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BigWheels

Member Since: 21 Mar 2010
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1405

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green

LED lights on trailers?

Much has been written about LED exterior lights for Defenders.

Do the same rules for LED bulbs replacing filament ones apply to trailers as to vehicles?

I notice some trailers have outline LEDs in as many colours as Christmas trees! Are all colours legal for such use, especially blue? Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender

17th Mar 2014 11:03pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19658

Same regulations such as E marking I'd imagine, as it is being used on the road. Diesel$ Live$ Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨‍🔧🧰⚙️ RED, WHITE & BOOST! 🇬🇧

17th Mar 2014 11:12pm

JWL

Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

I haven't had the experience yet but, what happens when you hitch up a trailer with full led bulbs, I take it the indicators still work with a standard towing vehicle, is there enough load on the circuit to enable the trailer telltale on the dash? Just curious.

18th Mar 2014 1:13am

Romadog

Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Powys
Posts: 1747

the lights will work, but the warning lamp on the dash for the indicayors may not work due to low current draw. However if the lights fitted have a resistor fitted inside for each function then this wont be a problem.

Newer vehicles with canbus looms, have problems with the indicators flashing too quickly. This is similair to when the indicators flash more quickly due to a blown bulb on the circuit. Iuse a Brian James trailer at work which has just rear LED lamps. The indicators flash fast on my Ranger, but when tested on a Connect they flashed at normal speed.

18th Mar 2014 6:11pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19658

If you have RDX led lighting the relay works with an led light trailer but you won't get the dash lights as it simply can't detect it.
You'd need resistors on the indicators only for it to all work in sync.
Flash rate with a vehicle with incandescent regular lighting should be fine with led trailer lighting but again dash light could be an issue.
As the load of the lighting on the vehicle is pretty much stable the LED lighting flash rate should be about the same. Diesel$ Live$ Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨‍🔧🧰⚙️ RED, WHITE & BOOST! 🇬🇧

18th Mar 2014 6:17pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

I had a quick look on the mobilecentre site for some LEDs for my merlin , nice selection

18th Mar 2014 6:25pm

JWL

Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

Sorry if I sound like a Luddite but, apart from the supposed longer life of an led bulb(though I've only ever replaced one filament indicator bulb on my 12 year old Defender) and the lower current draw(I have got leds in the sidelights, never worry about leaving them on with the engine not running) I don't see much point in changing the indicators over due to the other issues that go with making them work.

18th Mar 2014 6:58pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

I think that led indicators stand out much more in traffic than incandescent ones, my opinion anyway for what its worth

2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
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18th Mar 2014 7:02pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19658

If you get the LED relay from RDX there is no issue involved at all with led indicators.

Edit*
And they are indeed brighter, especially brake lights. Diesel$ Live$ Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨‍🔧🧰⚙️ RED, WHITE & BOOST! 🇬🇧

18th Mar 2014 7:32pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

I agree with ^^

But if you tow trailers, caravans etc that don't have led indicators it may overload the led indicator relay. ?

18th Mar 2014 8:14pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19658

Steve - No it handles that too.

Diesel$ Live$ Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨‍🔧🧰⚙️ RED, WHITE & BOOST! 🇬🇧

18th Mar 2014 9:47pm

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