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Old 07-22-2009, 08:43 AM
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Question LED Tail Lights

I got them all replaced and they work well but ran into a speed bump with the load resistors, how do i install them correctly? And is the not having them installed the reason my turn signal is now blinking twice as fast?

Thanks for any help
Old 07-22-2009, 09:29 AM
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Ok,

I think it's fair to guess that the missing resistors is why your signals are on over-drive. Less resistance = faster 'flow' of electricity = higher speed... Same as when a turn-signal bulb goes.

I don't have the skillz to help you, but I can tell you that your post is probably lacking the detail for anyone else to help you either.

Try adding some more info:
  • Brand of LED conversion kit.
  • Where you bought it.
  • Pictures of it installed in your car.
  • Pictures of the load resistors.

Good luck.
Old 07-22-2009, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by SympleMan523
I got them all replaced and they work well but ran into a speed bump with the load resistors, how do i install them correctly? And is the not having them installed the reason my turn signal is now blinking twice as fast?

Thanks for any help
That's correct. The fast turn signal is your car's way of telling that you have a bulb out since it can't see the LED because it uses so little juice. So, you need to install the load resistor on the line to simulate an incandescent bulb. If you are just doing the taillight (not the front signals too), then you want a 6 OHM 50W resistor like this:

http://www.v-leds.com/BlinkerWarning...83296-1-3.html

to install, you want to tap into both the power and ground for the signal and install like this:

7440 (just two wires, ignore the 7443 graphic)
Old 07-22-2009, 09:31 PM
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Ya i figured thats why they were blinking faster and yeeees only doing the tail lights and the set came with resistors i just am not smart enough to figure out how to tap into the power and ground correctly

And one other thing where can i mount them?
Old 07-22-2009, 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by SympleMan523
Ya i figured thats why they were blinking faster and yeeees only doing the tail lights and the set came with resistors i just am not smart enough to figure out how to tap into the power and ground correctly

And one other thing where can i mount them?
Did your resistor come with wire taps? Something like this:



If not, you need to pick up 4 of them. If you do have them then you just slide the side furthest from the hinge over the existing wire that you want to tap into. Then slide the wire from the resistor into the hole closest to the hinge until it hits the little plastic wall. Then take a plyers and squeeze the metal blade and close the plastic hinge. Very easy.

I guess I'd mount them under the trunk liner on the metal somewhere near the back of the taillights.
Old 07-22-2009, 11:54 PM
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Ya i have those, just i dont get how im supposed to apply them, am i supposed to just close that on the wire cover or strip the wire or something?
Old 07-23-2009, 12:15 AM
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Originally Posted by SympleMan523
Ya i have those, just i dont get how im supposed to apply them, am i supposed to just close that on the wire cover or strip the wire or something?
No, no stripping needed. Just squeeze the metal blade with a plyers.
Old 07-23-2009, 01:38 AM
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make sure you mount those resistors somewhere far from anything that melts, because they get really hot.
Old 07-23-2009, 07:15 AM
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Well i got them on there and they work just cant figure out where / how to mount them properly, where would be a good spot for them? Only have so much wire as it is so they cant go far etc

Is that foam that rests near the wires for the lights something i can have the resistor rest against? I know they get really hot and i assume that material is non-flammable?
Old 07-23-2009, 07:54 AM
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Don't put them anywhere near anything meltable or plastic as it can get really hot. Here's my install on one side... the resistor is clamped between the car's metal and the metal PC slot blank.

Name:  LEDTURNSIGNALLEFT.jpg
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Old 07-23-2009, 08:24 AM
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Spin, that's the best use of those stupid leftover PCI slot blanks I've ever seen (maybe I should note it's the only use I've seen as well lol).

I've been considering LED tails for a while, but I couldn't really come up with a good place to mount the resistors, as lighting the trunk liner on fire with them seems like it might not be in my best interest.
Old 07-23-2009, 08:36 AM
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Oh ok cool, now where can i find those? lol

Would they have them at like home depot etc?
Old 07-23-2009, 08:37 AM
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...yea I'm the master of taking useless junk saved...which my workshop and house is full of lol... and finding a way to incorperate it into something ..unfortunately the junk is still winning...

ps SympleMan523 ...ask any PC repair shop, they'll have some
Old 07-23-2009, 08:38 AM
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SM, you get those from computer cases - when you put in a new PCI device, you have to pop the blank off in order to access the slot. I don't know of anywhere that you can buy them to be honest - they're just throwaway junk.

It shouldn't be too hard to find a little metal piece from somewhere to use through, which would do the same thing.
Old 07-23-2009, 10:50 AM
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Ya i reckognize them now, couldnt make them out before lol but as you can see in the first picture i only have so much wire, cant get them that far where you have them spin, would where i am holding it in the second pic be an ok spot? Still have to figure out how to get them to stay though
Attached Thumbnails LED Tail Lights-photo0260.jpg   LED Tail Lights-photo0259.jpg  
Old 07-23-2009, 10:59 AM
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That 2nd pic should work fine. Those resistors are nice they have a finned metal cover over them and you've got a nice little hole for a mounting screw. Mine were bare ceramic type. Yours would give some conduction cooling as they are metal if they tounch sheet metal anywhere. ... esp. as how long does the blinker run for?... not very long, not like a brake light on dim at night for example. Before I finally installed like I show, I ran the blinker for awhile and checked how hot they did get in free air, just to be sure it was going to be ok. It never got burning hot, just hot.
Old 07-23-2009, 11:00 AM
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I would think that the car panel would act like a pretty good heatsink in your 2nd pic, that should be fine.
Old 07-24-2009, 12:27 AM
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Thanks, now i just gotta work on gettin them to stay there lol figure out some kind of clamp deal-io that can reach them

Btw had trouble with the one of the brake LED lights, when i plugged it in itd light then go out and only light again if i held it in place, tried electrical tape to hold it there but didnt work :/ so ended up just switchin those back to stock but what woulld cause the bulb to go dumb just 3 days after installing them? And all other ones still work fine
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