Ok I'm Fedup! Need Propper Info On LED Liscence Plate Lights

['mk4-turbo]

I searched everywhere and everybody has different answers.

I have a 2008 A4 S Line with every package added on (tech package etc). Will i get an error code if i drop in LEDs for the liscence plate?

Some people are saying they got error codes and some people don't get them.

which ones are better

these from autolumination.com

39mm = 1-1/2" Long 9LED

Replaces: 3423 3425 6411 6418 6423 6461



or

these from xenon factory.com

Optional Package #3 (2 bulbs)
.: rear license plate light x 2

http://www.xenonfactory.com/products.../audi.htm#b7a4

xenonfactory.com said i wouldn't get any error codes.

or

these Hoen LEDs

http://www.hoen-usa.com/licenseplate.htm


can someone please confirm this for me so i can just buy them

Thanks

[Echo3One]

I have the xenon rear license plate lights installed for over a year and haven't had any problems.
The Leds mentioned above looks like its either a hit or miss if you don't install them with resisters.

[Alkemix]

LOL... lescence! Sorry, man... i thought it was hilarious cause I was really trying to figure out what that meant. I even thought it was french. I hope you do get a definitive answer though, cause I'm hoping to do this sometime soon.

['mk4-turbo]

I have the xenon rear license plate lights installed for over a year and haven't had any problems.
The Leds mentioned above looks like its either a hit or miss if you don't install them with resisters.

your leds are from xenonfactory.com?

['mk4-turbo]

LOL... lescence! Sorry, man... i thought it was hilarious cause I was really trying to figure out what that meant. I even thought it was french. I hope you do get a definitive answer though, cause I'm hoping to do this sometime soon.

lol was typing fast....typo fixed

[rocchioj]

I've had the hoen license plate lights in for a few months and they look good and don't throw any codes

[ABT B7]

I got mine from autolumination.com with resistors. It works fine on my B7 S4.

[cstarky15]

Well i can tell you that the ones i got throw a code. but it is only when the lights are on. they flicker twice then shut off and the code comes. I have ordered a resistor and hopefully that will solve my problem.

['mk4-turbo]

^^^^^^^who did u order them from

[cstarky15]

autolumination. i love how they look but they just don't stay on!

['mk4-turbo]

apparently the ones from xenonfactory dont throw any error codes

http://www.xenonfactory.com/products.../audi.htm#b7a4

[Echo3One]

I don't believe the Xenon-lights mentioned above are true LEDs. (being the reason they don't through off the codes). It's a better change than the standard bulbs but if your looking for them to match the color of Buttafuoco citylights these ain't the lights for you.

[davis449]

I don't believe the Xenon-lights mentioned above are true LEDs. (being the reason they don't through off the codes). It's a better change than the standard bulbs but if your looking for them to match the color of Buttafuoco citylights these ain't the lights for you.

These Xenon match bulbs also tend to melt your housings, especially in the license plate holders.

[Echo3One]

These Xenon match bulbs also tend to melt your housings, especially in the license plate holders.

I haven't had any problems in over a year.

[Sanjman]

I don't believe the Xenon-lights mentioned above are true LEDs. (being the reason they don't through off the codes). It's a better change than the standard bulbs but if your looking for them to match the color of Buttafuoco citylights these ain't the lights for you.

why don't you believe? all it takes is a built in resistor to prevent the fault codes

[davis449]

I haven't had any problems in over a year.

Wait, maybe a micomm. between what I meant and what you understood. Do you have LED's?

[Buttafuoco]

why don't you believe? all it takes is a built in resistor to prevent the fault codes

False. All automotive LED bulbs have a built-in series resistor...they'd otherwise blow up at voltages higher than 12v.

[redlabel81]

I have now tried 5 different set of LEDs for my licenseplate. They all flicker! No bulbout tho.
No it's time for a resistor.......
I have the red dis.

