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Keyair · 10-21-2012, 02:24 PM

I have not had time to get back into the tail lamp issue yet...

I agree with you Andy, and am aware that LED's are polarity sensitive.
My question was that it had been my experience that the center pin/pins on bulbs was normally the +... and these marker lamp fixtures were not like that.

So here is my protype solution... to convert the lamp to + on the center pin.
I removed the ground strap(silver) contact and cut it off within the recessed area.
I then drilled thru the center and inserted a bolt...
Pic of modified lamp and original front and back.

The red wire will now supply + power to teh bulb pin, and the original black wire will be ground.
I need to do some detail work on the bolt, nut and connection yet to make sure they are good and safe, but I think this will work.

HowieE · 10-21-2012, 02:58 PM

Your solution will work. What the reasoning behind the original manufacture making the fixtures with reversed polarity was is hard to say. Yes they would work with normal bulbs but it was just against conventional standards.

Keyair · 10-21-2012, 03:04 PM

Thanks Howie,
Yes, I just find it odd too.
There is plenty of space behind the lamp inside the casting to be sure the + power will not contact the ground, but I still worry.. I am gonna see if there is better connector or solution before I do them all. Took me all of 3 mins to make this change.

As soon as I have modded all of the marker lamps, I will be going back into the LED tail lamp issue!

Mexray · 10-21-2012, 04:13 PM

I believe it may be far easier AND cost effective to check out LED marker light assemblies at a trucker's supply place...

Find the kind with a similar 'footprint' to your old units...

I replaced all the marker lights with new LEd units - simply removed the old ones, attached POS wire to new units, gooped with sealant and reattached...worked great and still going strong after almost 5 years...

PeterH-350LE · 10-21-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keyair

There is plenty of space behind the lamp inside the casting to be sure the + power will not contact the ground, but I still worry..!

Except the three center rear ones mount directly to the skin, at least on my MH. Most new markers lights have very little space on the back side to accommodate the wire...