Need info on LED tail conversion...

DangerRanger379 · #1 10-29-2010, 08:52 AM

so i hear that if you pull your OEM bulbs in replace them with an led type bulb that they will blink rapidly as if one of your bulbs is out. is this true? and if so, what can be done to make them blink the normal speed?

thanks all

pooleo · #2 10-29-2010, 08:55 AM

I have them in my truck, red ones. They work as normal bulbs do.

DangerRanger379 · #3 10-29-2010, 09:07 AM

ok, is there a certain type or place to get them that you would prefer?

ranger024x4 · #4 10-29-2010, 09:37 AM

I had some and they did have the ricer flash. I bought a new flasher relay that was ment for led bulbs.

pooleo · #5 10-29-2010, 10:06 AM

I bought mine at auto zone. From my understanding, if you have a high flash problem, add the led to the exsisting wire and bulb. The original bulb will act as a ballast and make the led work properly. Use some elec. tape and tape up the bulb. Or you can by the ballast but they are junk and are like $10 a piece.

I myself have 04 tailights and used the reverse spot as the blinker. I use a red LED for this and I did not have any problems

STL · #6 10-29-2010, 10:09 AM

Get a EP27 flasher to correct the "hyper flash"

Jp7 · #7 10-29-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerRanger379

ok, is there a certain type or place to get them that you would prefer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranger024x4

I had some and they did have the ricer flash. I bought a new flasher relay that was ment for led bulbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooleo8

I bought mine at auto zone. From my understanding, if you have a high flash problem, add the led to the exsisting wire and bulb. The original bulb will act as a ballast and make the led work properly. Use some elec. tape and tape up the bulb. Or you can by the ballast but they are junk and are like $10 a piece.

I myself have 04 tailights and used the reverse spot as the blinker. I use a red LED for this and I did not have any problems

I am considered to be the expert by many on FRF/RF about all LED conversions on the ranger.

First of all, any LEDs you buy from autozone are going to be junk. They have no heat sink, and they will not fill the reflective surface of the tail light with light at all. The only good LED replacement (that is simple) for the ranger is the L1224R. For a while I was selling these that I have had removed from Mercury Mountaineer tail lights.

There is a better option than L1224R, but it is much more work. It involves buying 2 sets of tail lights, opening each up and combining the remaining parts to make a good set of tail lights. While apart, you can make PCB's that contain many, many superflux lumiled LEDs. This is my current project.

With any LEDs, the current draw is much less than stock. The factory flashing unit under the dash is designed to blink fast when it sees a low current draw simply because this is the trucks way of telling you "hey - I think you have a bulb out".

You can indeed replace this flasher with one designed from LEDs but I highly reccomend to ONLY buy the EP27 that VLEDs.com sells. This is the ONLY flasher that I have tested repeated times in comparison to the standard "autozone" flashers and they tend to work more correctly in more situations. I think that autolumination.com sells the exact same flasher also (I'll tell you in a few days, I just ordered one)

If you search for threads I've authored you will find TONS of threads on LED conversion projects for your ranger.

pooleo · #8 10-29-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jp7

I am considered to be the expert by many on FRF/RF about all LED conversions on the ranger.

First of all, any LEDs you buy from autozone are going to be junk. They have no heat sink, and they will not fill the reflective surface of the tail light with light at all. The only good LED replacement (that is simple) for the ranger is the L1224R. For a while I was selling these that I have had removed from Mercury Mountaineer tail lights.

There is a better option than L1224R, but it is much more work. It involves buying 2 sets of tail lights, opening each up and combining the remaining parts to make a good set of tail lights. While apart, you can make PCB's that contain many, many superflux lumiled LEDs. This is my current project.

With any LEDs, the current draw is much less than stock. The factory flashing unit under the dash is designed to blink fast when it sees a low current draw simply because this is the trucks way of telling you "hey - I think you have a bulb out".

You can indeed replace this flasher with one designed from LEDs but I highly reccomend to ONLY buy the EP27 that VLEDs.com sells. This is the ONLY flasher that I have tested repeated times in comparison to the standard "autozone" flashers and they tend to work more correctly in more situations. I think that autolumination.com sells the exact same flasher also (I'll tell you in a few days, I just ordered one)

If you search for threads I've authored you will find TONS of threads on LED conversion projects for your ranger.

I don't think that mine from AZ are junk, infact they are very bright and reflect very well. Tho, mine are not replacement for tail lights. And as I stated in my post, I have the '04 tail lense and the reverse space is occupied by the blinker. They do not have a heat sink but I havn't had any problems. They also have a very elaborte circuit board. Maybe this is why I don't have these blinking issues. For me it was a plug and play mod. I will post a pic tonite of the lense and LED bulb.

Jp7 · #9 10-29-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooleo8

I don't think that mine from AZ are junk, infact they are very bright and reflect very well. Tho, mine are not replacement for tail lights. And as I stated in my post, I have the '04 tail lense and the reverse space is occupied by the blinker. They do not have a heat sink but I havn't had any problems. They also have a very elaborte circuit board. Maybe this is why I don't have these blinking issues. For me it was a plug and play mod. I will post a pic tonite of the lense and LED bulb.

These them?

STL · #10 10-29-2010, 11:22 AM

Here is my L1224R swap ==> http://www.fordrangerforum.com/exter...phase-1-a.html

Jp7 · #11 10-29-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STL

Here is my L1224R swap ==> http://www.fordrangerforum.com/exter...phase-1-a.html

The L1224R's are slighly better than stock in terms of brightness, and for the longest time this was the best option. Now that PCB's are an option for me I'm switching to them. I just did PCB's in my headlights and they make the L1224R's look dim in comparison. I do love my L1224Rs though.

pooleo · #12 10-29-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jp7

These them?

No. mine are not that long and have 6 LEDs on the sides. They are also much thicker in the center and not clear.

Jp7 · #13 10-29-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooleo8

No. mine are not that long and have 6 LEDs on the sides. They are also much thicker in the center and not clear.

Yes - I know which one you mean. Those don't even come close to stock output or that of an L1224R. They have no heat sink because they can't handle any current. Your LEDs are 10ma rated. They look bright for Hellen Keller.

pooleo · #14 10-29-2010, 06:31 PM

Well my phone takes very crappy pics at night and the vid wont upload. For some reason. Its a .3pg file, idk...?

I guess I will try with my video camera in a little while.

FireRanger · #15 10-29-2010, 07:05 PM

I did the L1224R conversion in my tailights... in fact I bought them from JP7! They far surpass any of the junk you could ever buy at Autozone.

And yes, the proper way to fix the fast-flash is with an EP27 flasher.