LED's for tail/brake/signal lites

[Fred Mc]

I have been trying to replace my tail/brake lites with LEDS.
In cars the brake and signal lites operate different than our buses where the brake/tail lites are combined.

What is the procedure to get them to function properly?

Thx

Fred

[TomC]

What do you mean to operate properly? The only thing I can think of is that your turn indicators are not working correctly. And on my bus, the King cruise control would not function since it couldn't detect the low resistance of the LED brake lights. The solution was adding a 100ohm resistor to create more current draw.

[akroyaleagle]

You don't indicate what kind of Coach you have.

On my Eagle, with separate turn and brake lights, it was easy.

I just bought the big white LED sealed lights from WMart and mounted them flush to the back of the red and yellow lense covers, front and back, with stainless screws through the lenses. The pigtails were connected and Voila!

I had to trim the OEM light mounts for them to fit. They are inside the wing doors and self sealed. I have plenty of the OEM light assemblies in the event I ever decide to go back. I bought the largest lights that would fit inside the lenses and several for "spares" if WMart decides to discontinue them.

[chessie4905]

I would think you just need dual filament LED bulbs. I know they aren't filaments, but you know what I mean.

[PP]

They make direct replacement LEDs today for the bulbs you currently have. I was looking for some for my bus when I found a Chinese site that offered 10 - 24V replacement bulbs for under a dollar with free shipping. I bought a box of each size I use on the bus because ultimately, I'm a cheap B  and they work fine.
Will

[windtrader]

@PP, Kindly post the link to the site for the cheap LED bulbs. This seems close except the price, LOL. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-RV-Auto-LED-Replacement-Bulb-1156-base-160-LUM-tower-Warm-Wht-12v-24v-5050168-/322151066544?epid=1711815948&hash=item4b01b32bb0:g:fg0AAMXQhuVRU20Z&vxp=mtr

[Fred Mc]

On cars and small trucks the brake/signal lights are on one circuit and the tail lights on a separate circuit.
On my bus (GMPD4106-12 volts) the signal lights are one one circuit and the brake/tail lights on another circuit.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 Fred,, it really does not mater when replacing the plug in bulbs with plug in led bulbs, you just have to check the polarity of the wiring if the led does not work.>>>Dan

[belfert]

Some flashers will not work with LED turn signals.  I had to replace my flashers with newer ones designed for LEDs.  The new ones have a ground that the old ones didn't so I had to connect a ground to them.  It apparently is common that LED flashers have a ground.

[Zephod]

my experience with led things has been miserable.

Led household bulbs where 2/3 are garbage
Led lanterns where the light output is pathetic
Led flashlights that barely last longer than the batteries
Led turn and brake lights that go out, one led at a time.

The lighting inside my bus is led lanterns so I can simply throw them out when needed. Not wasting my time putting wiring in for crap lighting. The important operational lights, I wouldn't touch led with a bargepole - even if I had rubber gloves on. Incandescent all the way.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[belfert]

My experience with LED versus incandescent on my bus is exactly the opposite of Zephod.  My incandescent brake/tail light bulbs were constantly not working and I was fiddling with them all the time.  I needed new sockets due to corrosion but the sockets were either $35 or $70 each.  I needed six sockets total and it made sense to just go LED.  I installed Bargman LED lights in the engine hatch door.  One of the brake/tail lights quit operating in brake mode, but Bargman replaced both LED lights since I bought them as a set.

I put two brake/tail lights  on each side I guess because I had two brake/tail light bulbs previously.  Two on each side is overkill as they are blindingly bright.  I am usually towing a trailer so drivers don't see the brake lights on the bus.

[muldoonman]

Building a new house and every light in it is gonna be LED. Just don't buy cheap chit!

[TomC]

I wasn't able to get my rear lights on my towed to work properly. Instead, I bought 2 sets of magnetic LED tail lights. I wired them up through a 5 pin plug-and of course they work properly (I can't tell you how many times I have to correct what a "professional" has done) and are very noticeable.
My LED rear 7" red lights are on the way out. Many of the LED's are out-some start working when they warm up. And my lights are Signalstat. Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

Building a new house and every light in it is gonna be LED. Just don't buy cheap chit!

I totally renovated my house in 2014 and every light fixture on the main floor has LED bulbs with no failures in nearly three years.  The basement still has a few CFL and incandescent bulbs that are being replaced with LED as I finish the rooms.  Those lights hardly ever get used so it didn't make sense to do LED in 2014.

[akroyaleagle]

I wasn't able to get my rear lights on my towed to work properly.

I gave up fiddling with towed lights and adapters a long time ago. Because of the way Eagle lights work, they are a pain for anything towed.

Every trailer gets another set of lights to accommodate the separate turn signals, brakes and running lights on the coach.

I made a simple light bar that fits into the receiver hitch for the truck. I can't tow the Chrysler 300 and wouldn't have a hitch on it anyway. It has it's own wiring harness that plugs into the light bar and the coach bypassing the toweds wiring.

Just my way!

Now if I could just get anyone with a public toilet to install a foot pedal to lift the seat!