LED Taillights ?
#41
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
I don't think you have to move anything, but you might have to take the
vapor canister out while cutting the hole for the tail lights. You will find
this out when you reach inside the fender to unscrew the mounting bolts for
the existing tail lights.
All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to the
existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever X
might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard bulb
will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very common
size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I flush-mounted my stock tail lights on my CJ, they look pretty good, and
they are protected from brush and branches much better than the way the
factory lights are normally mounted. Using this approach required me to make
larger holes, but I retained the stock behavior of the circuits, and I
didn't have to buy new lights.
"Intergate" <roadrnnr99@REMOVE.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:110kh8jd0v7fk02@corp.supernews.com...
> Getting ready to convert my taillights to LED on my 2004 TJ.
>
> Was wondering from anybody who has done it what you found to be the
> best lights. I am assuming that more LED's = brighter and better.
> Looking to get either some4"'s with 56 or 60 led's. I have been to
> some sights with tips on installing but would like to hear from any
> body here who has done it on 2004's or newer.
>
> I heard that on these years you may have to move the vapor canister on
> the passenger side that is tucked in the tub somewhere
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Tim
>
> [____]
> (OIIIIIIO)
>
>
>
>
vapor canister out while cutting the hole for the tail lights. You will find
this out when you reach inside the fender to unscrew the mounting bolts for
the existing tail lights.
All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to the
existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever X
might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard bulb
will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very common
size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I flush-mounted my stock tail lights on my CJ, they look pretty good, and
they are protected from brush and branches much better than the way the
factory lights are normally mounted. Using this approach required me to make
larger holes, but I retained the stock behavior of the circuits, and I
didn't have to buy new lights.
"Intergate" <roadrnnr99@REMOVE.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:110kh8jd0v7fk02@corp.supernews.com...
> Getting ready to convert my taillights to LED on my 2004 TJ.
>
> Was wondering from anybody who has done it what you found to be the
> best lights. I am assuming that more LED's = brighter and better.
> Looking to get either some4"'s with 56 or 60 led's. I have been to
> some sights with tips on installing but would like to hear from any
> body here who has done it on 2004's or newer.
>
> I heard that on these years you may have to move the vapor canister on
> the passenger side that is tucked in the tub somewhere
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Tim
>
> [____]
> (OIIIIIIO)
>
>
>
>
#42
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
I don't think you have to move anything, but you might have to take the
vapor canister out while cutting the hole for the tail lights. You will find
this out when you reach inside the fender to unscrew the mounting bolts for
the existing tail lights.
All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to the
existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever X
might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard bulb
will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very common
size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I flush-mounted my stock tail lights on my CJ, they look pretty good, and
they are protected from brush and branches much better than the way the
factory lights are normally mounted. Using this approach required me to make
larger holes, but I retained the stock behavior of the circuits, and I
didn't have to buy new lights.
"Intergate" <roadrnnr99@REMOVE.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:110kh8jd0v7fk02@corp.supernews.com...
> Getting ready to convert my taillights to LED on my 2004 TJ.
>
> Was wondering from anybody who has done it what you found to be the
> best lights. I am assuming that more LED's = brighter and better.
> Looking to get either some4"'s with 56 or 60 led's. I have been to
> some sights with tips on installing but would like to hear from any
> body here who has done it on 2004's or newer.
>
> I heard that on these years you may have to move the vapor canister on
> the passenger side that is tucked in the tub somewhere
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Tim
>
> [____]
> (OIIIIIIO)
>
>
>
>
vapor canister out while cutting the hole for the tail lights. You will find
this out when you reach inside the fender to unscrew the mounting bolts for
the existing tail lights.
All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to the
existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever X
might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard bulb
will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very common
size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I flush-mounted my stock tail lights on my CJ, they look pretty good, and
they are protected from brush and branches much better than the way the
factory lights are normally mounted. Using this approach required me to make
larger holes, but I retained the stock behavior of the circuits, and I
didn't have to buy new lights.
"Intergate" <roadrnnr99@REMOVE.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:110kh8jd0v7fk02@corp.supernews.com...
> Getting ready to convert my taillights to LED on my 2004 TJ.
>
> Was wondering from anybody who has done it what you found to be the
> best lights. I am assuming that more LED's = brighter and better.
> Looking to get either some4"'s with 56 or 60 led's. I have been to
> some sights with tips on installing but would like to hear from any
> body here who has done it on 2004's or newer.
