGE your wiring if you replace the fuse it blows repetitively.
Additionally many of the desireable solid state flasher relay now have a bulb failure detection circuit the will trigger a "FAST FLASH" (just like the old style) to alert you that a turn signal bulb has failed. If you don't have the expertise to open the solid state flasher and change the load sensing resistor to a value that is correct for the new, lower, LED bulb current load then the external resistor used to simulate the original incandescent buld current loading is the only option.
If you have the time, the forum would benefit from a DIY of your experience with using load resistors.
Complicated...
Many new vehicles come equipped with solid state flasher AND tail/stop light bulb failure detection. On my '01 RX300 I not only had to open up the solid state flasher relay and empirically determine (trial and error) the correct resistance for replacing the load sensing resistor, I had to do the same for three bulb failure detection circuits.
Not simple...
Unlike dual filament incandescent bulbs the tail light circuit/section of a LED bulb does not continue to draw current with the stop light circuit/section powered, illuminated. So I had to come up with a separate transistorized circuit to simulate the current draw of the LED bulb's tail light circuit/section when the bulb's stop light circuit/section was powered.
Mike
From Autolumination:
Eagle Eye Tower
11 High Powered Wide Angle SMT LEDS
These Bulbs have Advanced Surface Mount Technology LEDS. The most powerful (maybe so but the extraordinary extra cost doesn't justify...) 7443 led bulbs made
10x high powered SMT side facing LEDS - 1x 3 watt luxeon super high powered forward facing LEDS
Only 20mm diameter x 52mm overall - fits all stock housings
11 High Powered Wide Angle SMT LEDS
These Bulbs have Advanced Surface Mount Technology LEDS. The most powerful (maybe so but the extraordinary extra cost doesn't justify...) 7443 led bulbs made
10x high powered SMT side facing LEDS - 1x 3 watt luxeon super high powered forward facing LEDS
Only 20mm diameter x 52mm overall - fits all stock housings
#26
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
Last edited by ruc2827; 05-28-2009 at 04:28 PM.
#27
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
Are you using their 5W front and 3W rear turn signal LEDs, and do they require a resistor to avoid fast flashing? I assume not since they are higher power (yet still a combined 44W and 36W savings for front parking lights/signals and rear turn signals respectively). Also, can you confirm whether the original bulb you replaced had three wires or 4 wires on the wedge base (correesponding to two vs one ground which coresponds to SWAK vs regular base). Thanks.
#28
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
Great, those are 3W, which is the brightest ones I've found for the 922 size bulb, and the ones I'm considering for the rear turn signals. V-LED also has a 5W for the 3457 front parking light/turn signal, which is what I'm considering. So, I'm assuming no resistor is needed to prevent fast flashing since you didn't mention any. Thanks for confirming it is 4 pins.
#29
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
I didn't use LOAD resistors, I used low wattage resistors of empirically determined resistance values to modify the current flow level detection circuit internally to the solid state flasher relay, and separately in the Lexus bulb failure detection module.
In other words I "reprogammed" the flasher relay so it would go into fast flash mode if, instead of >0.400 amps of current flow, it got <0.300 amps of current flow.
In other words I "reprogammed" the flasher relay so it would go into fast flash mode if, instead of >0.400 amps of current flow, it got <0.300 amps of current flow.
#30
Re: Rear turn signal bulbs and LED replacements
Bringing this back. How easy is it to get the the turn signal flasher inside the dash?
Can I just remove the instrument panel or do I have to remove the dashboard? Which one does our Camry use?
Can I just remove the instrument panel or do I have to remove the dashboard? Which one does our Camry use?
Last edited by dcemureviews; 05-15-2009 at 09:24 AM.