['mk4-turbo]

These Xenon match bulbs also tend to melt your housings, especially in the license plate holders.

i spoke to xenonfactory.com....they said their lisence plate lights are xenon-colored filament bulbs not LEDs and they will not melt any plastic housing because their lights use the same wattage

[darmz]

If you want the best color, get a pair of autolumination 39mm leds and a 6 ohm 50 watt load equalizer, take it to any audio shop and they will install it for you @ very low cost, you don't even have to worry about "How am I gonna install this..." and stuff. My license plate LED lights never flicker and they look darn good...!

[Richardesty]

Bloody German Electrickery.........

I too have been struggling with led license plate lamps here in the uk - and I really don't like the idea of resistors as they get SO hot.

I thought I was gonna have to give up on xenon white led festoons for the tail lights, or put up with the 'numberplate light out' warning on the dash.......................but fortunately I've managed to fool her thinking

It was quite simple, but fiddly - and worth it

I 'piggy backed' the led festoons with a 501 wedge bulb - each leg soldered to either end of the festoon.
So as far as the car is aware there are filament bulbs there for the resistance, but all the eye sees is the xenon white light:

[cstarky15]

Check out my thread if you want to install a resistor! It was very easy!

[Buttafuoco]

It was quite simple, but fiddly - and worth it

I 'piggy backed' the led festoons with a 501 wedge bulb - each leg soldered to either end of the festoon.
So as far as the car is aware there are filament bulbs there for the resistance, but all the eye sees is the xenon white light:

Interesting, but this is functionally no different than using a resistor...the bulb will still generate a lot of heat.

[redlabel81]

So the resistor gets hooked up in parallell with the led..........?

[audimus prime]

I have the Hoen License Bulbs. Perfect color/brightness. It's kinda blueish/whiteish and it glows... I'd recommend them. I'll take pics when I get a chance tonight.

[a4audi4fun]

So the resistor gets hooked up in parallell with the led..........?

When a standard bulb fails you will still have 12V across the terminals but zero current since the filaments is open circuit.

The LEDs function with 12V across them but don't draw much current. Our cars expect a certain amount of current draw for each of the various lighting circuits as their way of confirming that the standard bulb is actually functioning, hence a resistor is used in parallel to increase the current draw to mimic the standard bulb. BTW that means if the LEDs fail you won't get notified. As others have stated the key thing is to have that resistor sitting somewhere where the heat can be dissipated - they will generate as much heat as the standard bulb since a watt is a watt

[Richardesty]

Interesting, but this is functionally no different than using a resistor...the bulb will still generate a lot of heat.

Yes - but in the same place as the original bulb

[XCELR8]

still zero codes or issues with my plate/city led's.

[Sanjman]

False. All automotive LED bulbs have a built-in series resistor...they'd otherwise blow up at voltages higher than 12v.

False. series resistors aren't there to minimize voltage... they are there to minimize CURRENT. If you want to reduce the voltage you have to use 2 resistors in series connected but the middle of those 2 resistors feed into the positive of the LED. This is called attenuation or voltage dividing. Different LEDs are rated at different voltages...


owned. where you at... where you at? there he go... there he go...

[Buttafuoco]

False. series resistors aren't there to minimize voltage... they are there to minimize CURRENT. If you want to reduce the voltage you have to use 2 resistors in series connected but the middle of those 2 resistors feed into the positive of the LED. This is called attenuation or voltage dividing. Different LEDs are rated at different voltages...


owned. where you at... where you at? there he go... there he go...

I know how a voltage divider works, Sanj...and if you actually read the post before being an ass, I didn't say the series resistor was there to limit voltage.

If you understood how an LED works, at voltages higher than the forward threshold, the current begins to increase exponentionally with voltage. If you don't limit that current (with a series resistor) it will go into thermal runaway and die....hence why I said that all of these bulbs have built-in resistors.

Stop being a dick. I was just giving a simplistic answer because most people in here have no electrical training.

[redlabel81]

Yes - but in the same place as the original bulb

Are you running both the original bulb and the LEDs in the housing......?????