Adding Load Resistors For Led Turn Signal Light Bulbs

Aug. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Many new cars like Audi, BMW, Lexus have adapted the new LED technology for turn signal lights, not only because of LEDs have sharper and brighter lighting output than stock filament bulbs, but also faster responding time than filament bulbs, so it will be easier to spotted from a further distance.

Because of this, more and more people have chosen to upgrade their cars with aftermarket LED turn signal light bulbs.

There are three most common types of aftermarket LED turn signal light bulbs below:

7440 (single filament) and 7443 (double filaments) wedge base LED light bulbs, which are usually used for Japanese vehicles like Honda, Nissan, Toyota.

3156 (single filament) and 3157 (double filaments) wedge base LED light bulbs, which are usually used for American vehicles like Ford, Dodge or Cadillac.

Finally, 1156 (single filament) and1157 (double filaments) bayonet base LED light bulbs, which are usually used for old Japanese cars and most European vehicles like Audi, BMW or Mercedes.

To find out which bulb is correct for your car, you can visit the LED Fitment Guide and follow this step by step guideline to figure out which bulbs will fit your vehicle.

When installing the LED turn signal light bulbs, almost everybody will encounter this problem that the LED turn signal light bulbs will flash much faster than stock corner light bulbs, the same symptom as one stock turn signal light bulb burnt out.

This so called "hyper flash" or "rapid flash" problem is caused when the total wattage for the turn signal light circuit drops because LED bulbs have a much lower wattage than stock filament bulbs. For example, a stock 7440 filament bulb is 21W, but a 7440 LED bulb ranges from only 0.5W up to 3W max.

In order to prevent the LED bulbs from "hyper flash" or "rapid flash", we will need to raise the wattage back to 21W.

The easiest and most common way to raise the wattage back is to parallel a piece of 50W 6Ohm load resistor to the turn signal circuit.

For 7440, 3156 and 1156 LED bulbs, since these are single filament bulbs, there are just one positive wire (Red or Blue) and one negative wire (Black or Brown). Therefore simply tap the two wires from the load resistors, one to positive and one to negative.

For 7443, 3157 and 1157 LED bulbs, since these are double-filament bulbs, therefore tap the load resistors to one positive and the negative wires, if the LED bulb still flash rapidly, simply tap the load resistor wire from the positive to another positive.

Since load resistors will generate heat, please make sure to mount the load resistors to the metal instead of the plastic.

For more detail about the installation, you can check the adding load resistor diagrams and step by step DIY guide on iJDMTOY tech support page at http://store.ijdmtoy.com/DIY-Installation-Guide-s/19.htm

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iJDMTOY offers a varieties of Automotive LED bulbs & lighting accessories. We carry LED car interior lights, Euro LED daytime running lights, Lexus style LED license plate lights, and LED strip lights, etc. Our products will make your car look super nice.