Taillight LED bulb

annguyen1981 · February 26, 2006, 06:29:28 PM

Does anyone have anything like this? What affect does it have on light output and light on the plate?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/360-DEGREE-SUPER-BRIGHT-LED-BULBS-SUZUKI-MOTORCYCLES_W0QQitemZ4616181874QQcategoryZ35598QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

RedShift · February 26, 2006, 06:43:38 PM

Not me, but that looks like the Godzilla of tail light bulbs.

I'd be interested in giving it a try if it comes in WHITE LEDs. I forget who reminded me, but there are rules about what colour you use to illiminate the license plate -- think RED would be verboten by most Highway Traffic Acts.

annguyen1981 · February 26, 2006, 07:20:33 PM

The only problem with putting in WHITE bulbs is that the red taillight lense will filter out most of the light, creating a "dimmer" light.

If you put LED's behind colored glass/plastic, you should use the same color as the lense, that way NONE of the light gets filtered, creating a bright output.

RedShift · February 26, 2006, 07:42:18 PM

Right on about the light absorption issue.

I feel an experiment coming on, but this one could get a bit more expensive than the 5-LED Gauge curiosity we had a month ago. I'll let you know when my next order to SuperBrightLEDs.com arrives and maybe I can continue this discussion with some data.

Egaeus · February 26, 2006, 08:41:28 PM

Quote from: RedShift on February 26, 2006, 07:42:18 PM
Right on about the light absorption issue.

I feel an experiment coming on, but this one could get a bit more expensive than the 5-LED Gauge curiosity we had a month ago. I'll let you know when my next order to SuperBrightLEDs.com arrives and maybe I can continue this discussion with some data.

I have a feeling about what you're going to do, and I don't even think it's worth a shot. Red LEDs are the brightest out there. They've been around for quite a long time, so they are the most developed. White LEDs are relatively new, and are not even close to the light output of red. Combining that with the fact that it is white light spread over a broad spectrum, and that it is also very blue light (like a fluorescent bulb) with a relatively small red component, it's not going to be bright enough. It would work at night, but it would be very dangerous in the daytime. If you're going to use LEDs in the brakelights, use red and take your chances with the popo. Surely they have something better to do than harass you about using LEDs in the brakelights.

Edit: Err, strike that part about the red being brighter than the white. Going by the data supplied by Super Bright LEDs, they've improved white more than I'd realized since I worked on testing them. However, the output in the red part of the spectrum is still going to be much less than a red LED.

annguyen1981 · February 26, 2006, 09:42:10 PM

Quote from: RedShift on February 26, 2006, 07:42:18 PM
Right on about the light absorption issue.

I feel an experiment coming on, but this one could get a bit more expensive than the 5-LED Gauge curiosity we had a month ago. I'll let you know when my next order to SuperBrightLEDs.com arrives and maybe I can continue this discussion with some data.

It can get costly, unlike the couple bucks for the two LED's for the gauges...

Why do you think I asked first?

I was hoping someone else blew their money before I did.

Anyway, brakelight LED's have been around a while but only this style:

I've tried these, and because they don't shine on the reflectiive backing of the taillight housing, the light ouput is significantly decreased.

Egaeus · February 26, 2006, 09:54:10 PM

Quote from: annguyen1981 on February 26, 2006, 09:42:10 PM
It can get costly, unlike the couple bucks for the two LED's for the gauges...

Why do you think I asked first? I was hoping someone else blew their money before I did.

I personally can't justify buying LEDs for anything but the gauges. I mean, the turn signal LEDs at superbrightleds are outrageous, and the taillight LEDs are just very costly and you run the (probably small unless you're pulled over for something else) risk of getting a ticket for the license plate issue. On top of that, you'd have to completely reengineer the turn signals to get them to work. I can think of much better things to spend my time and money on than redesigning the bike's electrical system, even though I technically am supposed to like that sort of thing, being an EE and all.

that_guy · February 27, 2006, 11:30:38 AM

Quote from: Egaeus on February 26, 2006, 09:54:10 PM
Quote from: annguyen1981 on February 26, 2006, 09:42:10 PM
It can get costly, unlike the couple bucks for the two LED's for the gauges...

Why do you think I asked first? I was hoping someone else blew their money before I did.

I personally can't justify buying LEDs for anything but the gauges. I mean, the turn signal LEDs at superbrightleds are outrageous, and the taillight LEDs are just very costly and you run the (probably small unless you're pulled over for something else) risk of getting a ticket for the license plate issue. On top of that, you'd have to completely reengineer the turn signals to get them to work. I can think of much better things to spend my time and money on than redesigning the bike's electrical system, even though I technically am supposed to like that sort of thing, being an EE and all.

you couldn't be more wrong. The ones off ebay are made to be direct replacements for the regular bulbs. Easy as pie. Pull the old ones out. put the new ones in and that's it.

annguyen1981 · February 27, 2006, 11:36:08 AM

Ditto.

