Whelen Super LED module

[GoGo Gadget]

Originally Posted by Ashzibit

Good effort... learn new things everyday. Thank you!

I am currently trying out the 3W LEDs brake light introduced by a friend...



suspose to be much brighter, uses lesser electrical power.. blah blah blah...

FatBiker

And where would one get such an item?

[markgsnw]

Originally Posted by Sparrowhawk

I assume you are using the LED in addition to the stock tail/stop light. I am also looking at something like this to enhance my stop light. What bike is it mounted on and how does the brighness of the LED module compare to the stock stop light?

yes


R1150GS

it doesn't compare, it's in a different universe of brightness.

[QualityAir]

Both Cree and Lumileds are bringing to market some exciting new diodes, only draw backs are the need for better optics's

[GB]

KLM:

A super effort to get your KLR's brake light to shine brighter.

I purchased the Brake! LED stop / running light for the KLR, and it's an easy plug and play application. Simply install the LED panel and plug it into the bulb socket. The LED is an X pattern and is comprised of super bright LED's, and can be set to come on solid or strobes brightly for a few seconds and then goes solid. The strobing really catches the attention of cagers behind me.

Here's a poor picture.. a 3 minute installation.. and it's been going for 3 years..

[R_W]

Originally Posted by QualityAir

Both Cree and Lumileds are bringing to market some exciting new diodes, only draw backs are the need for better optics's

I just bought some MR16 bulbs with 3 watt cree's. They say they are equivalent to 45 watt halogen floods (I say 35 watt but still not bad) , and have decent a pattern. Only drawbacks are they are a 1/4 deeper than standard halogen bulbs and not a weather-proof face, so most standard mounts don't work.

I have since seen 5 watt versions. I think LED's are about to pass HID for aux lights for motorcycle applications.

[TreeFarmer]

Fantastic write up with excellent detail.

So being a newbie to the whole LED thing I would love a little advice and maybe a lesson or two. This might even be a great start to a new Garage thread "LED Basics", but then again maybe this has been done long ago....
Any whooo. a few questions for those in the know, remember, I know next to nothing about LED's so be gentle, it's my first time

Can you just plug and play exchanging a traditional bulb in say your turn or brake light with a new LED bulb? I thought some LED's require a transformer (?), when is this the case? What would be some other things to consider if looking to do an LED upgrade?

Thanks in advance
T

[R_W]

the bulb replacements are built for 12 v already, no transformer needed.

straight plug and play for brake light

may need a different flash controller or a "load resistor" when putting them in turn signals. normal flashers need a certain wattage of load (normally the bulbs) to make them blink.

[snoid]

and 'stopper' strip LED lights.

they lasted 2.5 wrecks,

me

p.s. electropods are a little more robust.

[dseric]

How do you like these new bulbs? Where did you get them? Any other pics of them installed? One of the best designs I have seen for a stock bulb replacement.

Eric

Originally Posted by Ashzibit

Good effort... learn new things everyday. Thank you!

I am currently trying out the 3W LEDs brake light introduced by a friend...



suspose to be much brighter, uses lesser electrical power.. blah blah blah...

FatBiker

[GoGo Gadget]

Originally Posted by dseric

How do you like these new bulbs? Where did you get them? Any other pics of them installed? One of the best designs I have seen for a stock bulb replacement.

Eric

Not sure if these are the same ones, but holy crap. 90 lumens for the brake light, 35 lumens for the running light. That is pretty freaking bright. I think I might just order a few of these.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html

[JP4]

Originally Posted by GoGo Gadget

Not sure if these are the same ones, but holy crap. 90 lumens for the brake light, 35 lumens for the running light. That is pretty freaking bright. I think I might just order a few of these.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html

Yep, they are bright. I have one of these 3 watt LED's doing time on the LC4:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/115x-xLX3.htm
Brighter than the stock bulb and it appears to be well made from CNC'd billet. Six months of thrashing on the paint shaker and it still works. The other advantage is the brake light comes on instantly compared to a normal bulb so it attracts a bit more attention.

[aardschok]

OK, I just installed the 500 Series TIR6 LED cluster light. Wow!
Keep in mind, these are the same lights that emergency vehicles use.
This thing will literally illuminate the inside of the cage behind me at a stoplight.


Here are some pics from my garage at night.

Tail light only:



regular stop light:



Whelen 500 series TIR6 LED:





I might need to put some kind of black trim tape over the lens to tone this thing down. Light was observed in daytime by local LEO's and no problems. Not sure what they would do if they see it at night though. I'll let ya'll know.

[markgsnw]

is your Whelen set for a blinky pattern or non-blinky?

[markgsnw]

Originally Posted by Dingo Joe

any info on how you wired it?

you just tap into the existing brake light circuit.

[aardschok]

Originally Posted by markgsnw

is your Whelen set for a blinky pattern or non-blinky?

I've set the pattern to a progresive three blink pattern. I didn't want the light to just be beaming steady at who ever was behind me.