JP Tail Turn Signal Testing + LED vs Incandescent Bulbs
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: North Carolina
JP Tail Turn Signal Testing + LED vs Incandescent Bulbs
I discovered when it was time for the NC state inspection on my GS that the Junction Produce tails I have created a small issue. Since they don't come with the 'pigtail' wiring to hook them up, I used the wires and bulbs from my existing GS430 tail lights. The issue that created was that the bulbs in the OEM lights are clear, and now that there is no amber cover on the tail lights my turn signals are white. In NC, that's a issue and you can't pass state inspection. It also gives cops a reason to pull you over (bad on the good/bad scale).
I didn't want to put in a big 7440 amber bulb because you can see right into the clear area and I thought the yellow bulb peeking out would partially defeat the 'cool' of the clear portion of the lights. I did some research and found a couple of options.
One is a Titanium chrome bulb. It looks reflective silver until it lights up, then it's amber. The other is an Amber LED that is clear when off. Both of these fit the standard 7440 bulb socket and are made by APC.
Here are some pics of the products:
Here's another bulb I considered, but I like the pure silver look of the Titanium one better.
http://nextcollection.com/html/ORD-L...21974-none.cfm
I didn't want to put in a big 7440 amber bulb because you can see right into the clear area and I thought the yellow bulb peeking out would partially defeat the 'cool' of the clear portion of the lights. I did some research and found a couple of options.
One is a Titanium chrome bulb. It looks reflective silver until it lights up, then it's amber. The other is an Amber LED that is clear when off. Both of these fit the standard 7440 bulb socket and are made by APC.
Here are some pics of the products:
Here's another bulb I considered, but I like the pure silver look of the Titanium one better.
http://nextcollection.com/html/ORD-L...21974-none.cfm
Last edited by DaveGS4; Jul 26, 2004 at 07:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: North Carolina
I couldn't make up my mind which style to order (LED or regular bulb). So of course I ordered both 
.
Unfortunately, the place I ordered from left out one of the LEDs from my shipment, which worked out OK in the end because now I have this comparison to write up. I put the LED bulb in the left side turn signal and the titanium bulb in the right.
Brightness - haven't looked at them in enough detail yet to say for certain, but offhand I think they're about the same when fully lit in the daytime. At dusk and night the Titanium incandescent bulb seems brighter when it's fully lit (check the video below).
Speed to light up - this is what amazed me. You can clearly see how much faster the LED lights up when the signal is on and how much quicker it goes off. There is no ramp up to bright and ramp back down; it's digital ON/OFF almost. This is why LED tail lights (especially for brakes) are better than bulb-driven lights.
Unexpected side effect - the LED light turns on and off so fast, my left blinker now goes VERY fast when it's turned on by itself (left turn signal, not hazards). This bothers me a little, but I'll give it a while to see if I get used to it. If not, I'll take the LED out and put in the other Titanium bulb.
. Unfortunately, the place I ordered from left out one of the LEDs from my shipment, which worked out OK in the end because now I have this comparison to write up. I put the LED bulb in the left side turn signal and the titanium bulb in the right.
Brightness - haven't looked at them in enough detail yet to say for certain, but offhand I think they're about the same when fully lit in the daytime. At dusk and night the Titanium incandescent bulb seems brighter when it's fully lit (check the video below).
Speed to light up - this is what amazed me. You can clearly see how much faster the LED lights up when the signal is on and how much quicker it goes off. There is no ramp up to bright and ramp back down; it's digital ON/OFF almost. This is why LED tail lights (especially for brakes) are better than bulb-driven lights.
Unexpected side effect - the LED light turns on and off so fast, my left blinker now goes VERY fast when it's turned on by itself (left turn signal, not hazards). This bothers me a little, but I'll give it a while to see if I get used to it. If not, I'll take the LED out and put in the other Titanium bulb.
Last edited by DaveGS4; Jul 26, 2004 at 07:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: North Carolina
I made a couple of quick videos using my digital camera. I should have made them smaller (sorry), so if you're on a 56kb line don't pull these down unless you have some errands to run.
Right click and save as only please.
Video with hazards showing both blinking and LED's superior cycle time (4.4 MB!)
Video showing right titanium blink, left faster blink, then right again (6.6 MB!)
Right click and save as only please.
Video with hazards showing both blinking and LED's superior cycle time (4.4 MB!)
Video showing right titanium blink, left faster blink, then right again (6.6 MB!)
Last edited by DaveGS4; Jul 26, 2004 at 07:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: North Carolina
Cool, good info thanks!
Given the design of the GS tails, do you know the best place to put those? Doesn't seem like there is a lot of room to stash those things.
Methinks it might be easier just to put in the other titanium bulb That's the way I'm leaning at least if I have to do a mod to slow the blink down. I imagine they are relatively inexpensive.
Given the design of the GS tails, do you know the best place to put those? Doesn't seem like there is a lot of room to stash those things.
Methinks it might be easier just to put in the other titanium bulb
That's the way I'm leaning at least if I have to do a mod to slow the blink down. I imagine they are relatively inexpensive.
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yeah personally i would probably stick with the titanium bulb, it prbably lights up better
the problem with the led is that the effective resistance is way too small compared to the original bulb, so it's blinking freaking fast. the equalizer is to set in the resistance again. you can probably splice the wires behind the taillihgts if you want
but personally i think that's too much hassle
the problem with the led is that the effective resistance is way too small compared to the original bulb, so it's blinking freaking fast. the equalizer is to set in the resistance again. you can probably splice the wires behind the taillihgts if you want
but personally i think that's too much hassle
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From: Florida
So Dave, which bulbs did you end up with for your turn signals? The titanium ones or the LED kind? I just got a set of titanium bulbs (same as yours) the other day for the rear turn signals in my '01 ES. My tails also have no amber cover (gotta love that feature), so I hope when I install the bulbs soon that the orange-prism effect won't show thru the clear portion of the tails. Here's what it looks like now:
Thread Starter
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From: North Carolina
Yep, that's exactly what I wanted to avoid (using yellow colored bulbs).
I pulled out the LED and went with the chrome covered bulb. Works like a champ & looks awesome. Can take closer up pic if you want.
I pulled out the LED and went with the chrome covered bulb. Works like a champ & looks awesome. Can take closer up pic if you want.
Originally posted by DaveGS4
Yep, that's exactly what I wanted to avoid (using yellow colored bulbs).
I pulled out the LED and went with the chrome covered bulb. Works like a champ & looks awesome. Can take closer up pic if you want.
Yep, that's exactly what I wanted to avoid (using yellow colored bulbs).
I pulled out the LED and went with the chrome covered bulb. Works like a champ & looks awesome. Can take closer up pic if you want.
not like i would have THIS problem any time soon though, hahha
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I found out that sylvania silverstars have some bulbs that cover the amber very well while retaining a good amount of lighting.
Here's a crummy picture but you get the drift:
http://community.webshots.com/s/imag...4IaiTVg_ph.jpg
Here's a crummy picture but you get the drift:
http://community.webshots.com/s/imag...4IaiTVg_ph.jpg
Last edited by siniquezu; Aug 5, 2004 at 01:11 PM.
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From: North Carolina
Originally posted by rominl
so dave, any particular reason why you stick with the bulb instead?
not like i would have THIS problem any time soon though, hahha
so dave, any particular reason why you stick with the bulb instead?
not like i would have THIS problem any time soon though, hahha
The LED was about the same brightness at night, but definitely appeared dimmer in the day.
I orginally went looking for the Silverstars locally, but they didn't have an application for the 7440 that I could locate anywhere.