Worst case senario: you need another resistor to slow down the flashing rate of the LED turn signals. Easy task.

My Name Is Dave · February 27, 2006, 11:55:50 AM

I'm getting my R6 taillight soon, which is off an 03 so it's all LEDs. Seeing how I have an integrated taillight, this should be fun...

I'll make sure to post here about the 198 problems I run into before I get it to work.

Dave

Egaeus · February 27, 2006, 12:01:22 PM

Quote from: that_guy on February 27, 2006, 11:30:38 AM
The ones off ebay are made to be direct replacements for the regular bulbs. Easy as pie. Pull the old ones out. put the new ones in and that's it.

Which ones would that be? The only ones I've found need either a resistor to increase the current draw (defeating one of the primary purposes of using LEDs) or an electronic flasher which would require the redesigning. They're both suboptimal solutions.

VTLucky · June 13, 2006, 11:58:59 AM

I've got the Clear Alternatives LED lens on my bike, it was no hassle to install. It's a board of LEDs behind a clear lens that fit right int your existing bulb sockets, requires some wire splicing for the turn signals, but nothing too intense. Cost me about $80, but it cleaned things up nicely I'd say.

blue05twin · June 13, 2006, 01:18:41 PM

This is what the clear alternative ones look like. . . You can't really tell but the bottom is a opaque ( frosty white ) color the bulbs are red for the break lights and flashes yellow for the turn signal. Took about 20 min to install.

FearedGS500 · June 13, 2006, 03:21:36 PM

you should be looking for somthing like this http://www.customdynamics.com/Images/straight_1157.jpg you can find them at most stealerships .. i'v been thinking about getting some but have not yet .. there just led's that are on the same set up on your normal bulb .

Egaeus · June 13, 2006, 03:27:14 PM

Quote from: blue05twin on June 13, 2006, 01:18:41 PM
This is what the clear alternative ones look like. . . You can't really tell but the bottom is a opaque ( frosty white ) color the bulbs are red for the break lights and flashes yellow for the turn signal. Took about 20 min to install.

Am I the only one who likes the dumbo ears? IMO the further away the signal, the more likely a driver is to notice it since it doesn't blend with the lines of the bike. Sure, it's not cool, but I prefer function over form in this case.

Alphamazing · June 13, 2006, 03:53:58 PM

Quote from: Egaeus on June 13, 2006, 03:27:14 PM
Am I the only one who likes the dumbo ears? IMO the further away the signal, the more likely a driver is to notice it since it doesn't blend with the lines of the bike. Sure, it's not cool, but I prefer function over form in this case.

That's why my turnsignals are still OEM parts. If I do replace them, it will be with OEM Buell parts.

porsche4786 · June 13, 2006, 05:13:18 PM

I bought this... http://clearalternatives.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CA&Product_Code=CTL-0026-2-L-S&Category_Code=Smoke.GS

But I ended up not using the smoked lense, instead I just used the LED light bulbs and the stock red lense it seemed to be brighter with that. You can also just buy the bulbs from them... http://clearalternatives.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CA&Category_Code=Bulbs

The plate lights up good enough. I don't think it would ever be a problem. I notice that harley's with a lay down plate on the rear fender still don't light up all that great, and that's oem stuff from harley. I see guys all the time around here with their plate all the way inside the wheel well under the bike.

VTLucky · June 13, 2006, 08:47:17 PM

Just as an FYI, I'd put money that my LED taillight's turnsignals are more visible than the stock signals hand over fist. I have a 2006 though and the Clear Alternatives taillight is an actual board of LED lights, not just two clusters like in the picture...

porsche4786 · June 13, 2006, 08:51:29 PM

Quote from: VTLucky on June 13, 2006, 08:47:17 PM
Just as an FYI, I'd put money that my LED taillight's turnsignals are more visible than the stock signals hand over fist. I have a 2006 though and the Clear Alternatives taillight is an actual board of LED lights, not just two clusters like in the picture...

I didn't want to jump into that mess with led turn signals. Do they blink fast?

I also don't know if I trust cagers, they might just think there is something wrong with my brake light. (if their real dumb, most are), and I have a backoff brake light modulator, not sure if that works with the integrated taillights/signals.

annguyen1981 · June 13, 2006, 10:22:39 PM

Quote from: porsche4786 on June 13, 2006, 08:51:29 PM
and I have a backoff brake light modulator, not sure if that works with the integrated taillights/signals.

This is the main reason why I haven't ventured into the LED taillight for my GS. I know for a fact that the LEDs would blink rapidly no matter if you have the brake depressed or not if you have a brakelight modulator installed.

Check out my video clip at the bottom of this link:
http://web-designs.tripod.com/

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Taillight LED bulb