Replacing Instrument Cluster bulbs with LEDs - Illumination Detail Question - 67 Barracuda
Superbright LEDs is suggesting trying "load resistors".
Will try those after I get the Barracuda back.
She's at the shop overnight straighteneing out a few issues, which I will post on another thread.
Ok, let’s do a little math on load resistors.
1157 bulb (rear) brake light is 2 amps.
1034 bulb (front) is 1.8 amps.
Led bulbs pull about 0.2 amps
So 2 + 1.8 = 3.8 amps through the flasher.
The led bulbs pull 2 x 0.2 = 0.4 amps
So you need a load resistor that pulls the difference, which is 3.4 amps.
14V divided 3.4A = 3.5 ohm load resistor to pull the same current with the turn signals on.
14V x 3.4A = 47 watts that the load resistor will need to dissipate.
47 watts is a lot of heat. It will take a 100 watt resistor to run safely at 1/2 capacity.
A 100 watt resistor is large and will put off a lot of heat.
My point is that the load resistor is a very brute force method of solving the problem. It also negates one of the best features of the led bulb, that is running on less power.
If you have healthy wiring and the right flasher that is connected properly, your LEDs should work great.
