Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) July 18, 2009, 10:01:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 103956Well done, Ted. Hearing tales of projects done smoothly with a good outcome is good for the soul.This may sound foolish, but I have heard a lot on here about the process of changing to LED's, but not too much about why. The most obvious reason (to me) - low current draw - doesn't matter when I am driving as I have tons of power available. A secondary reason would be dependability. Even if one LED fails, others would keep shining. Modern failure rates of a well-sealed unit are low enough that that does not seem to be too much of an issue, plus when I am traveling, my toad provides a second set of rear lights. As I check all my lights every day I am driving, that doesn't seem that big an issue. Possible downsides include that most LED's are rather directional, so lateral illumination may be lost, and replacements are not as readily available as incandescent.I would be very interested in hearing why people make the change to LED's.Thanks. Ken F, now at Baxter SP in Maine.
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #1 – July 18, 2009, 10:57:20 am Yahoo Message Number: 103959QuoteI would be very interested in hearing why people make the change to LED's. Ken,I think that most of us that have done this, did it for safety. Because of the brightness, color spectrum and fast turn on/off characteristics, LED taillights are MUCH more noticeable.Art
Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #2 – July 18, 2009, 08:52:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103995Hi, Ken,How is life up there in the Maine wilderness?As for the LED's: for me, it is a safety issue. The LED's are SO much brighter and have an instantaneous response when you hit the brake pedal. Also, after Larry W. Installed them on our FL last year, I immediately a big difference in how people react to the turn signals - it's like they can't see the OEM lights or the OEM's just don't command much respect. The LED's do - I find people will give me considerably more room.And they're just waaay cool !Safe travels,Ted H.'05 RB NE-12Well done, Ted. Hearing tales of projects done smoothly with a good outcome is good for the soul.This may sound foolish, but I have heard a lot on here about the process of changing to LED's, but not too much about why. I wouldbe very interested in hearing why people make the change to LED's.Thanks. Ken F, now at Baxter SP in Maine.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #3 – July 19, 2009, 04:24:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104006I would be very interested in hearing why people make the change to LED's. ================================ Ken - If you could find a RV that had made the switch to LED's, all you would have to do is compare yours with theirs and it would immediately become crystal clear why they made the change. The LED's are, conservatively, 80% brighter, more attention getting, and when you turn on your turn signals, the cars behind you pay attention.Anne JohnsonLovely La Verne, CA
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #4 – July 19, 2009, 05:25:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104007We were at a LD campout and Terry T. was installing a set on the rig next to mine. When he turned them on, I was amazed at the difference. I always thought the OEMs were not too bright, but this was huge! I had my wife take a look and for someone who is nonplused by automotive things, she immediately said that we should get them to be safer. The best way to judge, is to see them side by side.Chris Hunter
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #5 – July 19, 2009, 08:58:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104009Quote Well done, Ted. Hearing tales of projects done smoothly with a good outcome is good for the soul. How about inserting a link for us folks that don't want to deal with search engines, but just want the replacement bulbs. Thanks, Jim Pappas Tacoma, WA
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #6 – July 20, 2009, 07:30:12 am Yahoo Message Number: 104015Jim,The installation I accomplished is not the same as putting in replacement bulbs. This is a full replacement of the OEM light can, which involves splicing very short wire leads and putting in entirely new light fixtures. From what I've read, the replacement bulbs are not very satisfactory.If you're interested in the full LED replacement kit, contact Terry Tanner, a member of this group. Check out his Techsnoz Group, and look in the Files there for his various papers on the LED's.Ted H.'05 RB NE-12How about inserting a link for us folks that don't want to deal with search engines, but just want the replacement bulbs. Thanks, Jim Pappas[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #7 – July 20, 2009, 08:33:18 am Yahoo Message Number: 104016Thanks to all who responded. I am looking forward to seeing an installation. Ken F.
