I need some help from you LED gurus

MrK · 04-28-2008, 05:04 PM

I bought a LED tail bulb from Clear Alternatives (http://clearalternatives.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CA&Product_Code=CTL-0053-L&Category_Code=R1100S) and I installed it without the resistor that came with it and the bulb is not that bright. My question is if I install the resistor will it make a difference and if so how do I wire it up? It has two reds coming out of one end and two black wires coming out of the other end. (resistor)
The bulb bracket has one hot,one ground,and one common.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. The Clear alternative site was no help.

tomn · 04-28-2008, 05:29 PM

Post a picture and instruction came with

klennop · 04-28-2008, 05:38 PM

As far as I know load resistors wired across the signal bulbs are used to simulate a filament bulb load. The resistor remedies a vehicle saying the bulb is burnt out, turn signal flash rate, or if the led doesn't flash at all. LED bulbs do not appear as bright as standard incandescent bulbs in the daytime, they have many advantages over filament bulbs (longer life, faster on/off times, lower power consumption, more vivid colors) but daytime brightness is not one of them.

I have read in the past that most LED turn signals do not work that well with our bikes at least just the bulbs. Plus if they just have LED's facing one way, they don't work as well as a typical bulb in flooding the light. It will just spot the in one direction. I bought a BRAKE! taillight LED setup and that works great.

I hope this helps but I also hope that someone else chimes in to shed a little more light on the subject.

MrK · 04-28-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomn

Post a picture and instruction came with

No instructions came with it. I will post a pic when I get a chace but it looks like a basic Resitor with two black wires coming out of one side and two red coming out of the other.

throttlemeister · throttlemeister's Garage

MrK, them bulbs are usually not that bright. There is however, a LED panel available for the S that works great.

I have one and really like it. I got them from nippynormans.com in the UK, but I am sure you can get them in the US too.

MrK · 04-29-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klennop

As far as I know load resistors wired across the signal bulbs are used to simulate a filament bulb load. The resistor remedies a vehicle saying the bulb is burnt out, turn signal flash rate, or if the led doesn't flash at all. LED bulbs do not appear as bright as standard incandescent bulbs in the daytime, they have many advantages over filament bulbs (longer life, faster on/off times, lower power consumption, more vivid colors) but daytime brightness is not one of them.

So does that mean it will not make a difference if I install the resistor?

Quote:

I have read in the past that most LED turn signals do not work that well with our bikes at least just the bulbs. Plus if they just have LED's facing one way, they don't work as well as a typical bulb in flooding the light. It will just spot the in one direction. I bought a BRAKE! taillight LED setup and that works great

.
Do you have a link on where I can buy a Brake! Taillight?

klennop · 04-29-2008, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrK

So does that mean it will not make a difference if I install the resistor?

As far as my knowledge with resistors and LED's, installing the resistor will not make any difference in how bright the LED currently is.

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrK

Do you have a link on where I can buy a Brake! Taillight?

I do not off hand I know San Jose BMW had them on back order forever and also like throttlemeister said, he got his at nippynormans.

I found a used one for sale and I love it, there are a bunch of settings for the lights, the quality is good, and it is way brighter than the stock bulb. It is worth the money!

I hope this helps!

Keith