I'm thinking about replacing my rear turn signal bulbs with LEDs. Do all LED replacement bulbs require a load equalizer? My local NAPA guy told me today that the $12 LED 1156-1157 bulbs he carries have the load equalizer built in. Just wondering if anyone had used any LED replacement bulbs without having to install a seperate load eq.

 

I needed one on my 06 when I switched to led's. You can try them and see if they work properly before you buy a load equalizer. I'm not an automotive electrical expert by any means, but I think that guy at NAPA was blowing smoke up your butt when he said those $12 LED bulbs had a built in load eq.

 

LEDs do not have Load EQs built-in. Load EQs are designed to absorb energy, which means that they may need to dissapate heat.

If you are installing LEDs only on the turn signals, you may not need an EQ since the tail lamp may still be creating much of the load.

 

there are some 1156/1157 replacement bulbs that are leds and do have the eq built in. all it is is enough resistance to allow the flasher unit to actually flash, its not rocket science.

however, i have seen some of the 12 dollar units, and they are not very bright. make sure you have a good return policy if you do buy it, cause you may not be happy with the results.

 

I forgot to mention also...that I do have the unit installed that makes your turn signals also work for running and brake lights...so they will be on all the time. The LED bulbs at NAPA are the ones with 12 LEDs in them. I would think that the ones with 24 or even 36 LEDs would be much better. I have seen those on Ebay fairly inexpensive, but they do state that they require a load EQ. Might be better just to get the larger bulbs and put the EQs in.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll definitely make sure I have a return option before I buy.

 

I run them on the sportbike and haven't had a problem. The turn signals and brake lamp work great.

 

As long as you have regular bulbs in the front turn signals,you want have any probs.I sale LED's for street rods and never had to use anything to make them work.I have LED's on my 05 EGC and they work just fine.If by some chance they don't flash,the auto parts sale electonic flashers for about 14 bucks.

 

Skratch says it best. Also they may flash but they may flash too fast or too slow. Try them and see if its what you want. It ain't rocket science.

 

I put LED, rear signals, on my 2005 SE Fat Boy, without using a load equalizer. I had also hooked up a Tailbones converter that allows the rear signals to also function as auxiliary brake lights and running lights. The description for the converter was worded as if there was a load equalizer in it.
I called up Biketronics and they said that their add in the J&P catalog was misprinted. The Biketronic's tech said after I hook up the LED rear signals and converter to do a momentary disconnect of the bike's battery. He said that the bike's ECM will adjust some and that might be enough, so a load equalizer wouldn't be needed. He said when the battery was reconnected, to press the right signal and let it blink several times then do the left signal. That is what I did and everything has worked fine.
Tom