Upgraded The LEDs In My Recon Mirror Signals

[infinitereality]

As we all know, Recon stuff is usually crap. But with no other place to get the mirror signals from I took a chance. They looked and worked great when I first installed them, but after a year they started to come apart. Removed and epoxied back together. Now recently noticed they have faded a little bit in past 2 years.

I got a set of OEM power fold mirrors for hell of a deal, but the caps were silver. While I was changing the caps to my stock white ones, I wanted to keep the Recon signals as well. I just happen to have some orange LED strips laying around that I intended on using to put under the hood heat vents and since I have yet to install those, figured I'd take the time to take the Recon signals apart and upgrade them.....glad I did they were on their last leg before dying completely.

As you can see below, it's pretty obvious which strip was the Recon one. For being a sealed signal, definitely wasn't that. Wasn't hard to pull them apart, remove the old strip and install the new one. HUGE difference in light output, glad I took the time to pull apart. Below are some pictures to show what's inside of them and brightness comparison. I wish I'd installed the strips when they were new as I never considered them even really being noticeable because of how dim they were.

Power fold mirrors are pretty awesome, car washes are going to be so much easier now that I don't have to get out to fold them in and out every time!

 

[AbnMP13]

Got a pic of the new ones on the truck?


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[infinitereality]

Not yet, letting the stuff fully cure before I solder them on. Should be ready this afternoon and I'll get some pics

 

[infinitereality]

I didn't have a chance to solder them in but forgot in took this picture last night of them lit up. Wish I'd taken a comparison picture of the old ones in the smoked lens.

 

[infinitereality]

Here's the recon mirror signals installed with new strips. Huge difference in brightness compared to what they were.

 

[RaptorScrew]

...and will these run as signals AND running lights or just one?

 

[infinitereality]

They just run as signals, like recon ones do. dang, I could have easily ran running light wire with power fold wires but didn't even think about it. Damn it, hindsight is always 20/20

 

[M. Luis]

@infinitereality I just ordered a pair of these and after reading this I think I'm going to follow your lead and do this from the start. I found these lights on Amazon(5M Waterproof 300 LED 3528 SMD Flexible LED Light Lamp Strip 12V (Orange, 1 Pcs 3528)
I'm a novice.....any idea if I should use these?
Also, can you expand upon your idea on how to make them turn signals and running lights please. Any and all help is much appreciated.



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[infinitereality]

Can you solder? You can use the strip and cut to length but would have to solder wires onto it. I recently actually had a roll and even tho I can solder it was a pita to get solder to stick on the ones I had.

The strips I used for this made it simple since wires were already on them and just had to cut.

To get them to operate as both you'd have to run a wire thru the door jam for constant 12v. You should be able and hook it up to a relay on contact side and use the signal wires that are already in mirror for the coil. I've ran wires thru door jam for my power fold mirrors and to be honest it's a pain to do.

I'll be glad to help as much as possible and answer any questions.

 

[M. Luis]

Thanks for the info! Do you have a link for the prewired LEDs you used? Found some that are 3.5" long, but I don't think that'd be long enough. I'll measure once I get home.


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---------- Post added at 12:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:02 PM ----------

@infinitereality found some. Thanks again!


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