What if you just replaced the side marker bulb with two parallel LED one in each direction

I think them it would work just like non led light does now but in any mode only one or the other led would illuminate

Maybe I have not thought it thru so a test might be on order

 

That would work as long as both were grounded. I know Poison Spider sells three wire LED's which do the same thing, but they are also $30 each. LED Turn Signal 3-Wire | LED Lights | Poison Spyder Customs

Kind of missed where you were going at first....yes, that should work also.

 

I just used the poison spyder 3 wire. They only took a couple minutes to install and have worked great so far

 

Great write up. Thank you.

 

I did a similar thing with a scooter LED tail light. I used a resistor so that the tail light was half brightness, then ran the brake circuit directly to the LED. No diodes necessary.

 

What keeps your turn signal from flashing both rear lights if they are tied to the same lead as the tail lights? Or do you mean a "two wheel scooter".... with just the brake light in the center?

 

Great write up waterdog. Led side markers have been on the to do list for awhile. I happen to have those wire mid parts lying around too.

 

My current game plan is to wire up 2 3-wire LEDs to the front turn signal in parallel. I'll be placing one on the front, and one on the inside of the fender, above the wheel.

 

As long as reverse polarity does not damage LED replacing the stock Marker bulb with 2 LEDs both rated for 12 volts but installed parallel with opposite polarity across the stock 2 marker wires should duplicate stock marker light function as 12 volts in either polarity will illuminate one of the LEDs

 

Quite true, if you want to use two... or you could use one three wire, or do the mod.

 

I found this picture when searching for ideas for LED side markers for TJs on google. With this 2 light system, would it work to hook one light in parallel with the front running light wire and the second in parallel with the front turn signal wire? If I'm thinking of this right, one would always be on when the running lights are on, and the other would be on only when the turn signal is activated right?

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I found this picture when searching for ideas for LED side markers for TJs on google. With this 2 light system, would it work to hook one light in parallel with the front running light wire and the second in parallel with the front turn signal wire? If I'm thinking of this right, one would always be on when the running lights are on, and the other would be on only when the turn signal is activated right?

Yes, you could do that. Parking light + and ground, and Turn Signal + and ground.

 

Thank you for writing this up! I just finished the project and all went well.

 

How would you go about installing LED turn signals in the grill but keeping the side markers incandescent?
I mocked everything up. Everything works with the running light OFF, but when you turn the running lights ON the fronts function perfect but when the side marker is very very dim. Shut the running lights off, everything goes back to working order.

 

So with the poison spider leds you don't have to do anything mods correct?

 

Just wire them in. White to ground, black to side marker +, Red to turn signal +

 

I am wanting to change my front blinkers and side markers to LED. I have already installed a LED relay. Will I need a resistor for those to work with LED bulbs?

 

In that type of circuit, the purpose of a resistor is to fool an old fashioned electromechanical flasher into working with an LED light that doesn't draw enough current to make the flasher work. That vintage flasher uses the current drawn by an old fashioned incandescent light bulb to make its flasher work. Adding a resistor in parallel with an LED bulb makes it draw more current so the old electromechanical flasher will work.

But a modern electronic flasher designed for LED lights no longer depends on current to make it flash so it works with LED bulbs without the resistor.

 

In that type of circuit, the purpose of a resistor is to fool an old fashioned electromechanical flasher into working with an LED light that doesn't draw enough current to make the flasher work. That vintage flasher uses the current drawn by an old fashioned incandescent light bulb to make its flasher work. Adding a resistor in parallel with an LED bulb makes it draw more current so the old electromechanical flasher will work. But a modern electronic flasher designed for LED lights no longer depends on current to make it flash so it works with LED bulbs without the resistor.

Awesome. Thank you. I didn't want to have to add a resistor so this is good news.

 

Are there differences in LED flashers??

I bought my TJ the Quadratec LED tail lights that come with the EP26 for Christmas. I also bought a LED bulb for the 3rd brake light. Installed it all and everything works perfect. I then decided to put LED in the front/side marker lights and front turn signal lights. Put in the front/side marker lights still everything works perfect. When I put in the front turn signal lights that things go a little crazy. When they are in the right turn signal on the instrument panel is illuminated, The odometer blinks when either turn signal is used and the front driver side turn signal illuminates when the brakes are applied. I have even tried putting the original bulbs back in the side marker lights and kept the turn signal with the LED and the same thing happens. Just curious if I might need a different LED flasher. Thanks!

 

I can verify the LED side markers I converted a couple years ago work fine with the factory flasher my '04 came with. The LEDs work as running lights and flash with the turn signals as the factory wired the OE side markers to do. I made no wiring modifications, I just had to observe the LED wiring polarity.

 

you can buy the 3 wire LEDs from amazon for $10 a piece. They are the exact same lights that Metal Cloak sells. I put the LED flasher in and everything works great but since I have an '05 LJ, I get a constant beep when the parking lights are on, which I believe is due to the lack of resistance.

 

Hold on there Jerry the factory side markers have two flash modes one with park light on and other with park lights off

One in sync and other opposite sync with turn filaments all via a float ground and one mode current one way and other way current opposite way so no way I see a plain two wire single direction current flow led working same as factory markers

Two in parallel with opposite polarity would

 

I just put in a set i got on ebay for $8 per pair. They are 3 wire. Seem to work ok.
Very dim though.
And the blinking is almost unotivable with headlight on.
I have a 2 wire set as side markets from another company that are 10x brighter

Are the amazone or poison sypder 3 wires really bright?

 

I'm having a difficult time getting my LED turn signals and side markers to work properly. I made the pair of resistor/diode adaptors and have spliced then into the factory harness.

Lights off, left turn: all four LEDs flash in unison (sometimes left side has a quicker flash)
Lights off, right turn: all for LEDs flash in unison (sometimes left side has a quicker flash)

Lights on: all four LEDs steady on

Lights on, left turn: left flash in unison
Lights on, right turn: right flash in unison

I have an EP26 flasher relay. And a replacement multi function switch. Factory flares.

Putting in one factory turn signal bulb in will make the left/right sides flash separately. Though the turn signal and side marker lights will always flash in unison.

Both resisters read 0.55kohm
The diodes read between 0.625-641v and none are "leaking" backwards. Should the range in voltage be closer?

While I know it is fairly simple, this level of electrical is unfamiliar and confusing to me. Am I correct in thinking that I need more resistance when the lights are off?

 

Not following exactly what you're attempting to do. You mentioned the resistor/diode mod, and also the stock lamp holder, and that you replaced the led with a stock bulb. I haven't tried the mod using a stock lamp holder/led bulb, but if that is what you're doing, I would guess that you would have to ground the wire that connects to - side of the led you're using in the holder, and connect the wire from the resistor/diode mod to the + wire.

 

 

Any difference if you pull the side marker light bulbs?

 

Headlights off, no side markers: both turn signals flash together. Sometimes the opposite side being signaled has the quick flash. This is inconsistent.

Headlights on, no side markers: turn signals function correctly.

Same behavior if I pull the turn signals and leave the side markers installed.

 

I think i'll just dump the side marker lights when i convert to LEDs.

 

You could get 2 sets of running lights/turn signals, and wire them in parallel with each other. That's what I plan on doing when I switch the fronts to LED.

 

Yes if you use stock front side marker wiring but replace the bulb with two parallel LED light with opposite polarity they should work just like stock side markers

 

Off topic but still in the same area. I'm adding led headlights and they have the option of wiring a turn signal or daytime running light to one of the LED banks. Which wire in the turn signal or side marker light harness if any has a constant 12v when the key is turned in the ignition? I ask cause I want to do the drl option