How To Install Switchback LEDs

Elemino

Elemino

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How To Install Switch-Back LED Bulbs

Yes, I know this is a repost. But as many people have tried to do this, I believe it deserved its own post.

Switch-Back LED bulbs are signal/park combo bulbs designed to replace the factory incandescent bulbs. When the park lights are on, switchback bulbs light up white. When the signals (or hazards) flash, the bulbs flash amber, and "switch back" to white when they stop flashing.

Well, I gave up on trying to figure out how Ford pulled off the circuit for the front park and signals. I instead turned my attention on how to make it work with the switchbacks.

Here's the necessary circuit to make it work.

drawingswitchbackledbul.png


You will have to do this for each side, so it means a total of 4 relays to do the front two lights.

*** Note: This is for Gen II. I have no clue if this works on Gen I ***

This is what you should end up with after doing the relay circuit. This is NOT the exact socket from the LS, I'm just using it for reference. Two contacts on one end should switch on positive, and two contacts on the other end should be constant ground.

socket.png


If you do this, and the white flashes or the amber is on solid, the wires going into the socket are reversed. With a "Type 2" switchback (most common), the white should be solid when park lights are on. When the signal is turned on, the white turns off and the amber flashes solo. (With a type 1 switchback, the white will remain on while the amber flashes when connected properly)

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Switchback Install on '03 Lincoln LS - YouTube

Switchbacks on '03 Lincoln LS - YouTube
 
Ummm that Jeep looks sick with the new gear. I kinda like it without the rings on more!


To the OP, great work getting it figured out. IMO either leave it like this, or just do rings. Both is a little much.
 
Andrizzle said:
Ummm that Jeep looks sick with the new gear. I kinda like it without the rings on more!


To the OP, great work getting it figured out. IMO either leave it like this, or just do rings. Both is a little much.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Angle eyes are faaaar down the road if I do it. By then I'll know more if I want to. I should point out the LEDs are bright, but they don't just look like a white blur when you see them in person.

I'm looking into making the white LEDs full time run lights. I'm not sure yet, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to do the daytime running fogs like I did on my truck.
 
awesome, but maybe with a less intense bulb... something with a little less output?
 
G-RELL said:
awesome, but maybe with a less intense bulb... something with a little less output?
Click to expand...
I wanted them to be super bright. I bought the 120 LED bulbs that cost $45 on ebay, vs the 60 LED bulbs DDM sells ($25/pr). With the HIDs (low beam and fogs) on, they actually blend pretty well. I'll try to take that photo tonight. Keep in mind I'm using my cell phone, so they aren't always the best pics. It's very hard to get any real detail when taking photos of light.

Edit: BTW. The DDM bulbs are 30 white, and 30 amber. The bulbs I used are 40 white, and 80 amber. The amber is so bright you can't look directly at the bulb when it flashes... that's EXACTLY what I wanted! lol

I wish my rear LED signals were that bright.
 
Elemino said:
.... they actually blend pretty well. I'll try to take that photo tonight. Keep in mind I'm using my cell phone, so they aren't always the best pics. It's very hard to get any real detail when taking photos of light.
Click to expand...

I'll wait to see more pics then! try taking them at dusk or shortly after..
 
Damn good work! Any chance you could test this on a gen 1? or pm me with the parts you used and I can try?
 
kaball said:
Damn good work! Any chance you could test this on a gen 1? or pm me with the parts you used and I can try?
Click to expand...
Thanks!

You can use any (non-ck) switchback bulbs to do this. (CK bulbs are hard to find, and they go out of their way to let you know it's that kind of bulb. http://youtu.be/V8ONj-NJdjA)

You need two 4 or 5 pin 12volt relays for each side, and 2 relay sockets for each side will make it much easier but is not necessary.

You'll also need one ring terminal per side to make the ground.

Of course you will also need the other basics for stripping and splicing wires.

Just follow the circuit schematic above, and you should be fine... assuming the first gen is like the second. A test light will help you out. If you're not comfortable doing this, you could take the info I posted above to any reputable stereo shop and they should be able to do this mod.
 
Elemino said:
Thanks!

You can use any (non-ck) switchback bulbs to do this. (CK bulbs are hard to find, and they go out of their way to let you know it's that kind of bulb. http://youtu.be/V8ONj-NJdjA)

You need two 4 or 5 pin 12volt relays for each side, and 2 relay sockets for each side will make it much easier but is not necessary.

You'll also need one ring terminal per side to make the ground.

Of course you will also need the other basics for stripping and splicing wires.

Just follow the circuit schematic above, and you should be fine... assuming the first gen is like the second. A test light will help you out. If you're not comfortable doing this, you could take the info I posted above to any reputable stereo shop and they should be able to do this mod.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this. I should have all the supplies around between the office and my house. Any guidance on the lights or the relays? or is one just about the same as the other.
 
Yea, I paid $45. I went back to the same exact bulb I bought and it's listed at $450. They do it every now and then. I think so they can still get google search hits when they're sold out. It'll go back down. Some of the others are ridiculous too... I've seen up to $80 for normal priced bulbs. I wouldn't pay anymore than the $45 I spent. (which is a lot, but I suppose normal for 240 LEDs).
 
Evening Shots

My HIDs are 6000k, so these LEDs must be 5000k. I may have to swap my HIDs to match. Fogs are 3000k yellows.

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Defective!!!

I hope no one has ordered these ebay switchbacks yet. Both of the bulbs I have are defective!!!

I went out to take them for their first test run tonight and I was NOT happy about the results! After the bulbs warm up, they only show amber. The white will not come back until the bulb has cooled off. To add to that, because the park and the signal both show amber, the lights do not flash once they are warmed up.

I guess I'll have to order another set of DDM switchbacks.. I destroyed the last pair figuring out how to make the switchback work. This is what I get for ordering from no-name companies on ebay.

Edit: I may go with these instead... but the price is ridiculous! http://www.v-leds.com/5K-WHITE-AMBER-DUAL-COLOR-p7472045-1-2.html#
 
Disappointed doesn't even begin to to state how I feel about these bad bulbs. The signal still works fine, but they are useless at night unless I disconnect the park wires... making it only a regular signal bulb and making all my work pointless.

I ordered new DDM bulbs to replace these. With only 30 white (down from 40) LEDs and 30 amber (down from 80) LEDs I'm worried they may not be bright enough for day usage. Really wish I had a point of reference for them. I'll report back once they are installed.
 
Sorry to hear about the eBay bulbs. The V-LEDS are probably going to be brighter though. You get what you pay for.
 
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