Tech Tips: Installing LED Resistors – Everything You Need to Know

How to Install LED Resistors – Everything You Need to Know

At this step, you are upgrading your car's turn signals to LED sensors. You may have read about resistors in your studies or perhaps heard about them in one of our videos, but you are unsure of the wiring. Or maybe you may be experiencing issues with them after you have already installed them. In any case, we are available to assist.

Today, we'll examine resistors and how to make them work as they should. We will examine the wiring, installation procedure, testing, and other aspects to ensure their correct operation. LED turn signals are a valuable addition to your car, but it's crucial to ensure their correct functioning. Let's get started!

WHAT IS A RESISTOR?

A drawback of replacing your halogen headlights with LED ones is that the onboard electronics anticipate a certain level of resistance across the lightbulb. As a result of the energy and power disparity, the LED will "hyper-flash."

Fortunately, the LED resistor steps in to control that energy and stop hyper-flashing. A vehicle-specific kit comes with the exact resistor you need, as well as the required mounting components.

Two wires are attached to the resistor itself: one for the ground and one for your turn signal. If one wire gets to the signal and the other to the ground, it does not matter which wire goes where.

Resistor-Free LED Lights

Examples of LED turn signal lights without resistors are available. But what does that signify?

A car with a Controller Area Network (CAN Bus) allows electrical gadgets and microcontrollers to talk to other parts of the car without a host computer. The CAN Bus essentially allows you to control your LED headlights appropriately without causing overheating or error warnings.

Vehicles with CAN Bus systems come in a wide range of brands and countries of origin, but these systems are present in the majority of contemporary cars. When using a resistor-free LED signal bulb, the warning lights are not activated while the LED bulb operates at its maximum brightness.

In the majority of scenarios, you may avoid using a resistor by using one of these Resistor-Free LED bulbs from GTR Lighting's Carbide Series. Even though it is uncommon, your car can nonetheless require a resistor.

A resistor is required if a carbide series bulb is not being used. The car's CAN Bus system won't detect that a light is on because most LED lights consume less electricity than halogen bulbs. As a result, it will cause a hyper-flash or activate the warning light. Electrical power is the energy used to run the lightbulb; it is not the same as light output.

HOW TO INSTALL LED RESISTORS

We'll use a Ford F-150 to demonstrate all the ins and outs of LED resistors. But it doesn't matter what kind of vehicle you're working on. Everything operates in the same way.

You must take out your car's taillight before you can begin working on the resistors. To get to your bulbs, you will have to do this. After that, disconnect the lightbulbs from the taillight housing. On a nearby safe surface, you can turn off your taillight.

Test the Turn Signal

It's crucial to test the lights before we begin attaching the wiring and bulb. To accomplish this, you can use a test light or any multimeter you can find at your neighborhood parts store.

Switch on your turn signal and unplug a tiny portion of the wires that link to the lightbulb. If you are using a multimeter set to "volts DC," place the ground pole on the first wire and the positive probe on the second wire.

If the multimeter is circling around just one value, this is your parking light. If the multimeter displays a flickering number, you have a blinker light.

When using a test light, attach the probe to the second wire after securing the ground clip to the ground wire. If the test light is solid, you have your parking light. If it is flashing, you have your blinker.

Connecting Resistors to the Wires

We strongly advise soldering the wires if you have a soldering wire at home because it creates the best connection. Others connect the wires using heat shrink. Since heat shrink requires cutting the original cables in order to apply it, we prefer soldering.

Resistor kits, such as the one we have from GTR Lighting, are quite convenient and include a T-tip. Although soldering is probably the best connector for joining wires, the T-tip also works well.

Put the resistor wire into the hole next to the bracket that snaps over if you're using the T-tip. Insert the other turn signal wire into the small opening made for it on the opposite side. Pinch the T-tip bracket shut using pliers. When it is completely closed, you will hear a click.

Remove the resistor wire slightly and connect it to the ground if you plan to solder it. After that, join the two wires using your solder. Put some electrical tape on top of it.

Upon testing the light, you may observe that the resistors may become slightly heated. You should be cautious about where you put them, but it won't burn down your truck. When it's within the housing, be sure it doesn't touch any circuitry. A tiny screw can be drilled into an interior car body panel.

REINSTALLATION

So far, none of the resistors I've owned and tested at Ledlightjeep have failed. Before putting the taillight housing back in place, make sure to recheck your wiring if you are still experiencing hyper-blinking problems.

People frequently make the error of connecting the parking light wire to the ground or the turn signal wire to the parking light wire. Connecting the turn signal and ground wires is the proper course of action.

Go ahead and reinstall your headlights after making sure everything functions and has been tested.