I have been searching this site for information on LED direct replacement  for the two 1157 tail-lights.

The major un-resolved issue I have heard about is the colour of the light used to illuminate the rear number plate. In most places (including here in Australia) the number plate must be illuminated with a white light.

There have been some major improvements in the brightness of LED tail lights in both red and white and you can buy excellent 1157 direct replacement LED options.

However I prefer the colour intensity a red LED provides, but then I'll have the problem that my number plate will also be illuminated with the red light. 

A white led fixes the number plate problem but wont look as BRILLIANT RED out of the lens (and loose some intensity due to colour filtering).

I have read that Jef made an LED tail light that had red brake lights and white lights for the number plate. The perfect solution!

So what have members here with LED tail lights done?

Is there any such thing as a direct replacement 1157 red rearward firing LED that has white led side lights?

Have a look at duck smith electronics, they have some led bulbs. Also try Australian streetfighters, as they have some, I can't give you a direct link to them as I'm at work & only have them bookmarked at home.

Dude. Just get the red LEDs, then get the bolts with white LEDs built into them to hold the license plate on. That's how my bike's wired. Plate is plenty white, and the taillight is red. (It was done by the PO)

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on May 27, 2007, 08:08:26 PM
Dude. Just get the red LEDs, then get the bolts with white LEDs built into them to hold the license plate on. That's how my bike's wired. Plate is plenty white, and the taillight is red. (It was done by the PO)

A picture would be nice 

and the details of how you wired it in 

No pics as the bolts were ripped off when I didn't tighten them, and the plate flew off on the highway. Anyways, they look like a regular bolt, but have an LED in the head. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/City-Glow-Blue-Bolt-Screws/dp/B000KBD0C4

only in white. As for the wiring, they're just spliced into the hot/ground for the taillight, that way, as soon as you turn the bike on, they're on.

Would they shine down enough onto the plate or do the need to be mounted elsewhere?

They shine on the plate fine. It's what I used. That's what I said in my first post.

check down this page for 1157 you will find the proper ones

http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm

I really can't be bothered with wiring up extra lighting for my number plate. I'd prefer a direct replacement.

So I am thinking of going with white led's. I'll just ensure they are super bright to compensate for going through the red lens.

Actually I might do a LED comparison.

Wait a sec just got to go check something.

6g

Red LEDs shining out the back and white LEDs firing out all sides would still be better than red shining out the sides in my opinion.

Anyway I have decided to order 3 different types of direct replacement LEDs so I can do a test (yes I'll include photos  )

I have ordered:

1 x pair of White High Intensity LEDs (see if they are strong enough behind a red lens cover)






1 x pair of Red High Intensity LED's (so I can determine how much light I loose with the white ones and if the reduced visibility is acceptable)






1 x pair of red cluster LEDs. These have 19 LED's firing straight out the back and 16 radial LED's firing out the sides.
I want to see how this style of red LED compares to the High intensity one above.








Personally I can't wait for this little shoot out. And yep I'll compare them to the standard filament bulbs too.


(and if your wondering, I will be using the left over bulbs in my car tail lights. They wont be going to waste  )



Also a little piece of info to help you find the right bulb types.

1157 or BA15D Bulbs are for Brake Lights as they have Dual Contacts on the Bottom to allow for duel intensity lighting. On for Parkers, but get even brighter when brakes are applied.

1156 or BA15S Bulbs are for Indicators / Blinkers / Turn Signal Lights as they have a single contact and therefore operate at full intensity all the time.

I bought some red LED bulbs a while back & was happy with the brightness of the taillight
but found that there was minimal difference with the brake on.
Anyone driving behind you might not realize that you've applied the brake.

When you do your test, get a friend to help or just put the bike on the center stand, tie a
6 meter long piece of string to the brake lever & pull on so the brake light comes on.
You need to be at least that far back to get an idea of how a driver behind you would see it.

Let us know how it compares with the stock bulb.

Galahs, what car do you drive?
My 64 EH & my VS Commodore use the same bulb.(VT+ use a offset bayonet style)
I put the LED in the left hand side taillight & left the standard bulb in the right hand side. Then got a mate to pump the brake a few times. It was easy to see that with just the taillights on, the left was slightly brighter but with the brakes applied, the right hand side was brighter.

If you can, try this during the day & at night.

90 Corolla, LC Torana and a VT Commodore.

I will definitely be testing them on all cars before I make the switch too.

As for using the brake on the bike, I'll set up a tripod and have the camera on a timer.

Trust me I'll make sure these are comparable to the stock bulbs or I wont be using them.

They look very bright in the pics, but let us know how it pans out.
Cool.
Srinath.

is it true that the 20 dollar plug in lights actually do modulate???  I was wondering this because that would save me the 60 bucks a taillight modulator would cost me or am I just stupid and think that the two are different???

The ones I have bought don't modulate but you can get direct plug in lights that do.

http://www.cbr250.com/cbr250/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29457&SearchTerms=led

Put them in an R1 light unit or add some spacers to fit in the stock light.

They are awesome, I have a set of burners.

James

The ultimate would be two pcb boards attatched to 1157 bayonett fittings that 1 give huge coverage of the rear lens in red and white leds shining on the number plate.

Similar to Jeffs byt with bayonett fittings so the bike wiring remains totally stock.

Quote from: bubba zanetti on May 27, 2007, 07:12:10 PM
Have a look at duck smith electronics, they have some led bulbs. Also try Australian streetfighters, as they have some, I can't give you a direct link to them as I'm at work & only have them bookmarked at home.

dude ! get with the 00's and try out delicious... http://del.icio.us

it makes your bookmarks portable, or well, saved and shared online.

there are others, but del rocks !