LED Taillights Challenge
Mark SimpsonDescription
Car enthusiasts have argued the merits of white LED taillight bulbs versus red LED taillight bulbs. Those that state the white LED bulbs are better in taillights insist they’re just brighter, period. While those that claim the red LED bulbs are better point out that the red taillight lens filters out much of the white light and all of the red LED light travels through. We decided to put it to the test.
A common argument between car guys is, "What is better in the tail light of a car, a red LED bulb or a white LED bulb?" You know, the rationale dictates that the white one is brighter so it should be a brighter tail light. Well, the advocates of the red LED bulb say that the white ones are more of a blue light and the light gets filtered out going through the red lens. Whereas, a red LED bulb ends up being brighter. We thought we'd put it right to the challenge and install one of both in the back on this '68 Cutlass. We'll put the red bulb in this side and the white LED bulb in this side. Well, there you have it. You know, we've looked at, you know, the white bulb and the red bulb, seem to have about the same intensity of color, although I've noticed the white bulb has more of a orangy-yellowy red where the red LED bulb has a little bit more of a richer, deeper red. For my money, the red bulb seems to take the cake. But, I'm sure some people might take the other standpoint.
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White LEDs are actually a blue LED with a yellow phosphorus on top. The Eye sees this mixture of blue and yellow as white. This is why you get a yellowish/orangish tint from the white bulb. The Red LED produces red light to start with. So if you want a good red taillight use a red LED. I agree with the other comments about actually measuring the lumen put out to quantify things.
No mention of the voltage changes in turn signals that seem to require some kind of a resister added to keep the led lights from flashing too quickly, or blowing the led right out.
I've experimented with both colour bulbs and have come up with different results depending on the lens. My Harley (red lens) is better with the white bulb. My 66 Chev Biscayne I put Red bulbs in the clear lens (old reverse lights / Don't worry I put reverse lights under the bumper) & white bulbs in the red lenses. Also never had a great experience with LEDs behind red glass lenses on my 23 T.
Perhaps actually measuring the lumens produced by each bulb with a light meter would add some scientific validity to the challenge - as it stands your challenge is did nothing to confirm that either is better than the other.
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The White vs. Red LED comparison is a poor way to perform such a test. If you really want to see how much brighter the red LED is then you should be comparing the White LED behind a Red lense to that of the Red LED behind a clear lense.