Road lights conversion to LED

watto64
watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
edited September 2022 in Caravans #1

Hello all.

We recently changed our towcar to a volvo with the oem towbat and electrics which as meant that the running lights on the caravan are on all the time unless I turn the car lights completely off which means no DLR on the car..

So as our elddis is 8 years old and dont envisage much life left in the bulbs if on all the time i was considering swapping the front and rear running lights to led.

Anybody undertaken this task and if so any problems encountered?

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #2

    I'm a bit puzzled as I understood it to be a legal requirement on modern cars that the DRLs remain on at all times when the engine is running. I've not met a car where it's been possible to turn them off. 🤔

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2022 #3

    You can turn them off on my 14 plate Merc. I think there might be a cut off date from when they were added before they were a legal requirement. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2022 #4

    I think you're over thinking it. Just change the caravan's bulbs if or when they fail. 😉

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #5

    Our 15 years pvc has a rear view camera and monitor in place  of the mirror that is wired into the side lights which are on when engine running  and in the 6months of use no bulb has blown and I carry a couple.of spare bulbs cheaper than a conversion to Ledscool

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #6

    That could be it. 2018 springs to mind but I’m not certain.

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited September 2022 #7

    Can be turned off in the onboard computer in my 2016 Porsche - although why would you do that? They are a safety feature. I believe (stand to be corrected) that they cannot be turned off on cars manufactured after 2018.

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited September 2022 #8

    Its not a big job. When your existing bulbs give up the ghost, just replace them with compatible LED's. I've done it on one of my older cars - no different to replacing with filament bulbs. Some cars would throw errors on the dashboard, but that doesn't apply to your caravan.

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited September 2022 #9

    Absolutely! cheap LED bulbs are more likely to cause problems!

  • watto64
    watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited September 2022 #10

    I shall go check again to see if the light stalk OFF position does indeed turn off the DLR as i agree with your comments. 

     

  • watto64
    watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited September 2022 #11

    Hi all

    Thanks for the responses.

    I do not wish to turn off the DLRs, the Thor's hammers look stunning. I was surprised to see the caravan lights  on without switching on the main headlights.

    I think i shall leave alone and carry some spares.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2022 #12

    I had the 'problem' the other way round with  my previous Merc. The car did not have DRLs but when plugged into the caravan, the caravan's front led marker lights would continually flicker even when the car's lights were OFF. 'Problem' was solved  by just switching on the car's lights which meant that the caravan's light were ON

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2022 #13

    If it is possible, it's be via an option in a screen somewhere rather than a simple on/off switch

  • PeteCI
    PeteCI Forum Participant Posts: 66
    edited September 2022 #14

    I have several unused sets of spare bulbs in the garage. Never had to replace a blown caravan bulb in almost 45 years.

  • watto64
    watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited September 2022 #15

    with the stalk switch  in the 'OFF' position the DLR's are still on. I will need to check in a few weeks when we leave the site and the caravan is connected to see whats what again..

  • watto64
    watto64 Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited September 2022 #16

    Hi,

    A good point well made but how often are caravan running lights on continuously? we rarely tow after dark.

    What i had intended was to fit LED bulbs due to longer running life/less heat etc. but as ED said i'm probably over thinking it..

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2022 #17

    As above, I towed with my lights ON with my previous car despite rarely, if ever towing in the dark, but I've yet to change a bulb in the 6 years of owning my caravan.

    There's nothing to stop you buying some led bulbs as replacements, but odds are, they'll stay in a drawer in your garage for ever 😉

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