Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
I'm not sure why you want to replace the incandescent bulbs with LEDs.
Bill
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I wanted to have some extra bulbs on hand for our summer trips, so I figured I would replace with brighter, longer-lasting LEDs and keep the old incandescent bulbs as spares while on the road.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shane826
It’s interesting that the Ford monitors the trailer lights. Install CAN-Bus* LED bulbs. They have a higher resistance so as to not confuse the truck’s computer into thinking the bulb is blown. That said, more and more trailers are now built with LED lights. I find it hard to believe your truck wouldn’t work with them. Maybe there is a setting buried somewhere in the DIC to switch between LED or incandescent trailer lights? If you want to PM me your VIN I can do some digging on the Ford service website. Or maybe it’s something you can adjust with the Ford Scan app?
*DO NOT use CAN-Bus LEDs on your camper anywhere that is powered by the camper battery. Resistance goes up, then amp draw has to go up as well, negating any power savings of switching to LEDs.
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This is interesting information. I was not familiar with CAN-Bus LED bulbs, but I now see that they are probably what I should have purchased in the spring. I think I understand that they are basically an LED with a built-in resistor? From my internet searching, I know this has come up on some other forums. What is the "Ford Scan app?"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
FWIW:
Good luck. As I said, I would just leave it in the working condition you described, and not worry about your next truck or your next TM.
Bill
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Yep, that's my plan. I'll keep the LED bulbs in my storage box in case a bulb burns out on a trip...dealing with erroneous error messages is tolerable for a short time until a trip ends and a new bulb can be purchased.
In the meantime, I am still left curious as to whether the replacement LED bulbs draw a different amount of power than the LED fixtures installed on newer trailers...and if I would have the issue on a newer trailer.
Anyway, thanks again!
John