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Old 01-05-2016, 11:47 PM   #1
soilent
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Switching to LEDs. Do I need CANBUS bulbs?

I see a lot of sites that say both CANBUS and non CANBUS are compatible. Just wondering if either is necessary. Anyone here have any issues with just regular generic LEDs in their car? Looking to replace all interior and most of the exterior lights. Thanks.
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Old 01-06-2016, 07:53 AM   #2
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I am using cheapest regular LED bulbs, they work great. No need for can-bus ones.

Edit: That only applies for interior and number plate lights. For turn signals you need to replace flasher relay or buy high power consumption LED lights (basically ones with built in resistor for higher power consumptions to avoid hyper-blinking)

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Old 01-06-2016, 12:54 PM   #3
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If I may recommend, I went with Diode Dynamics for my switchbacks (FR-S), rear signals, and reverse lights, everything plug and play, no problems at all

You may need a relay flasher for turn signals (LEDs in general use less power so you get hyperblink.
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Old 01-06-2016, 09:27 PM   #4
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JakeRogue,

I am thinking of using brighter bulbs also, especially to get more light to the rear and up higher. The Diode Dynamics kit looks interesting as a way to do that, and if that's what you went with, did you run into any idiosyncrasies about how the bulbs work? I'm imagining using switchback LEDs which would give me an amber blinker with a bright white backup in the turn signal lamps. That seems to be a way of avoiding moving the blinker into the red taillight, which I'd like to avoid. Any advice from somebody who's done it, for somebody who can't find too much detailed info? Thanks in advance for any heads-up you can pass along.

David.

Last edited by pfaffendorn; 01-06-2016 at 09:32 PM. Reason: Additional clarity.
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Old 01-06-2016, 09:52 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by pfaffendorn View Post
JakeRogue,

I am thinking of using brighter bulbs also, especially to get more light to the rear and up higher. The Diode Dynamics kit looks interesting as a way to do that, and if that's what you went with, did you run into any idiosyncrasies about how the bulbs work? I'm imagining using switchback LEDs which would give me an amber blinker with a bright white backup in the turn signal lamps. That seems to be a way of avoiding moving the blinker into the red taillight, which I'd like to avoid. Any advice from somebody who's done it, for somebody who can't find too much detailed info? Thanks in advance for any heads-up you can pass along.

David.
The rear turn signal is not dual filament. It only does one color and functions as a blinker. It doesn't function as both the rear turn signal and reverse lights. I currently have the tail as turn module and really like it. Now the old turn signals function as reverse lights. It's much brighter.
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Old 01-06-2016, 10:22 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joyride86 View Post
The rear turn signal is not dual filament. It only does one color and functions as a blinker. It doesn't function as both the rear turn signal and reverse lights. I currently have the tail as turn module and really like it. Now the old turn signals function as reverse lights. It's much brighter.

Correct. You can get switchbacks in the front only.


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Old 01-06-2016, 10:33 PM   #7
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I'm running canbus and non-canbus leds, no issues.
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Old 01-06-2016, 10:36 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by pfaffendorn View Post
JakeRogue,

I am thinking of using brighter bulbs also, especially to get more light to the rear and up higher. The Diode Dynamics kit looks interesting as a way to do that, and if that's what you went with, did you run into any idiosyncrasies about how the bulbs work? I'm imagining using switchback LEDs which would give me an amber blinker with a bright white backup in the turn signal lamps. That seems to be a way of avoiding moving the blinker into the red taillight, which I'd like to avoid. Any advice from somebody who's done it, for somebody who can't find too much detailed info? Thanks in advance for any heads-up you can pass along.

David.


Joyride is correct. You can't do it that way. Get the turn as tail kit from diode dynamics along with there bright LED to turn the old turn into a reverse light. It'll give you more than enough light. As you can see below, the upper reverse lights from diode dynamics are putting out way more light than the Valenti bar LED's below.
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Old 01-07-2016, 12:42 AM   #9
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I will also say that upgrading the reverse lights to super bright LEDs on the bottom does add quite a bit of light at the bottom and was enough improvement for me. Stage 3 from Diode Dynamics & I'm quite pleased.


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Old 01-07-2016, 11:10 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by soilent View Post
I see a lot of sites that say both CANBUS and non CANBUS are compatible. Just wondering if either is necessary. Anyone here have any issues with just regular generic LEDs in their car? Looking to replace all interior and most of the exterior lights. Thanks.

Nothing lighting wise on our cars need to be canbus compatible, because we have no warning lights if say the bulbs go out regardless. Also only thing I would get canbus is HIDs because they seem to run better like the ones from diode dynamics do they dont flicker or flash at a rapid rate and look 100% oem in my winjets.
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Old 01-07-2016, 11:33 PM   #11
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I've gone with Diode Dynamics on all my cars, he'll answer your questions make sure you are equipped right. He's probably in the best position to answer this. Not sure if he is even on this forum though?
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Old 01-08-2016, 12:28 AM   #12
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I've gone with Diode Dynamics on all my cars, he'll answer your questions make sure you are equipped right. He's probably in the best position to answer this. Not sure if he is even on this forum though?
@Diode Dynamics is on the forum I've used all there products on my car so far except for turn signals because I did that before I heard about them
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