led trailer lights

[CornishPete]

was wondering if anyone has any experience using led trailer lights (about £15 a pair from ebay)? Not so much from a quality point of view more function really. I thought leds were sensitive to voltage drops etc and will they work with any vehicle? (its a 2006 transporter t5 to be specific)
its for a little trailer that bounces when empty and the internals of traditional lights rattle to bits!

 

[barracuda816]

Leds are sensitive to voltage change but they are generaly driven at around 3.2v so i belive have the circutary in them to drop the ~12v down. I would Make sure they are "E" marked though. This essentialy means they are road legal and bright enough.

 

[MCKDAVID]

got mine from a trailer site, quality ok, decent price. Had them for over a year now, not noticed any issues day to day ref voltage. That said, I've not specifically checked them against voltage fluctuation just plugged them in and they work. The only complaint would be a broken wire in the plug, but that was easily sorted.

overall can't really complain, no bulbs to change / rattle loose etc, just plug and play. They're definitely less agro than the one it replaced, every time out something else went wrong with it, corroded pins, loose bulbs, works one minute then not the next etc. same problems as yourself by the sound of it.... .how long will the LED ones last, who knows? They're like everything else now, they're consumable pretty much.

 

[rtbcomp]

Bear in mind LEDs may not draw sufficient current to operate the trailer indicator warning buzzer/lamp. A resistor should be incorporated in the lamp somewhere to emulate the load imposed by filament bulbs.

 

[Justme]

Of instead of the resistor fit a relay that works correctly with led lights.

If you fit a resistor remember they get HOT.

Secondary benefit is that the buzzer will not sound when the lights are working but it still lets you know when they dont work with a trailer fitted.
Yes this complies with the current law re trailer lights & indication of correct operation.

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ Not sure what you mean - diagram please!

 

[MCKDAVID]

why should we have to add anything, these units are supposed to be a direct replacement for the filament type trailer boards. If they're sold as fit for purpose, we shouldn't have to start fitting resistors, most people probably wouldn't / couldn't anyway.

If we have to start all that, they're not compatible for the job they're being sold for.

 

[RonA]

was wondering if anyone has any experience using led trailer lights (about £15 a pair from ebay)? Not so much from a quality point of view more function really. I thought leds were sensitive to voltage drops etc and will they work with any vehicle? (its a 2006 transporter t5 to be specific)
its for a little trailer that bounces when empty and the internals of traditional lights rattle to bits!

Whilst I don't have a trailer, my neighbour does & will lend it to me anytime. He has recently fitted commercially available LED tailight clusters.
Now when towing the trailer with my 2008 Landrover Freelander 2 I have noticed the non operating lights have a slight flicker, this stops when the light is switched on. I've read somewhere that it's to do with the can bus wiring on the vehicle. Filament bulbs don't react but as the LED's can switch faster they pick up the pulses. The effect is barely visible & Ive taken to just ignoring it.
RonA

 

[rtbcomp]

...I have noticed the non operating lights have a slight flicker, this stops when the light is switched on. I've read somewhere that it's to do with the can bus wiring on the vehicle. Filament bulbs don't react but as the LED's can switch faster they pick up the pulses. The effect is barely visible & Ive taken to just ignoring it.
RonA

More likely stray currents. LEDs take much less current than filaments so they don't drop as much voltage across a partial short &c, this means they can show a light whereas a filament bulb wouldn't.

 

[Robotstar5]

Now when towing the trailer with my 2008 Landrover Freelander 2 I have noticed the non operating lights have a slight flicker, this stops when the light is switched on. I've read somewhere that it's to do with the can bus wiring on the vehicle. Filament bulbs don't react but as the LED's can switch faster they pick up the pulses. The effect is barely visible & Ive taken to just ignoring it.
RonA

You need a trailer interface module - example

 

[Johnseat]

Depending on the led used, they take either 50 or 100 millamps to operate.
Vehicle use a 5v reference signal to check for bulbs which doesn't illuminate a bulb but will cause an led to flick on and off.

 

[snowcat]

Iv put LEDs on about 30 trailers now everything from 40' artics down to 10' car trailers, You would NEVER go back to normal bulbs once fitted, the major advantages are lower operating current which on 40' trailer with loads of side markers you don't get half as many earth issues, or lights dropping completely, They don't rattle the bulbs out which Ifor type car trailers all do if used light for long, and they don't fill with water when left stood up for ages.

As said your need to ballast if you want the trailer "working" indicators to inform you, but The ballasts are about £1 a set. I always used to buy the lights from Easten Europe with no problems , but at last the UK seems to be adopting them as standard so the prices here are tumbling.

 

[rory1]

Led side marker lights for agricultural trailers are a godsend. I used to be forever changing 5w bulbs before I fitted the LEDs

 

[BChild]

I occasionally use a small trailer with LED lights behind my 98 740 and it doesn't like them at all - I think it upsets the can bus set up

 

[Justme]

^^ Not sure what you mean - diagram please!

A diagram of what?

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ of how the relay is connected - Robotstar5 obliged in post #13

 

[Migmac]

I have them on my trailer, on the whole very good. The only problem I have is the white running lights, at night when you are reversing you get blinded by them. Not good when your reversing between my truck and the wife's car

 

[Justme]

^^ of how the relay is connected - Robotstar5 obliged in post #13

Every car is different.

My Astra H has a universal type that tapped into each wire in the boot area.

The Astra J has a model specific one that taps into the power + & - & the canbus.