>
> I heard that on these years you may have to move the vapor canister on
> the passenger side that is tucked in the tub somewhere
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Tim
>
> [____]
> (OIIIIIIO)
>
>
>
>
#43
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
I don't think you have to move anything, but you might have to take the
vapor canister out while cutting the hole for the tail lights. You will find
this out when you reach inside the fender to unscrew the mounting bolts for
the existing tail lights.
All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to the
existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever X
might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard bulb
will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very common
size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I flush-mounted my stock tail lights on my CJ, they look pretty good, and
they are protected from brush and branches much better than the way the
factory lights are normally mounted. Using this approach required me to make
larger holes, but I retained the stock behavior of the circuits, and I
didn't have to buy new lights.
"Intergate" <roadrnnr99@REMOVE.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:110kh8jd0v7fk02@corp.supernews.com...
> Getting ready to convert my taillights to LED on my 2004 TJ.
>
> Was wondering from anybody who has done it what you found to be the
> best lights. I am assuming that more LED's = brighter and better.
> Looking to get either some4"'s with 56 or 60 led's. I have been to
> some sights with tips on installing but would like to hear from any
> body here who has done it on 2004's or newer.
>
> I heard that on these years you may have to move the vapor canister on
> the passenger side that is tucked in the tub somewhere
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Tim
>
> [____]
> (OIIIIIIO)
>
>
>
>
vapor canister out while cutting the hole for the tail lights. You will find
this out when you reach inside the fender to unscrew the mounting bolts for
the existing tail lights.
All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to the
existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever X
might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard bulb
will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very common
size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I flush-mounted my stock tail lights on my CJ, they look pretty good, and
they are protected from brush and branches much better than the way the
factory lights are normally mounted. Using this approach required me to make
larger holes, but I retained the stock behavior of the circuits, and I
didn't have to buy new lights.
"Intergate" <roadrnnr99@REMOVE.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:110kh8jd0v7fk02@corp.supernews.com...
> Getting ready to convert my taillights to LED on my 2004 TJ.
>
> Was wondering from anybody who has done it what you found to be the
> best lights. I am assuming that more LED's = brighter and better.
> Looking to get either some4"'s with 56 or 60 led's. I have been to
> some sights with tips on installing but would like to hear from any
> body here who has done it on 2004's or newer.
>
> I heard that on these years you may have to move the vapor canister on
> the passenger side that is tucked in the tub somewhere
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Tim
>
> [____]
> (OIIIIIIO)
>
>
>
>
#44
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
Hey dawg,
What size hole saw did you use if you used one?
--
Tim
[____]
(OIIIIIIO)
"Dirty Ditch Dawg" <scopenutt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1108231404.910888.18260@l41g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>I ordered my lights from Mesa 4x4 2-weeks ago, then had a family
> emergency and left for Aberdeen, for a week, i had ordered the
> light-boltz also but my bank was off line, i emailed Mesa 4X4 but
> wasnt home for his response, when we finaly connected over the
> phone,
> He informed me he had already sent the boltz, and i got him my card
> numbers over the phone, this was 5 days later, NOW thats AWSOME
> customer service,
> home now and installing the lights tommorrow,
> there nice looking and well built,
> also ordered the side marker lights from them, didnt think of that
> till
> this thread, DU,,,
> i am in no way afiliated with them, i just think his customer
> service
> was tops,
>
> johnp
>
What size hole saw did you use if you used one?
--
Tim
[____]
(OIIIIIIO)
"Dirty Ditch Dawg" <scopenutt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1108231404.910888.18260@l41g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>I ordered my lights from Mesa 4x4 2-weeks ago, then had a family
> emergency and left for Aberdeen, for a week, i had ordered the
> light-boltz also but my bank was off line, i emailed Mesa 4X4 but
> wasnt home for his response, when we finaly connected over the
> phone,
> He informed me he had already sent the boltz, and i got him my card
> numbers over the phone, this was 5 days later, NOW thats AWSOME
> customer service,
> home now and installing the lights tommorrow,
> there nice looking and well built,
> also ordered the side marker lights from them, didnt think of that
> till
> this thread, DU,,,
> i am in no way afiliated with them, i just think his customer
> service
> was tops,
>
> johnp
>
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
Hey dawg,
What size hole saw did you use if you used one?
--
Tim
[____]
(OIIIIIIO)
"Dirty Ditch Dawg" <scopenutt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1108231404.910888.18260@l41g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>I ordered my lights from Mesa 4x4 2-weeks ago, then had a family
> emergency and left for Aberdeen, for a week, i had ordered the
> light-boltz also but my bank was off line, i emailed Mesa 4X4 but
> wasnt home for his response, when we finaly connected over the
> phone,
> He informed me he had already sent the boltz, and i got him my card
> numbers over the phone, this was 5 days later, NOW thats AWSOME
> customer service,
> home now and installing the lights tommorrow,
> there nice looking and well built,
> also ordered the side marker lights from them, didnt think of that
> till
> this thread, DU,,,
> i am in no way afiliated with them, i just think his customer
> service
> was tops,
>
> johnp
>
What size hole saw did you use if you used one?
