I started troubleshooting my Spyder LED hyper-flash issue tonight. I started by checking the resistance of the stock 3057 bulb vs the Spyder LED. To be more precise, I measured the amperage draw of both setups, then back calculate to get the resistance. The 3057 bulb has to be tested under load because an incandescent bulb's resistance increases(rapidly) as it heats up. Thus it is necessary to test it while powered instead of just using the ohmmeter built into a multimeter.
First I measured the voltage of my 13.8V power supply under the load of a 3057 bulb. It shows 13.74 Volts so that is the number I will use in my calculations.
Next I put my ammeter in line and measured the draw of the 3057 bulb once it was at full brightness.
Here is the draw of the bottom LED (as seen at the connector to the truck)
Here is the draw of the top LED:
Here are the resistances:
3057 (bright element): 6.5 Ohms
Spyder bottom LEDs under load: 7.3 Ohms
Spyder top LEDs under load: 7.4 Ohms
Spyder resistor direct ohmmeter measurement: 8.0 Ohms
The numbers don't seem that different (like using a 25watt bulb instead of a 29watt 3057) but it sounds like these trucks can be pretty sensitive. I ordered some 6Ohm 50watt resistors off of amazon (Here). I'll try those instead of the 8 Ohm thats in the Spyder light. I'll do the same test again and see what the trucks perceived resistance is.
If that doesn't work I may try doing a test socket with different bulbs like Ironman did or try to find a way to put a potentiometer in the mix.
The truck is sitting with the battery disconnected now(and has been for over an hour). I'll try the Spyders again and see if the computer reset helped. If it didn't, I'm going to put the stock tails back in. I know I'm looking for the 6.5 Ohm resistance so its just a matter of finding a way to get the Spyder lights to have that. Once I do I'll re-install them.
Does anyone else have a Spyder tail light they can check the resistor on to see if it shows 8 ohms?
AB
---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------
Computer reset did not help...
First I measured the voltage of my 13.8V power supply under the load of a 3057 bulb. It shows 13.74 Volts so that is the number I will use in my calculations.
Next I put my ammeter in line and measured the draw of the 3057 bulb once it was at full brightness.
Here is the draw of the bottom LED (as seen at the connector to the truck)
Here is the draw of the top LED:
Here are the resistances:
3057 (bright element): 6.5 Ohms
Spyder bottom LEDs under load: 7.3 Ohms
Spyder top LEDs under load: 7.4 Ohms
Spyder resistor direct ohmmeter measurement: 8.0 Ohms
The numbers don't seem that different (like using a 25watt bulb instead of a 29watt 3057) but it sounds like these trucks can be pretty sensitive. I ordered some 6Ohm 50watt resistors off of amazon (Here). I'll try those instead of the 8 Ohm thats in the Spyder light. I'll do the same test again and see what the trucks perceived resistance is.
If that doesn't work I may try doing a test socket with different bulbs like Ironman did or try to find a way to put a potentiometer in the mix.
The truck is sitting with the battery disconnected now(and has been for over an hour). I'll try the Spyders again and see if the computer reset helped. If it didn't, I'm going to put the stock tails back in. I know I'm looking for the 6.5 Ohm resistance so its just a matter of finding a way to get the Spyder lights to have that. Once I do I'll re-install them.
Does anyone else have a Spyder tail light they can check the resistor on to see if it shows 8 ohms?
AB
---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------
Computer reset did not help...
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