I've noticed a lot more vicheals coming from the factory using LED taillights. Id imange this would have a few advantages.

1. Less power used
2. One goes bad the rest are still good.
3. Long lasting.

Trade off would be:

1. Higher cost up front.
2. Having to replace the whole unit.

Am I wrong on these assumptions?

 

I also think the LED unit is lighter than a comparative bulb and socket (although it is miniscule).

Plus, LEDs last forever I think.

From an ergonomic standpoint, I've noticed that I react faster to LED brake lights because they come on and off much quicker than bulbs without the "fade in/out" effect.

 

They sure dont. You have to replace the entire unit once they start to go. I've seen countless caddy's with thier center brake light only half lit.

 

I put LED's on the back of my 75 chevy short bed step side C-10...love them..low maintenance, no bulb breakage due to vibration or shorts due to water getting in lense. they are very bright. if you can get them your your application consider it. for me they were a good investment...

G

 

Just a guess, but I can't see an LED cluster being any lighter than a regular reflector and bulb, at least not with the number of LEDs most taillights are using. And with all those bulbs I can't see it consuming any less power either.

LEDs are great for indicators, where high light output is not a concern. But once you start needing higher candlepower their power consumption and heat output advantages versus incadescent bulbs is not as great.

 

LEDs are way better IMO.
They last a pretty long time, much longer than bulbs. And I think they look better and are more visible.
The only downside is the cost of replacement once they do go out, however that cost has come down alot.

 

LED technology for forward-lighting applications (headlamps) is on the forefront of upcoming automotive technology. Hella has been able to achieve LED headlamps capable of producing 1000+ lumens of white light at considerable less energy than a conventional headlamp.

Led "bulbs" are not the same as conventional bulbs. Just because there may be 20 bulbs in a LED tail lamp assy, it doesn't mean it requires the same power as 20 incandescent bulbs.. I believe even Xenon headlamps are more energy efficient than conventional halogen headlamps, but require higher voltage.

There's all sorts of stuff related to LED headlamp technology...look on google. A draft has already been approved by the SAE, and if memory serves me correctly, they are still working on achieving the correct light spectrum for LED headlamps.

 

LEDs are a lot brighter while using a lot less power than a conventional bulb.. it's a scientific fact.. even in large groups like seen in taillights these days.. they are a lot brighter than regular taillights and still use a lot less power, and last a lot longer...

 

LED's actually draw VERY LITTLE current, and if you just try to "plug one in" like you would a light bulb, they often don't work. You have to wire in a given amount of resistance into the circuit to bring the voltage down to the level that the LED actually requires. So overall, I guess they would use almost the "same" amount (given the fact of an in-line resistor) but the LED's themselves are almost negligable for power consumption .

 

I like them.

 

I'm not sure LED's "burn out" like regular bulbs do, but they don't last forever. Post '92 Ford Thunderbirds have what is still probally the largest LED assembly, and it's almost impossible to find any without spots where at least few LEDs have gone out. But in the case of my '93, you're still talking about a bunch of lights that are still burning after 14 years!


Question for those who know about such things:

The final version of the Lincoln Mark VIII (in addition to using HID lighting up front) used a Neon lighting tube as the full width tail light. Those things (for some strange reason) seem to cut through fog better than conventional lights. Why haven't that lighting technology caught on? What's the drawbacks? Serious question.

I've always wondered about that, and since we're on the subject, and I see at least 1 person who seems to be an expert on this.... ?

 

I have a few LEDs out in my 3rd brake light on the SS. So they do go out. It bugs me so I've been wondering how I can find a replacement for the board. Any ideas?

I remember that big neon tail light on the Mark VIII cars. I'm thinking perhaps they can't make the neon burn bright enough to be a viable option for headlights? I'm no expert so I don't know.

 

Not as a headlight, but as tail lights?

 

Ahh, you said that the neons seemed to cut through fog better so I assumed you meant for headlights. Why do you need lights that cut through fog out back? Do you often drive in reverse?

 

To keep people from rear ending you. No one likes to take it from behind.