LED lighting....what color bulbs?

Prime Lord · Mar 19, 2007

I think its tech, so here goes.

I'm putting LED's in EVERY PLACE POSSIBLE on my car so that I'll never have to replace them. My one point of confusion is the brake lights. I know the housings are red...but do I want Red LED's or White LED's? What would be the performance differece b/t the two. I'm wondering if the red lenses would allow more light to pass through because of the Red LED's...but at the same time, what if the color red of the LED's is out of phase w/ the housing, maybe the white would be better? I'm just not sure. Thx dudes.

millhouse · Mar 19, 2007

I don't think a red led is going to put out the appropriate amount of lumens to properly light a brake light or turn signal. The problem with the white led's is, while being extremely bright they do not emit as full of a beam like the stockers do. While they have multiple led bulbs now that address that problem, they may still show some hotspots (to bright in some areas and to dim in others). Another thing to keep in mind is some led's do not do well or will not work as a turn signal. Some add on fixes are available in some applications but not all. There is some basic reading that will lean you toward a decision here… http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm

glowstang93 · Mar 19, 2007

I totally agree, LED's did not have enough lumens. When I tried them in place of a regular bulb for a taillight, they were not near bright enough to see from behind. Sounds like a very dangerous thing to do, at least for the brake lights. The lenses are not made for that type of bulb.

Prime Lord · Mar 19, 2007

Yeah, I'm aware of all these little things and I fixed the signal issues w/ an electronic flasher when I went to all LED's on my old Jeep. The super whilte LED's w/ the radial mounted lights that will hit the back of the reflecter should be bright enough. I'm just gonna try it.

millhouse · Mar 19, 2007

Prime Lord said:
Yeah, I'm aware of all these little things and I fixed the signal issues w/ an electronic flasher when I went to all LED's on my old Jeep. The super whilte LED's w/ the radial mounted lights that will hit the back of the reflecter should be bright enough. I'm just gonna try it.

Be sure to post some pics!

Mustang5L5 · Mar 19, 2007

LED's dont have nearly the amount of lumens to properly illuminate a diffuser style taillights.

On my '03 GT, i have clear red plastic. I swapped to LED bulbs and it was dimmer. I even used the multi-LED bulbs that reflect light sideways as well as out.

I still run LED's for my reverse lights, but it is nowhere near as bright as the bulbs were. I can't see **** when i back up. I even have LED plate bulbs, but the taillights are back to normal bulbs since i don't feel like getting rear-ended and being found partially at fault for illegal safety equipment.
View attachment 395312
View attachment 395314

Those are the bulbs I used. As you can see, there are more LED's going sideways than directly outward. It's still dimmer than a bulb. It looks cool as hell, and since they are only reverse lights and i don't really drive in dark areas, i left them in. I get a lot of compliments when i back out of spots at the mall
View attachment 395316

_jb_ · Mar 19, 2007

ALWAYS use the same color LED as the lense it is going behind. Red lense=Red led, orange led behind orange lense, ect.

LED lighting....what color bulbs?

Prime Lord

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millhouse

glowstang93

Prime Lord

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millhouse

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

_jb_

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LED lighting....what color bulbs?

Prime Lord

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millhouse

glowstang93

Prime Lord

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millhouse

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

_jb_

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