LED tail light bulbs?

[RMecum]

Anybody using LED tail light bulbs on their truck or trailer? I was going to retrofit some round LED tail lights on my Airstream but I found a web site that has LED tail light bulbs... just wondering if they're as good as LED tail lights?

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

If you do a search you will find that the general concensus is that they will not work. Our trucks rely on the reflector to fill the lamp with light. an LED bulb will make a hot spot (Or bright spot if you will). Yes there are LED's that throw light in allmost all directions like a bulb but still don't get the job done.



Now the trailer. I did My sled trailer with replacement LED's and it has been great!

 

[Cigar John]

I've used them in my Harley and on my Freightliner.

Some have worked well ,but as Tim says ,an LED sends light straight out,

an incandescent sends it in all directions. I've had the best luck with housings that don't rely on a reflector to much.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

I mean don't get me wrong. There are LED's that try to send light in all directions but are still direct light.

#ad


This one sends light forward and outward ... but not rearward.





http://www.ledtronics.com/datasheets/auto_index/auto_index.htm

 

[KBalzuweit]

Here is my idea. I am going to order 2 new tail lights. Cut them open and mount some large led tail lights from a semi inside. Put the assemby back together.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I mean don't get me wrong. There are LED's that try to send light in all directions but are still direct light.

#ad


This one sends light forward and outward ... but not rearward.





http://www.ledtronics.com/datasheets/auto_index/auto_index.htm

Tim, I think that your illustration shows that the LED's are still only directing their light OUTWARD, it's just that there is an added ring where the LED's are AIMED sideways...

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Gary That's what I meant sorry.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Check out this project I posted a while back on the subject



http://www.orangeplug.com/truckweb/LEDProj.html

 

[RMecum]

Nice project Tim! I'm going to convert the tail lights on my Airstream to the round LED style that most of the semi truck trailers have on them. There are a bunch on ebay... I think I'm going for one with the most LEDs' I can find! Thanks for the info.



Mike

 

[LightmanE300]

There's a company that makes fully plug and play LED rear lights for our trucks, in a variety of styles. . (chrome trim, carbon fiber, etc). Someone posted about getting them a while back... might want to search for that thread. I was curious to hear how they worked out - they look really cool unlit - there weren't any pictures of them lit up.