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #8 – July 20, 2009, 09:03:13 am Yahoo Message Number: 104019"The installation I accomplished is not the same as putting in replacement bulbs." I think I'll wait until someone comes up with an LED disc style bulb that will use the original incandescent base! Thanks anyway, Jim Pappas
Re: Why LED? (was Enlightenment !!) Reply #9 – July 20, 2009, 11:59:15 am Yahoo Message Number: 104027I won't say this won"t happen but it isn't likely. Not very practical and a separate replacement would have to be designed for every single lens style. Even the Amish in most areas have to converted their buggy's to LEDS..Garry
Re: Why LED? Reply #10 – July 20, 2009, 01:37:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104030"I won't say [an LED replacement bulb] wont happen but it isn't likely... a separate replacement would have to be designed for every single lens style." I'm not sure I see why, since there isn't a separate incandescent bulb for every single lens style--a handful of bulb types, mainly the ubiquitous #1157, cover thousands of different taillights. Before jumping to conclusions about what is and isn't possible with LEDs, I'd suggest visiting the "12V Car Bulbs" portion of the SuperBrightLEDs.com website:http://superbrightleds.com/1157.htm> While I haven't tried any of these, it's clear from the variety of shapes, configurations, power and output ratings, etc. that plenty can be done along the lines of drop-in replacement bulbs. Are they as good as Terry's whole-fixture replacements? I don't know, but I can guess that if they were, Terry wouldn't be installing as many of those fixtures as he does. ;-) Still, drop-in replacement LED taillight bulbs, festoon bulbs, instrument light bulbs, and running light bulbs are definitely on the market in a variety of types.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Why LED? Reply #11 – July 20, 2009, 02:27:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104033"I'm not sure I see why, since there isn't a separate incandescent bulb for every single lens style--a handful of bulb types, mainly the ubiquitous #1157, coverthousands of different taillights."Andy It has been my experience that it is very difficult to get a satisfactory light pattern out of a conventional tail light fixture using replacement LEDs bulbs. LEDs are highly directional where incandescent bulbs, used with a conventional reflector have a wider light pattern. Sure, you can get LED replacements but the bulb's mounting position and angle changes from car to car, even from side to side of the same car. The bulb base and the mounting angle of the LEDs should match the car's fixtures so that the light is aimed rearward, not up, down or sideways. Many time the LED bulb ends up aimed in the wrong direction. I have also been disappointed in the longevity of LEDs purchased from Superbright LEDs. Several of the bulbs purchased from them have totally burned out within months of purchase. Many of their LEDs are overdriven, set up to use more amperage than the manufacturer suggest, leading to brighter bulbs and a much shorter lifespan. I hope they have improved as LED prices have dropped and output power has increased. The LEDs lighting fixtures that Terry, others and myself use are standard over-the-counter truck 4" flanged LED taillights. There are wide price and quality variations so do beware.Larry
Re: Why LED? Reply #12 – July 20, 2009, 04:31:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104039--- Take a look at ledtronics.com (check their automotive replacement lamps). I used to order their LED rplacement lamps for all sorts of shipboard use. They have been around for awhile. They make a replacement for just about any bulb there is. They cost a lot more than an incandescent but are markedly brighter, use far less power, and last virtually forever. We installed hundreds of them and never had one burn out. I have used them on cars and my SOB with great satisfaction.
Re: Why LED? Reply #13 – July 20, 2009, 05:22:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104041QuoteWhy LED? Because I loved the 60'sslammy5150/Paul (no relation to "Wavy Gravy")[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Why LED? Reply #14 – July 21, 2009, 01:03:23 am Yahoo Message Number: 104056Well Andy what I meant was a replacement that acted like the leds that are being discussed. A replacement for a 1157 isn't going to give near the appearance of these replacements that have been made. They have several rather high power Leds in a proper array with proper spacing. To match this a repalcement would have to have the leds covering an area similar to the current lens. A replacement for the 1156/1157 style bulbs have been around for many years and do work. However their apperance doesn't come close to the dedicated Led tail and brake lights. As far as the superbright site I havbe been aware of it and used it for several years.. You just can't get a pattern that approaches those of the truck and trailer LEDS that is basically what we usually see used in these RV replacements. If you doubt this install one and then compare it to one that has been replaced with a unit that has been designed from the ground up as a LED tail light /brake light. I believe you will see that there is really no comparison. Now you should be able to get the long life and more eficient current draw.Garry
Re: Why LED? Reply #15 – July 21, 2009, 12:35:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 104058"what I meant was a replacement that acted like the [LED taillight fixtures] that are being discussed." Oh, no argument on that score, Garry. I was responding to Jim's post, in which he said "I think I'll wait until someone comes up with an LED disc style bulb that will use the original incandescent base," and your reply, in which you said that was unlikely. I'm sorry if it sounded as though I thought an LED #1157 replacement could be as bright as a whole new designed-for-LED fixture. That seems unlikely. That's why I wrote that "if they were, Terry wouldn't be installing as many... as he does." Like Larry, I tried LED bulbs from SuperBrightLEDs (about four years ago in my case), and I wasn't happy with what I got. In fact, I recommended against one specific type (the 36 x 36 array) in "Eureka." But four years is a long time in the LED industry; I know that the state of the art is improving very rapidly in this field. In the long run it's pretty clear that LEDs are the way to go, even for drop-in replacements. So here's my feeling. I could probably get a set of LED #1157 replacements now that would be as good as incandescent bulbs, or maybe even a little better. And if they were three or four bucks apiece, I probably would, at least as an interim measure. But today, the #1157 replacements aren't cheap... and as you and others have pointed out, the full-fixture replacements are much brighter... so if I'm going to spend the money, I'd rather go all the way and replace the whole taillight can. Sooner or later I'll get around to doing just that. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
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