LED's for a 3500

[TDeSteuben]

anyone out there switch oout there factory clearance lights for leds? if so where did they get them and how did the install go? were they exactly compatible, or were several modifications made?????

 

[Midnite]

If they just use simple 194 bulbs, there's a company that makes LED replacements--all you do is pull out the old bulb and drop one of these in. They're a little spendy I think, but you'll never have to change them again.



I bought a few for my 1st gen, both for the cab clearance lights and also for my gauges. I started a thread about them quite awhile ago, so if you do a search you should be able to come up with it. The company name is LEDtronics, and they have a website at ledtronics.com (oddly enough )



Mike

 

[j-miller]

PIAA has been making LED's in the 194 bulb style... ... john

 

[HEYBOSS]

Try Here , Exact fit and look good. You must order from their web site. I've had mine for over two years and satisfied.

 

[TDeSteuben]

leds

what about the cab clearance lights boss man???? did you switch those out too,,, with what/or how??

 

[HEYBOSS]

No I didn't do the cab lights, never checked into it.

The side markers are like OE fit dough.



I believe the pn# were 1274A for Amber and 1274R for the Red.

 

[bmoeller]

Re: leds

Originally posted by TDeSteuben

what about the cab clearance lights boss man???? did you switch those out too,,, with what/or how??

Originally posted by j-miller

... ... . the 194 bulb style... ... john

 

[y-knot]

Thanks for the web addy, I have been looking for just that type of a site. The prices have come down quiet a bit since he last year. I just ordered enought to replace all my lights on the truck. Next I will do the trailer, I think they are so much more safe then the old style lights, and they look sharp doing it.

 

[C. Harlan]

Autolumination.com is where I got all mine from... awesome looking!!! very cheap too!!! check them out.



-Chris-

 

[y-knot]

Cool site, thanks for the info. Ordered enough to change over our three vehicles, great.

 

[j-miller]

Here is another website that I purchase my L. E. D. 's from... John www.superbrightleds.com

 

[y-knot]

LED's came in and one word... ... SWEET

 

[sdaves]

PICS

Can someone post pics... day and night of these.



Our fire apparatus have total LED's, and the clearance lights have five LED's per light.



All the add on LED bulbs I have ever seen just dont cut it.

 

[y-knot]

I don't know where you have been looking but you can get up to 19 LED's per light. These sucker are awesome, they are at least twice as bright as the old lamps, and I'm being generous. It's up to you and how much you want to spend, now days they have it out there, you just got to get it. On the side and rear dually marker lights, I replaced them with 10 LED units and they look fantastic. I had just replaced all the exterior lights on the truck last year because they were getting dual looking. The new ones I got then were better, but nothing like the LED's. Not only do you get better , brighter lighting. But you get a whole new look, more fresh and up to date looking. Dodge is just plain ignorant not to go to LED's on the new trucks, they would have a relatively inexpensive marketing tool. They could stress the safety, reduced maintenance (they will last around 20 years), and the fresh modern look. But then again why would they, they still sell the 1970's auto transmission and refuse to go to a 5-speed auto, and people still buy the stuff. Anyway they make LED's to replace every lamp on the trucks. The dash lights can be made a little different with a change in color, very easy, some might like it. And what is great about the LED's are they draw less the a tenth of what a conventional lamp draws. Perfect for guys like me who pull long trailers with alot of marker lights.

 

[sdaves]

The ones with 19 LED's must be the older LED's. The marker lights on out trucks are the TIR-6 or also known as linear LED's. Our latest trucks had everything LED except for scene lighting and back-up lights. The clear Whelen 97 series fixtures are over $500, but the price is coming down. Two years ago they were between $900 and $1000 per unit. With total LED lighting the light cost is nearly $10k, versus MAYBE $3-4k with strobes and halogens in the tails, turns, markers.



I believe THAT is why you don't see them too often in automotive applications... cost. It is true that the longer bulb life and less draw are the two main advantages. We were having alternator problems with strobe/ halogen warning lights. Even with a 320 amp alternator we were having problems. A Federal Q draws 100 AMPS and a TELMA electromagnetic retarder draws 200 AMPS. Now with total LED's, we are seeing less and less electrical problems.

 

[y-knot]

Your applications are very different then mine, and I can see where on vehicles like that the expense gets up there. For the average consumer like myself and most people of this site, the cost has gotten down to were it is affordable, and practical. You have your choice of how many LED's you want, obviously the more the brighter the lamp. Our trucks (Dodge), take really three main lamp types, 3157-1157-94 and the headlights are 9004's. So if you wanted to replace say a rear turn signal lamp(1157) with LED, you have a choice of between 9 and 19 LED's. And then the choice of replacing with white or red , clear or opaque. It's nice because there is something for everyone. It won't be long till they are standard equipment of all types of vehicles. Many trailer manufacturers are using them now, and if you would like to convert a trailer over, it is not that expensive. Actually I have found many times it is cheaper to order the trailer with normal lamps then replace them yourself, rather then pay the extra the dealer wants for the LED up-grade.

 

[waterdonkey]

Do these add on or retrofit LED have the quick on and off like the trucks and buses? With the 1157, are most of you going with white? What number of LEDs is working better for brightness, are the 9 cluster LEDs bright enough.



Have any of you found a bulb that fits the high mount brake light.

 

[MLee]

LED's

Y_KNOT;

what about the turn signal flasher, will the standard one work or did you have to go the to the electronic one? i understand that for the standard one there is not enough load to trigger it. or did you have to go the diode way?



Marv.

 

[OTRPU]

I have purchased LED replacement lighting for all the cab ID's and dually fender IDs and the 3 light DOT bar for the rear. Got them from Bristol Hardware, Bristol, IN. Also did the "cat eyes" on the sides of the sleeper. Used the same LED on top of the sleeper as used on the greenhouse. Some reason the guy that designed the sleeper, knowing it would be fitted mostly on dually trucks, went with just 3 orange ID lights atop the sleeper. Soon as I land again for awhile back in Denver I'm having Reliance Truck & Auto add two more cab IDs to the middle of the sleeper to match the truck. They will have to remove the inside panels from the sleeper to install these so been putting it off till I decide to take a week off or so. Want to do running board LED IDs also, but until I get a hauler body I don't know for sure how much running board I'll have. My main reason for replacing the IDs with LEDs was because those stupid little bitty bent over wire contact bulbs constantly shake loose and go out. DOT just loves to give guys like me tickets for DOT lighting not working. Only problem I've had since switching was on such a rough road one of the rear DOT 3 bar lights actually fell off the truck and on the road somewhere. Those plastic clips broke off, they've been screwed on now. I frequently leave all IDs on while sleeping along the side of the highway so somebody doesn't nail me while I sleep.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[y-knot]

I had a chance to do all the lights today and it went pretty smooth. You will need two load equalizers for the turning signals. They sell them at auto illuminations web addy given earlier. There is no room in the front, so put them in the rears, they just go between the ground(-) and the turning signal hot(+) wire. The stock flasher works just fine. Make sure you buy the alm load equalizers, better heat dissipation. It you want to run the 19-LED lights in the rear(stop,turn,ruining lights) the opening were the lamp attaches needs to be opened up just a bit. You would need a half round file, and just afew strokes, really only a 30 second job, it is just a tinge to small. I would go with the 19-LES's they put out much more light, I liked the red, instead of the white. The rest is simple pull the old one out and stick the new one in. Kind of a fun little job.