LED tail lights

[Puk]

Hi,
I have just swapped ute trays on a Suzuki Sierra ute, and was wondering if you can use LED light clusters, such as are sold for trailers, on a car/ute, or whether you actually have to use the stock globes, etc?

the LED's are more expensive, but will be smaller and out of the way, easier to mount, brighter, last longer etc.

Puk

[chimpboy]

Personally I think the LED light clusters are pretty horrible and much less visible in the real world than conventional lights, but it's up to you!

In answer to your question, there's nothing in the wiring or anything that would stop you from using a set of lights made for a trailer on the back of your ute. You may need to replace your indicator flasher relay with a non-resistance-dependent one, depending on what's currently in there (otherwise your blinkers will flash really fast).

Other than that there are legal issues about placement relative to the road and the sides of the car, but I am pretty sure there's no rule against using LEDs.

[Toy80Diesel]

Just make sure they are ADR approved etc..

apart from that, yeah the indicator problem, change the flasher.

[Damo]

Just make sure they are ADR approved etc..

apart from that, yeah the indicator problem, change the flasher.

The only other thing I can suggest is make sure you don't mount them too close together. In Qld the minimum spacing is 600mm, and I would imagine other states would be very similar.

[Potter]

the main reason behind using LED's is that they use less voltage and are visable from further away 4 time that of a normal light i think. and they dont get hot so sucking in water when you cross a creek wouldn't be a problem..

my 2 c

[just cruizin']

In regard to indicators in relation to ADR's, there must be a warning to the drivers of a blown bulb. In normal cases when a bulb blows the rate of flash increases thus indicating the driver, if you replace the incandensant (spelling) bulb with a LED the flash rate will change and you won't know whether you've lost a bulb.

There is a device that can sensor a LED in the curcuit and generate a load to replicate a normal bulb but they cost about $200 from memory and I would have to check where you can get them. Pretty costly just so you can run expensive lights, but if you want to remain legal this is the only way.

[mickyd555]

In regard to indicators in relation to ADR's, there must be a warning to the drivers of a blown bulb. In normal cases when a bulb blows the rate of flash increases thus indicating the driver, if you replace the incandensant (spelling) bulb with a LED the flash rate will change and you won't know whether you've lost a bulb.

There is a device that can sensor a LED in the curcuit and generate a load to replicate a normal bulb but they cost about $200 from memory and I would have to check where you can get them. Pretty costly just so you can run expensive lights, but if you want to remain legal this is the only way.

how bout running the LED in series with an incandecsant lamp that is tucked away somewhere so it cant be seen.

[+dj_hansen+]

In regard to indicators in relation to ADR's, there must be a warning to the drivers of a blown bulb. In normal cases when a bulb blows the rate of flash increases thus indicating the driver, if you replace the incandensant (spelling) bulb with a LED the flash rate will change and you won't know whether you've lost a bulb.

There is a device that can sensor a LED in the curcuit and generate a load to replicate a normal bulb but they cost about $200 from memory and I would have to check where you can get them. Pretty costly just so you can run expensive lights, but if you want to remain legal this is the only way.

how bout running the LED in series with an incandecsant lamp that is tucked away somewhere so it cant be seen.

That kind of cancels out the purpose of using LED, to reduce current draw.. you can buy LED flahs cans, aswell as non-load dependant from repco/autobarn/bursons/supercheap etc...

[cookiesa]

LED's rarely blow and you will find there are usually a "cluster" OF Leds to make the output sufficient. You are extremely unlikely to "blow" the leds all at the same time. Trucks and buses use them and have for a couple of years. There ADR compliance and inspections are tougher than normal cars so it shouldn't be an issue. If in doubt give your local motor registration/transport office a call and ask them the question. Could be worth checking their website as it may already be a "frequently asked question". Popular with the rice burning fraternity

[Shadow]

In regard to indicators in relation to ADR's, there must be a warning to the drivers of a blown bulb. In normal cases when a bulb blows the rate of flash increases thus indicating the driver, if you replace the incandensant (spelling) bulb with a LED the flash rate will change and you won't know whether you've lost a bulb.

There is a device that can sensor a LED in the curcuit and generate a load to replicate a normal bulb but they cost about $200 from memory and I would have to check where you can get them. Pretty costly just so you can run expensive lights, but if you want to remain legal this is the only way.

how bout running the LED in series with an incandecsant lamp that is tucked away somewhere so it cant be seen.

This is exactly what alot of older trucks do. And i have heard it mentioned before that QLD transport has knocked back a truck for the reason mickyd mentioned. Not sure if it was on this forum though.

[toughnut]

I used LED lights on my old tray and mounted an incandesant indicator on the top of my roll bar. This gave me back the normal indicator flash rate and also gave me more visability to other drivers.