--
Tim
[____]
(OIIIIIIO)
"Dirty Ditch Dawg" <scopenutt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1108231404.910888.18260@l41g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>I ordered my lights from Mesa 4x4 2-weeks ago, then had a family
> emergency and left for Aberdeen, for a week, i had ordered the
> light-boltz also but my bank was off line, i emailed Mesa 4X4 but
> wasnt home for his response, when we finaly connected over the
> phone,
> He informed me he had already sent the boltz, and i got him my card
> numbers over the phone, this was 5 days later, NOW thats AWSOME
> customer service,
> home now and installing the lights tommorrow,
> there nice looking and well built,
> also ordered the side marker lights from them, didnt think of that
> till
> this thread, DU,,,
> i am in no way afiliated with them, i just think his customer
> service
> was tops,
>
> johnp
>
#46
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
Hey dawg,
What size hole saw did you use if you used one?
--
Tim
[____]
(OIIIIIIO)
"Dirty Ditch Dawg" <scopenutt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1108231404.910888.18260@l41g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>I ordered my lights from Mesa 4x4 2-weeks ago, then had a family
> emergency and left for Aberdeen, for a week, i had ordered the
> light-boltz also but my bank was off line, i emailed Mesa 4X4 but
> wasnt home for his response, when we finaly connected over the
> phone,
> He informed me he had already sent the boltz, and i got him my card
> numbers over the phone, this was 5 days later, NOW thats AWSOME
> customer service,
> home now and installing the lights tommorrow,
> there nice looking and well built,
> also ordered the side marker lights from them, didnt think of that
> till
> this thread, DU,,,
> i am in no way afiliated with them, i just think his customer
> service
> was tops,
>
> johnp
>
What size hole saw did you use if you used one?
--
Tim
[____]
(OIIIIIIO)
"Dirty Ditch Dawg" <scopenutt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1108231404.910888.18260@l41g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>I ordered my lights from Mesa 4x4 2-weeks ago, then had a family
> emergency and left for Aberdeen, for a week, i had ordered the
> light-boltz also but my bank was off line, i emailed Mesa 4X4 but
> wasnt home for his response, when we finaly connected over the
> phone,
> He informed me he had already sent the boltz, and i got him my card
> numbers over the phone, this was 5 days later, NOW thats AWSOME
> customer service,
> home now and installing the lights tommorrow,
> there nice looking and well built,
> also ordered the side marker lights from them, didnt think of that
> till
> this thread, DU,,,
> i am in no way afiliated with them, i just think his customer
> service
> was tops,
>
> johnp
>
#47
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
im using a jigsaw, its on tommorows agenda, i ordered the side-marker
lights
and im waiting for them, i have a 2 3/8 holesaw for those,
,
trying to get the bugs outa my 1inch body lift i did today first,
i wasnt gonna pay 18 bucks for a 4.25 holesaw, and another 16, for the
bitt,
jigsaw blades and a small drill-stone was onlt 12bucks,
,
i copied some-ones idea i saw on a web-page, (cant remember who or id
give him credit,,sorry,) and have a tractor/bus light
mounted on my spare-tire so im wiring that up on the backup wires,
johnp
lights
and im waiting for them, i have a 2 3/8 holesaw for those,
,
trying to get the bugs outa my 1inch body lift i did today first,
i wasnt gonna pay 18 bucks for a 4.25 holesaw, and another 16, for the
bitt,
jigsaw blades and a small drill-stone was onlt 12bucks,
,
i copied some-ones idea i saw on a web-page, (cant remember who or id
give him credit,,sorry,) and have a tractor/bus light
mounted on my spare-tire so im wiring that up on the backup wires,
johnp
#48
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
im using a jigsaw, its on tommorows agenda, i ordered the side-marker
lights
and im waiting for them, i have a 2 3/8 holesaw for those,
,
trying to get the bugs outa my 1inch body lift i did today first,
i wasnt gonna pay 18 bucks for a 4.25 holesaw, and another 16, for the
bitt,
jigsaw blades and a small drill-stone was onlt 12bucks,
,
i copied some-ones idea i saw on a web-page, (cant remember who or id
give him credit,,sorry,) and have a tractor/bus light
mounted on my spare-tire so im wiring that up on the backup wires,
johnp
lights
and im waiting for them, i have a 2 3/8 holesaw for those,
,
trying to get the bugs outa my 1inch body lift i did today first,
i wasnt gonna pay 18 bucks for a 4.25 holesaw, and another 16, for the
bitt,
