996 LED Install

[wyovino]

While looking for leds, I read that a "colored lens will filter out all but the colored portion of the light"

So my lens being red, I'm using red led so that a "smaller amount of light will be blocked by the lens".

Here is the reference: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fcarbulb-notes.htm

As to why the led doesn't work, I suspect that it is a polarity issue but I'm still waiting for a confirmation from the forum (I don't have voltmeter).

Thanks. It seems counter-intuitive at first glance, but now it makes sense. Anyway, I would think that the brightest combination would be a Red LED with clear lens, but would be more costly.

[wwest]

While looking for leds, I read that a "colored lens will filter out all but the colored portion of the light"

So my lens being red, I'm using red led so that a "smaller amount of light will be blocked by the lens".

Here is the reference: http://www.superbrig...rbulb-notes.htm

As to why the led doesn't work, I suspect that it is a polarity issue but I'm still waiting for a confirmation from the forum (I don't have voltmeter).

Thanks. It seems counter-intuitive at first glance, but now it makes sense. Anyway, I would think that the brightest combination would be a Red LED with clear lens, but would be more costly.

You don't need diodes if you install LEDs in every socket in a given ciruit.

[ChrisJP]

You don't need diodes if you install LEDs in every socket in a given ciruit.

Tks wwest for your suggestion.

I've removed all bulbs from the Left Rear Light and put in 2 LED (brake & tail)...and it still won't work.

Using electrical cable, I confirmed that polarity needs to be somewhat "reversed" for the LED to light-up (I need + on the bottom and - on the side)

Those are BA15S so I cannot switch them 180deg to reverse polarity.

Diodes are used to convert AC to DC, when my issue is polarity: is there still a way to use diode to solve this problem?

[ChrisJP]

I might have find a way to deal with the polarity issue on the BA15 base through the use of base adaptor:

Polarity should not be an issue as I will be able to rotate the led 180 deg...

BA15 base LED is not very popular in Japan anyway (I only had few choices) so this base adaptor is looking promising (so far).

Any advise welcome.

Edited January 9, 2011 by ChrisJP

[aspett]

I have also been replacing bulbs with LEDs on my 1999 C2 and have removed my rear tail/brake BA15D LED as when I applied the brake, my parking lights and side markers would come on. Dwiggy's comment that both "circuits" remain connected and are not true dual filament (as my bulbs were advertised), thus causing a short to the parking light circuit would explain this. I am hoping that the diode solution will prevent this. Has anyone else experienced this (or checked to see if it happens)? I only noticed when replacing my 3rd brake light bulbs with LEDs inside my closed garage and noticed my very bright LED front parking lights against the door when testing the brake. Also, does anyone have a solution to getting the front side markers to work as turn signals as described in the Mods DIY as that solution relies on bulbs working with reverse polarity, which doesn't work with unmodified LEDs.