LED taillight replacement experiment

Headlights and Other Lights
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JohnBoyZA
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LED taillight replacement experiment

Post by JohnBoyZA »

So I bought a few LED replacement bulbs on the internet because a few of mine kept failing and I wanted more and better taillights. So let's just cut straight into the lessons: :redface:

1. Make sure you have checked the bulb socket types - I found 4 different types in my patrol :-(
2. Make sure you select the right bulbs wrt to the positions of the locking barbs - some are opposite and some are opposite, but one is slightly deeper set.
3. Are the bulbs single (2 wires) or double filaments (3 wires) e.g. the latter would be to show lights on and the second the brake light. The LED bulb would have either a single brightness or dual brightness.
4. Check your dummy lights - apparently wiring these is against the law. Anyway, mine are now done, sue me... I am far more visible.

So a 30 min job, got extended into a 4 hour job and eventually I have a bit of a hybrid because I ran out of similar LED bulbs and bulb holders. The lights are more, much brighter and will hopefully last longer. :mytwocents:

The attached pics are taken in daylight, nighttime they are very impressive. Added a few late avie pics.

Cheers
John
Attachments
all_on (Medium).jpeg
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hazards_on (Medium).jpeg
hazards_on (Medium).jpeg (109.1 KiB) Viewed 9110 times
brakes_on (Medium).jpeg
brakes_on (Medium).jpeg (117.37 KiB) Viewed 9110 times
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IMG_3346 (Medium).jpeg (175.47 KiB) Viewed 9138 times
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biggles
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Re: LED taillight replacement experiment

Post by biggles »

The dummy lights are an area of general confusion for the roadworthy people.

The guy came to me in a general panic while they were doing the roadworthy checks!! "There are not even bulbs in the lights" he said!! :rolling: Ihad to explain to him about the spare mounted to the back door and all patrols don't have lights in there.
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JohnBoyZA
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Re: LED taillight replacement experiment

Post by JohnBoyZA »

:think: very confusing :-)

With the original bumper you still have nice big rear lights, but with the smaller lights in the steel bumper I've always felt the need for an upgrade. That's my story and I'm sticking to it (note to wife) :lol:
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Re: LED taillight replacement experiment

Post by Pieter B »

I did the same on mine. You get the feeling that the people behind you are looking at the dummy lights and not the lights in the bumper. So now there are 2 set of lights and no excuses for an accident
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Re: LED taillight replacement experiment

Post by biggles »

I have the BZT rear bumper and the roadworthy guy informed me the brake lights were too close together according to regulation but would let it slide.
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Re: LED taillight replacement experiment

Post by Billy »

What bulbs did you use and where did you get them from? I've done the "dummy" light conversion, but would like them brighter.
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Re: LED taillight replacement experiment

Post by JohnBoyZA »

Hi Billy

I got mine from Amazon. Not sure if this link will work:
I see you filled in scant information with your registration so not sure where you are from. If you are in or near Cape Town, I still have a few bulbs left i.e. I bought a 10 pack. But all depends if you need single or double filaments and what brightness, also opposite barbs or offset.

Regards
John
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