jigsaw blades and a small drill-stone was onlt 12bucks,
,
i copied some-ones idea i saw on a web-page, (cant remember who or id
give him credit,,sorry,) and have a tractor/bus light
mounted on my spare-tire so im wiring that up on the backup wires,
johnp
#49
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
im using a jigsaw, its on tommorows agenda, i ordered the side-marker
lights
and im waiting for them, i have a 2 3/8 holesaw for those,
,
trying to get the bugs outa my 1inch body lift i did today first,
i wasnt gonna pay 18 bucks for a 4.25 holesaw, and another 16, for the
bitt,
jigsaw blades and a small drill-stone was onlt 12bucks,
,
i copied some-ones idea i saw on a web-page, (cant remember who or id
give him credit,,sorry,) and have a tractor/bus light
mounted on my spare-tire so im wiring that up on the backup wires,
johnp
lights
and im waiting for them, i have a 2 3/8 holesaw for those,
,
trying to get the bugs outa my 1inch body lift i did today first,
i wasnt gonna pay 18 bucks for a 4.25 holesaw, and another 16, for the
bitt,
jigsaw blades and a small drill-stone was onlt 12bucks,
,
i copied some-ones idea i saw on a web-page, (cant remember who or id
give him credit,,sorry,) and have a tractor/bus light
mounted on my spare-tire so im wiring that up on the backup wires,
johnp
#50
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: LED Taillights ?
Hi Jeff,
I differ with your resistance assumption of brake and tail lamps. In the
standard 1157 bulb used in CJ's, the brake filament is about 6 ohms and the
tail is 22 ohms. A resistor would have to be rated at 27 watts for exact
brake/turn lamp simulation. That's a huge resistor that will get very hot.
That said, I don't know what resistance it would take to achieve a
satisfactory blink rate, it could very well be higher than 6 ohms, thus
reducing the wattage requirement.
I think modifying the blinker relay is the safer more efficient way to go
IMO.
--
JimG
80' CJ-7 258 CID, HEI
4.56 Gears, Lock-Right F&R
35" BFG MT on 15x10 Centerlines
D44 Rear, D30 Front. SOA
Dana 300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn X8000i w/ dual batteries
00' TJ Sport 4.0L, 5sp
4.56 Gears, TrueTrac rear
33" BFG AT on 15x8 Eagle Alloys
D35 Rear, D30 Front. 3" Suspension Lift
"Jeff Strickland" < wrote in message ...
> All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
> put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to
> the
> existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever
> X
> might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
> won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
> install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard
> bulb
> will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very
> common
> size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
> that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
> of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
> inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
>
I differ with your resistance assumption of brake and tail lamps. In the
standard 1157 bulb used in CJ's, the brake filament is about 6 ohms and the
tail is 22 ohms. A resistor would have to be rated at 27 watts for exact
brake/turn lamp simulation. That's a huge resistor that will get very hot.
That said, I don't know what resistance it would take to achieve a
satisfactory blink rate, it could very well be higher than 6 ohms, thus
reducing the wattage requirement.
I think modifying the blinker relay is the safer more efficient way to go
IMO.
--
JimG
80' CJ-7 258 CID, HEI
4.56 Gears, Lock-Right F&R
35" BFG MT on 15x10 Centerlines
D44 Rear, D30 Front. SOA
Dana 300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn X8000i w/ dual batteries
00' TJ Sport 4.0L, 5sp
4.56 Gears, TrueTrac rear
33" BFG AT on 15x8 Eagle Alloys
D35 Rear, D30 Front. 3" Suspension Lift
"Jeff Strickland" < wrote in message ...
> All you need to do is find the resistance of the standard light bulb, and
> put a resistor in the brake/turn light wire when you connect the LED to
> the
> existing wire harness. The stock light bulbs have X resistance - whatever
> X
> might be - but the LED has virtually no resistance, so the flasher circuit
> won't behave properly. All you need do is determine the value of X, and
> install a resistor that is that value, ± a few ohms. I think a standard
> bulb
> will have 390 ohms, so you can use a 470 ohm resistor. This is a very
> common
> size of resistor, and you can get them in quarter- or half-watt versions
> that can take the heat of holding the brake lights on for extended periods
> of time. I am not sure how heavy the resistor needs to be, but my
> inclination is that a quarter-watt should do the trick just fine.
>