LED lights?

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,618
3,446
113
SW Pa
OK guys I have a question yesterday I started playing with the wiring on a trailer a friend bought, I should say an old abused trailer, The wiring is somewhat less than, well workable, so its a whole new harness not a big real, but the question came up about mix and matching lights, between LEDs and incandescent light like for turn signals and brake lights. A couple of the fixtures are new but the marker lights are junk. So he doesn't want to spend more than he has to in order to get it road ready. I think I read someplace or some one told me you have to have a balancing resistor between the two so the flashers would work, or something like that. So guys chime in here so I can figure out if he has to go all LEDS or mix and match
 

ShaunRH

New member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200
May 14, 2014
1,414
6
0
Atascadero, CA
No, LED lights are brainless and last forever. They are more expensive in the short run than incandescent but in the long run they will outlast incandescent.

Just buy a kit.
 

ipz2222

Active member

Equipment
L235, bx2670
May 30, 2009
1,927
32
38
chickamauga ga usa
I don't know about the trailers but,,, If you put led tailights on mid to late '90's ford trucks, the transmission will not work right and eventually fail.. Preston,,, President of Fleet Transmission Inc.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,545
6,598
113
Sandpoint, ID
As far as the right and left turn signals, if both are done in LED's fixtures it should be fine. if you just install LED bulbs into a existing lamped fixture then you could have an issue with the flasher wanting to work right, but most LED lamps compensate for that.
As far as running lights not an issue.
 

rob82

New member

Equipment
2012 BX25
Jan 18, 2013
55
0
0
Monroe,NJ
I have looking to put LED lights in my barn but are so expensive. I did put LED's on my trailer and they are nice. Very bright
 

dmanlyr

New member

Equipment
L3200, Hustler Super Z
May 30, 2012
330
1
0
Graham, WA
I don't know about the trailers but,,, If you put led tailights on mid to late '90's ford trucks, the transmission will not work right and eventually fail.. Preston,,, President of Fleet Transmission Inc.
All Aerostars are this way, you have to have functioning brake lamps to get the auto transmission to shift properly. Perhaps this is a good way to actually get people to replaced there burned out brake lamps!

Something needs to be done to get most people to perform a light check!

David
 

Tooljunkie

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L1501,home built carry all, mini plow blade.
May 13, 2014
4,150
33
48
60
Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba,Canada
The older vehicle flashers are thermal. The led lights do not draw enough current to make them flash. Switching to an electronic flasher is a cheap fix.

Been in the auto repair/ parts business for 25 years- never heard of taillamps causing a trans failure. I have,however seen them cause abs problems. Now its possible the awd aerostars use abs sensors to control trans so it could be possible. Only one aerostar left around here- pretty much extinct.
Gem modules were really picky in those days,wasnt enough power in taillamp wiring to run trailer lamps.
 
Last edited:

Stubbyie

New member
Jul 1, 2010
879
7
0
Midcontinent
Just read in this months print issue of Professional Tools and Equipment News ((PTEN) (may also be available on their website)) that the required repair for a GM truck (sorry, don't remember the model) with a brake light failure was to replace the engine control module.

Personally, I'm waiting for the 'terrierist'-produced electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that will reduce to junk, oh, about 90% of the products we use daily. Like vehicles with computers. And our national electrical grid.

Read the book, "One Second After" and get your eyes opened. Heck, think about it, your electric razor to your coffee pot and ye gads your pocket phone, all dead. Along with our computer-driven Kubotas.
 

ShaunRH

New member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200
May 14, 2014
1,414
6
0
Atascadero, CA
As long as the engine itself is sound, they could be switched over to mechanically injected, mechanically driven fuel pumps and run just fine. They'd chew through more fuel and spit out more emissions, but they'd work.

My D-17 has NO running electronics on it right now and would laugh at EMP. The sudden loss of starting fluid would not have it laughing though... :D

If you want a real 'niche' market, start making mechanical 'mod' kits for the newer diesel engines and sell them to folks to put in their 'In case of entire Cultural/Industrial meltdown" kits.
 

droy

New member
Lifetime Member
Nov 24, 2013
2
0
0
Lebleu Settlement, LA
LMFAO @ ipz2222 :D
How about this one:
Because the LEDs use less juice, not working your alternator as hard, your vehicle will get better fuel mileage. Heck, having LEDs on truck and trailer ought to be a big MPG increase! :p
ROTFLMAO

I no longer even consider incandescent lights when replacing, IMHO, LEDs are that good. Recently purchased the J W Speaker LED headlights for my eighteen wheeler. If they would just install their selves.......
The only downsides to LEDs I can think of are:
(1) They will not generate enough heat to melt snow & ice off of them.
(2) Cost, although they have become cheaper, still more $ than the incandescent bulbs.
Just a thought, thanks to big brother, incandescent lighting for home and industry will be going by the wayside, does that also apply to vehicle incandescent lighting?