Brighter turn signal/running light "trick"!!!

[PorterTheCelt]

So I had been reading on the forums for a while, and trying to decide on the best way to upgrade factory xs standard rectangle turn signals. I wanted leds, as they are just a good all around way to up the lumens while lowering power draw.

I read over and over again that the little cheap 360 degree leds were likely to be no good due to our sub par reflectors. This had discouraged me into considering changing the factory setup for something modern.

I am known to be kind of stubborn, and I really wanted to keep the factory lighting aesthetic. Then, it hit me... I poured over the forums and the googles, and saw nothing. So...

I went out to my local walmart, and bought some yellow reflective tape while my leds where on their way.

I got out the dremel, added a polishing bit, and used it to polish the reflectors within the light assembly. One pass with mothers mag & aluminum polish, and then a second with Simichrome. This in and of itself likely helped a bit. My reflectors weren't that bad, tho (YMMV)...

I then cleaned up the non reflector sides within the assembly, cut strips of the reflective tape, and lined it all around the inside. I have to say... I cannot believe how bright they are now.

For the record, I have leds in the front, and regular incandescents in the rear. Both are brighter than before!! I will get some photos uploaded as soon as I remember my photobucket login info lol

Cheers

[PorterTheCelt]

With and without the factory headlight

[PorterTheCelt]

Can't edit my posts for some reason or I would have added this to my previous posts.




And one mid swap. Right side signal is the led with reflective tape, left side signal is incandescent with reflective tape.

I chose the yellow reflective tape knowing that leds transmit a very specific light spectrum. Yellow led, reflecting against standard reflector as well as yellow reflective tape, and thru the yellow lens cover. A cheap and easy way to increase signal visibility.

[3Phase]

Can't edit my posts for some reason or I would have added this to my previous posts.



And one mid swap. Right side signal is the led with reflective tape, left side signal is incandescent with reflective tape.

I chose the yellow reflective tape knowing that leds transmit a very specific light spectrum. Yellow led, reflecting against standard reflector as well as yellow reflective tape, and thru the yellow lens cover. A cheap and easy way to increase signal visibility.

It looks pretty good, nice contrast between the LED and incandescent lamps!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Porter,

What type of LED bulbs do you have in there?? LED bulbs and technology have increased greatly over the last few years. I'm actually running COB Led bulbs in my Xterra, and they are much stronger/brighter than incandescents.

T.C.

[PorterTheCelt]

These are the 1157's I have in the front:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are the 1156's I will have in the rear once I get a no load flasher installed:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am sure that most of the light output is actually from the leds, but I have noticed the difference between lights (led or incandescent) with and without the reflective tape. Every little bit helps, right? lol

[PorterTheCelt]

Update

Don't bother with the 1156's I posted the link to. Installed them with the no load flasher today, and they are not nearly as bright as the 1157's I put in the front, and they are the same 650 lumen rating!

They are still a fair amount brighter than the incandescents, tho, and operate/flash as they should. So, they will do until I find replacements.

Two thirds success on an amazon gift card isn't so bad I guess...

[donebysunday]

Don't bother with the 1156's I posted the link to. Installed them with the no load flasher today, and they are not nearly as bright as the 1157's I put in the front, and they are the same 650 lumen rating!

They are still a fair amount brighter than the incandescents, tho, and operate/flash as they should. So, they will do until I find replacements.

Two thirds success on an amazon gift card isn't so bad I guess...

You are trying to get the brightest light out of your signal lamps, looks good.
I've heard one thing to do (though I have not tried it) is to match the color that the bulb gives off to the color of the lens. This is supposed to give the brightest light because it matches the color wave length bulb to lens. You are on the right track.
I put led tail/brake light in a number of bikes years ago, the price was much greater back then
Anyone tried this and had success or not ?

[PorterTheCelt]

You are trying to get the brightest light out of your signal lamps, looks good.
I've heard one thing to do (though I have not tried it) is to match the color that the bulb gives off to the color of the lens. This is supposed to give the brightest light because it matches the color wave length bulb to lens. You are on the right track.
I put led tail/brake light in a number of bikes years ago, the price was much greater back then
Anyone tried this and had success or not ?

They are yellow leds. I think the problem is maybe that the 1156's are just a lower quality than the 1157's. Who knows...lol

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there,

They both list the same type/# of LEDs used in their construction, and surprisingly both say 650 Lumens, however standard 1156 bulbs are for running lights, and are supposed to be dimmer than 1157's anyways. 1157's like what are listed for our bikes are rated at 7 watts and then 23 watts...running and turn/brake brightness. And so perhaps the manufacturer set the 1156's to be dimmer despite the contrary information of same #/type of LEDs used, and the same lumens rating??

What would be interesting/funny if you were to say that the RUNNING light function of the 1157's were brighter than the 1156's? I would expect the TURN/Brake signal function to be much brighter than the 1156 because of it's function to be brighter for that vs. the running light function.

Done,

Years ago I did an LED conversion with my turn signals, but back then the 1156/57 bulb designs weren't very good/leds weren't very bright in those confined configurations, so I used an array PCB/Plate from a marking light design that I cut up, hotglued into the fixture, and they provided a bit wider spray of light within the signal fixture without relying on the reflecting surface of the housing. I just checked with superbrightleds.com and was surprised to see the relatively low lumen rating for that design....or at least of the arrays they have wired to 1156/57 type bulb ends to fit into standard sockets. I'll check the other type of marking lights and see what their lumen ratings are.

Well,they still have the type of Truck round marking light I used, has 13 LEDS, just has DOT/SAE ratings, but NO LUMENS ratings??? I'm sure if I researched it I "might" be able to find out some brightness requirements for truck marking lights??

Okay, found the FMVSS 108 codes, some photometry specs, but they are in cds(candellas), and vary according to the angle of views, the tables are difficult to understand, etc.,etc.! The range was up to ~250cd's or so. And the terms describe different measurements, a candela is the amount of light emitted over a particular angle of view, a Lumen is the TOTAL amount of light emitted from the source in ALL DIRECTIONS, but not necessarily in a focused beam/direction!

SO...I can't tell you how bright the marker lights I used are/were, just that they met the minimum brightness requirements of the DOT/FMVSS codes!?

I have done other eBay searches, and have found/seen that 1156/57 bulbs that use the COB style of LEDS will probably be a bit brighter than the CMD style of LEDS, and will still be relatively cheaper vs. trying to find CREE type LEDs in the same style of bulb.

[PorterTheCelt]

What would be interesting/funny if you were to say that the RUNNING light function of the 1157's were brighter than the 1156's? I would expect the TURN/Brake signal function to be much brighter than the 1156 because of it's function to be brighter for that vs. the running light function.

Actually...lol

The running lights kind of are brighter.

Fronts seem to be a deeper amber and they fill the entire lens(see above pics) whereas, the rear turn signals are a lighter yellow color, and only seem to fill the outside half of the lens.

Again, I'm not overly concerned as the rears are still brighter than the old style. But, it is interesting to notice differences in what seem/look to be the same leds.

It makes me plan to be a bit more cautious whenever I get around to getting the tail light and headlight upgraded.