Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

[Larry E.]

The following would apply to older Corvette rear lenses also.

From the article below I going to try the "JDM ASTAR" 3030 Chipset on my enclosed trailer. The trailer is
an older model (bought brand new) that has the regular bulbs in the Tail/Stop lamps. My question is this:

Since the lens of the Tail/Stop is already red should I order the White or Red Led's? It seems if I get the
red it would diffuse part of the brightness since the light has to go through a red lens. Would white be the answer?
Thanks in Advance>Larry

[David H.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

Larry,

Not an expert, but, the red lens TRANSMITS red light and BLOCKS other colors. The real question is how bright is the white bulb in the part of the spectrum that is transmitted by the red lens? How expensive are these bulbs? Just buy one of each and give them a try.

Dave

[Larry E.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

Larry,

Not an expert, but, the red lens TRANSMITS red light and BLOCKS other colors. The real question is how bright is the white bulb in the part of the spectrum that is transmitted by the red lens? How expensive are these bulbs? Just buy one of each and give them a try.

Dave

Dave: Thanks for the response. They are sold in pairs; cost is about $15; so there is no risk in the cost.FYI
Thanks>Larry

[Larry E.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

OK; no experts it seems. Let's ask this question in a different way> On the newer Corvettes that have LED tail lights
what gives the "RED" in the lights?? Is it Red lenses with white led's or red led's insides??? Or both?? Larry

[Bruce B.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

The best LED replacement exterior tail lights have red lenses with red LED's.
The red lens and the wavelength of the red LED's light allows for maximum light transmission.
Since all red lenses are not the same and all LED's are not the same the optimum systems are carefully engineered as a unit.
Remember, the brightest lights be it tail lights or headlights or marker lights should (all don't) conform to DOT specifications.
As far as trailer lights go there are many sealed LED light assemblies which will last 50,000 hours plus. I recommend the sealed units over the bulbs for maximum efficiency and life.
Bruce B

[Mark E.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

A bright white light behind an old red lens can look washed out or pink.

The JD ASTAR 3030 LED is super bright, so no worries about brightness with their red lamps. See my recent thread about the white/yellow "switchback" version of this product for the front of the car. They are so bright I wonder if red 3030s in tail lamp mode will look like the brake lights are on- or even brighter.

They sell other 1157 replacements with fewer lumens (less brightness) you might try as well.

If you get these, please post what you find.

[Larry E.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

Thanks to all the responses. I decided to get the RED LED but not the 3030 chipset. The one I ordered from
Amazon are the following:
JDM ASTAR AX-2835 Chipsets 1157 2057 2357 7528 LED Bulbs r Brake Lights Tail lights Turn Signal, Brilliant Red
$21 including shipping. Thanks Larry

[Bruce B.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

Larry,
Give us a report on how the LED bulbs work out in your Corvette.
Do you have to use load resistors in the circuit?
Thanks,
Bruce B

[Larry E.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

Bruce: The LED's will be used in my United Enclosed Trailer not my Corvettes. AFA the load
resistors I have no clue. Trailer is pulled/controlled by my 2014 Silverado.FYI Will report when
trailer comes out of storage in May. Thanks>Larry

[Mark E.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

I spoke with JDM's customer service to ask about their tail light/ brake light, and told them that I was concerned their 3030 chipset may be too bright. They recommended their PX chipset light, but after reading the Amazon reviews, I also ordered the AX-2835 chipset in red for three reasons-

- They're "only" 950 lumens, vs. 1,500 for the 3030 chipset, but still much brighter than conventional bulbs. We'll see if they're too bright.

- At 2.1", they're about the same length as a regular 1157. Their brighter bulbs are almost 1/2" longer. I was worried about fitment behind the lens.

- JDM and customer reviews say the brightness level between dim and bright mode is greater than with other bulbs. JDM says high intensity mode is about triple the brightness of low intensity for this bulb, but it's not specified for other bulbs. (Note: It's not clear if the lumen rating is for high or low intensity.)

BTW, JDM says these flash bright-off-bright-off... even when the tail lights are on, compared to bright-dim-bright-dim... with conventional bulbs. Just something to know.

[Thomas S.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

If you want to have more information than necessary about LED colors go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode

If you want the quick answer it is basically the rare metals used when making the LED chips. If you have a colored lens, you are always better off using a white multi chip led. Unlike a filament bulb, the angle of light coming out of a single led chip is very narrow with a significant drop-off at the edges of the light cone. So they are very bright head-on but no so at even slight angles. That why the LED replacement have all those chips.

White light is a combination of all colors and therefor is the best choice for placement behind a colored lens. The actual light produced is not a true white but, depending on the type of LED used, can be somewhat yellow for inexpensive replacements. The white chips actually incorporate materials for each color the result being a white light. White LED's are most efficient (brightest) for typical lamp replacement. Colored LEDs emit a single frequency of light so using them behind anything other than a clear or clear/ frosted lens will yield less than ideal results.

Finally, LED's will seldom last their full rated life because there is more to the LED than just the chip. An LED chip requires roughly 5V to operate and it should be pure DC. So any conversion from AC to DC or lower or higher voltage requires miniature circuitry referred to as the LED driver. The drivers don't like heat or moisture and these products are not very well sealed so a driver will fail before the actual LED chip. Unlike an incandescent filament, the led driver provides no resistance and therefore will not work with normal flashers. They will not work with instrument panel light dimmers without something else in the circuit.

When properly used and in combination with the correct components, an LED is good for at least 10 - 20 times the life of best incandescent lamp.

[Mark E.]

Re: Need help from our Lighting/LED eperts

If you have a colored lens, you are always better off using a white multi chip led.

See my post from earlier today in the other LED thread. I found that a red LED behind an original red taillamp lens (albeit 46 years old) produced a bright light in a brilliant red color. In contrast, a white/clear bulb behind the same lens looked pale red, almost orange. I didn't try a white LED behind a red lens, but expect a similar result.