Making my own taillight conversion?

Bryan · February 13, 2022, 08:03:54 AM

Hey guys! We all know LED conversions on Prevosts whether on the front or back is expensive. I stumbled across this video on youtube... https://youtu.be/4lv7lWNPeHA It's very short but he seemed to pull off the job and it looks nice! Any other suggestions about making my own? Anyone else experienced with this? Dos? Don'ts?

windtrader · February 13, 2022, 02:21:31 PM

I've not done that specific DIY LED project but it should not be hard to do. Just need to get LED that will meet the spec in terms of lumens, angle, and how you wire up for electrical spec. There are many aftermarket retro LED but maybe not many and costly for an old bus. Might be fun, save money, and be easier to DIY than try to source an aftermarket that fits properly.

6805eagleguy · February 13, 2022, 02:22:17 PM

Superbrightleds.com for entire housings or just bulbs
I'm very wary of Amazon lights all I've had is bad luck

I've used thousands of dollars of lights from above website and have had nothing but super good product

buswarrior · February 13, 2022, 03:03:14 PM

That was a well executed upgrade.

Be sure the fine print somewhere says they are DOT/SAE compliant, should also be molded into the face somewhere.

I am a fan of a brake light that stays dark, except when activated, something off, that turns on, is more noticeable, than something that is on, and increases intensity.

It is the drunk or texter following, that the nuances of human factors, makes a difference, that you'll never know about, if it works...

X2 on unknown bulbs, do not choose on price, choose on company/source/reputation.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Bryan · February 13, 2022, 03:27:02 PM

Thank you everyone! Great info!

Tedsoldbus · February 14, 2022, 02:50:03 AM

I just noticed you are in Toccoa Ga. I'm on Lake Nottely (Blairsville). Where do you take your coach for service? My guy is N of Chattanooga. The canyon getting over there is getting scary with all the logging trucks and tight corners. And I have to beg to get in there now that the Country Music folks are going on tour again. Since I am "recreational" I get bumped when Travis Tritt needs his bus fixed NOW. (That happened last time). I would love to find a place that I can schedule and actually get to keep the appointment. Hope your place is further from Nashville than where I am going....

My lights are dim but we do little night driving. I should still get that fixed. My problem is I like the look of the bus now. The new lights I see on newer buses look like a mistake. Uuuugly. I have been wondering if an LED bulb can fit in the current light fixture and still do the job?
Except for fluids I'm afraid to touch engines, transmissions, and attempt to modify electricity on something this old. If I break it, can't just run down the NAPA and fix it. I lost a tail light and took the old one to NAPA and 2 other parts places. They all told me "that was replaced by this bulb". I finally bought two of them and put one in the socket. When I start up my brake lights come on because of course the parking brake is on. I noticed the new bulb looked brighter. A LOT brighter. Within minutes the cover plate was very warm to the touch. I quickly took the cover plate off and the bulb was getting discolored and very hot! I shut the bus down, took the bulb out, and spent 4 days on the web finding exactly the bulb I took out.
I ordered 10 and they said they only had 8 left and can't get more.
So it goes with these old but lovable machines....
But I'm not touching any more wiring harnesses. With my skill level ( and thanks to NAPA advice) I'll burn my bus to the ground over a stupid light bulb!

freds · February 14, 2022, 08:19:43 AM

My understanding is that if you go to an all LED setup that you need an electronic flasher for the turn signals as they draw less power and don't cause the old style flashers to cycle.

Bryan · February 14, 2022, 08:43:19 AM

Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 14, 2022, 02:50:03 AM
I just noticed you are in Toccoa Ga. I'm on Lake Nottely (Blairsville). Where do you take your coach for service? My guy is N of Chattanooga.

Hey Ted! Yes, Toccoa! I have a guy in SC that works on mine. I just sent you a private message with my number. Give me a call and I'll share info! Too much to type here 😁

windtrader · February 14, 2022, 09:14:42 AM

Quote from: freds on February 14, 2022, 08:19:43 AM
My understanding is that if you go to an all LED setup that you need an electronic flasher for the turn signals as they draw less power and don't cause the old style flashers to cycle.

Route existing signal wire through a simple cheap dc dc buck converter. go from either 24 or 12 to 5v, perfect to drive LED. Get one with enough current and you are good to go. At worst case, run a relay in front to take the existing signal wire to trigger the converter. Probably a hundred solutions for this use case.

freds · February 14, 2022, 10:51:16 AM

Quote from: windtrader on February 14, 2022, 09:14:42 AM
Route existing signal wire through a simple cheap dc dc buck converter. go from either 24 or 12 to 5v, perfect to drive LED. Get one with enough current and you are good to go. At worst case, run a relay in front to take the existing signal wire to trigger the converter. Probably a hundred solutions for this use case.

The old flashers use a switched bi-metal contact arm that would over heat due to the current draw and move to switch off the circuit, cool and then reconnect the circuit.

On some vehicles you could tell when you had a bulb that was out as it would stop flashing when the flasher was matched to the bulbs.

So hence LED's equal less current draw and no flashing as the bi-metal current contact arm doesn't heat up enough to cause movement.

If you left the bulbs in the circuit it might continue to work.