LED Frequently Asked Questions
Automotive LED FAQs
Why choose LEDs? LEDs have many advantages over halogen bulbs:
- They are available in a wide array of colors.
- They draw little power so they can be used in smaller locations nearer items that can't resist heat.
- LEDs turn on and off instantly with no warm up or delay. The makes them very good for signal lights like turn signals and brake lights.
Another very big advantage of the LED is that it has a lifetime measured at 50,000 plus hours where a halogen bulb may only be rated for 750 to 2000 hours. LEDs are cost competitive and over the life of the usage will pay back many times in savings and increased functionality.
LEDs have an electrical polarity. This means that they must be plugged in with the positive and ground leads in the correct orientation to the socket. While most LEDs bases are keyed to only fit in this correct orientation, some like 194 bulbs can be plugged in either correctly or in reverse polarity. We make every effort to supply LEDs that have polarity protection but you may need to flip the LED in its socket to reverse the pin orientation if the bulb does not light up on initial installation.Some cars will not light LEDs at all. If you install multiple LEDs in the interior of your vehicle and none of them light, even after reversing the polarity, you may need a load resistor in the circuit to provide enough current flow to satisfy the lighting controller in your cars electrical system.
What color LED should I buy? Buy the LEDs in the same color as the colored lens of the light you are installing it in. If the lens is red, buy a red LED. If the lens is amber, buy an amber LED, etc. If your lens color is clear, buy the LED in the color you wish for the LED to display when lit. For instance, taillights and brake lights generally use red LEDs even with a clear lens. Clear turn signals would use an amber LED.
Why do my turn signals flash fast or not at all? Most flasher units in cars are a thermal type. As the light bulb lights up it draws current through the relay and the relay heats up and the contact armature will bend from the heat generated by the current. When the armature bends, the circuit is disconnected. Then the turn signal lamp goes off. Once disconnected, the armature cools and returns to shape, reconnecting the circuit and the lamp lights again and the sequence repeats resulting in a flashing lamp. LEDs do not draw enough current to cause the relay armature to heat and function. This can be solved in a few ways. First, an electronic relay can be used that flashes on a timed clock circuit rather than through thermal action. We sell a selection of these that MAY work with your car. You will have to examine your existing relay and determine if one of our relays will work in your application. We do not have a cross-reference. Another way to solve the flashing issue is to install a load resistor across the wiring of the turn signal affected. The resistor will draw enough current to simulate a normal halogen bulb and allow a normal thermal flasher relay to function correctly. If you choose this method, please choose a load resistor with the same or higher wattage rating as the halogen bulb that was installed in that circuit originallyWhich LED viewing angle should I choose? It depends on the application. Wide angle LEDs work best in signal lamp applications and narrow angle LEDs work best in applications where you want most of the light to be.