Nissan LEAF Light Bulb Mods: LEDs Anyone?

[Eggroller]

Anyone install LED bulbs for the signals? Do I need resistors for every corner (4)? Or could I just install a set of 2 for the left and right side?

[nerys]

here is a question I have regarding load resistors.

do they have to be on all the time?

for example. I engage the turn signal. the lamps illuminate. if the load is too low (such as if a bulb is out) it hyper flashes.

now. what happens NEXT?

I am pulling numbers out of my butt here but bear with me. lets say it needs to see 20 watts per bulb. so 40 watts per side (front and rear turn signal)

If I put 2 LED's in it might only use 5 watts. so I need to add X watts load balancer lets say 35 watts to bring it back to 40.

now. lets say the light is illuminated for 1 second.

do I have to consume 40 watts for 1 second or would consuming 40watts for say .05 seconds be enough to trigger the ok all good flash normally then disengage the load balance and just have the LED connected?

when it goes off and comes back on do the same thing?

IE what about a chip that engages the load balancer for a fraction of a second long enough (if possible) to avoid triggering the hyper flash error out.

this way I will still get 90 to 95% of the energy savings of using an LED bulb over the incan.

this is a shiggles option. IE for the fun of it.

possible? anyone familiar enough with these systems to know?

[aarond12]

Anyone install LED bulbs for the signals? Do I need resistors for every corner (4)? Or could I just install a set of 2 for the left and right side?

You need resistors for all four corners. I have LEDs all around. What irritates me is that they flash at the correct speed with the hazard lights and no resistors. The turn signals, however, require the resistors to flash at the correct speed.

[chivalryx]

The resistors aren't in use when the turn lights aren't flashing. They only trick the car into thinking there's a higher draw when you use the turn signals. In parking light mode, the resistors aren't used. I use dual colour bulbs in mine, white when the low beams are on, amber when turning. When on white, the resistors are cold to the touch (i.e. not used). They're very hot when the turn signal is on for more than a minute. The power consumption isn't significant.

The only annoyance is the housings have the bulbs pointing upwards for some reason, instead of parallel to the ground. So my whites aim into the sky :/

Chiv.

here is a question I have regarding load resistors.

do they have to be on all the time?

for example. I engage the turn signal. the lamps illuminate. if the load is too low (such as if a bulb is out) it hyper flashes.

now. what happens NEXT?

I am pulling numbers out of my butt here but bear with me. lets say it needs to see 20 watts per bulb. so 40 watts per side (front and rear turn signal)

If I put 2 LED's in it might only use 5 watts. so I need to add X watts load balancer lets say 35 watts to bring it back to 40.

now. lets say the light is illuminated for 1 second.

do I have to consume 40 watts for 1 second or would consuming 40watts for say .05 seconds be enough to trigger the ok all good flash normally then disengage the load balance and just have the LED connected?

when it goes off and comes back on do the same thing?

IE what about a chip that engages the load balancer for a fraction of a second long enough (if possible) to avoid triggering the hyper flash error out.

this way I will still get 90 to 95% of the energy savings of using an LED bulb over the incan.

this is a shiggles option. IE for the fun of it.

possible? anyone familiar enough with these systems to know?

[chivalryx]

You only need resistors on the turn bulbs you switch over. So if you only do the front bulbs, you only need 2. If you do the rears, you need 4.

Chiv.

Anyone install LED bulbs for the signals? Do I need resistors for every corner (4)? Or could I just install a set of 2 for the left and right side?

[nerys]

the power consumption is actually quite significant. its 27watts per bulb (for 1157's for example)

for 4 of them that is 108 watts. 4 led's are 2 watts. if that. maybe 10 if you use the really crazy bright ones. (total not each)

the resistors would take it back up around 100 watts.

now the question is this. I am going to make up some numbers for numbers sake.

lets say the bulb flashes every 2 seconds. 1 second on 1 second off.

if I turn on the load resistor for .1 seconds and then have it OFF for the last .9 seconds that the bulb is illuminated. is that enough to trick the system to flash normally? IE do I have to draw 27watts for the full seconds or just "initially" if only initially how long?

if yes and for a short time. what might be the process to design such a circuit to do that?

[NeilBlanchard]

You should be able to replace the relay to avoid the hyper flashing.

[estomax]

has anyone found reverse LEDs that put out more light than the stock incandescent 921 bulbs ? all the ones ive tried so far have been inferior to stock.

Marko

[Supersleeper]

if I turn on the load resistor for .1 seconds and then have it OFF for the last .9 seconds that the bulb is illuminated. is that enough to trick the system to flash normally? IE do I have to draw 27watts for the full seconds or just "initially" if only initially how long?

This is a very valid question, and I’m willing to bet it’s not doing the bulb check 100% of the time. You may be able to fool it with a simple arduino, a mosfet and load resistor. When the arduino detects current, it can leave the load resistor on by means of the mosfet gate for whatever time frame fools the computer, then shut down. I think the only way to discover this is by actually experimenting with it. I’ve got some load resistors on order, and an arduino.

I may just have to try this myself. I think I may try this by wiring the load resistor as normal, then experiment with manually switching it off and on.

[estomax]

is the flasher relay on this car a discrete component or part of the cars central control system? might be able to change the load it is looking for in the Canbus if it is the latter, or modify the relay like on older cars if it is the former. who has time to dig into it?

Marko