Does LED tail light need a resistor?

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Mar 13, 2011 | 02:09 PM

GoOrdnance

Thread Starter

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Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 20

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From: Fort Knox, KY

Does LED tail light need a resistor?

This is on an '04 Dyna. I am replacing my stock tail light with an LED Sparto tail light. The LED tail light will draw less current than the stock filament bulbs. Do I need to place an in-line resistor for the rest of the electronics to work correctly? I am not replacing the turn signels with LED bulbs. The HD dealer says yes, and the tail light vendor says no.

Mar 13, 2011 | 08:47 PM

jluvs2ride

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 4,718

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From: Back in the Good Ole USA. South Carolina to be exact.

No. You do not.

Mar 13, 2011 | 09:49 PM

hedgehorn

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 513

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From: Utah

^ +1. Sometimes a resistor is need for a turn signal so that the flasher works correctly but your tail light should be fine without one.

Sep 8, 2014 | 11:11 AM

Kscrib

Stage I

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

From: Kansas City, MO

LED Turn-signal/brake lights

Just got my bike back from the shop. I have a combo speed/tach, LED turn-signals (used for brake lights) and a daymaker headlight. Every time I use the brakes it trips a fault code in the ECM which turns on a red light on the speedometer. Tech says it is because the LED turn-signals/brake lights don't draw enough current, so the ECM thinks they are burnt out.

Anyway to fix this? The local HD dealer told me to live with it (after I paid $100 - and they did not fix it)

May 17, 2016 | 11:42 AM

Dfszme

5th Gear

Joined: Apr 2016

Posts: 9

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From: Florida (FL)

Added LED brake light and now I have issues...

I'm ignorant to some of the wiring necessities of my 2000 Road King. She was already set up where the rear signals will also come on as brake lights and everything was fine with a dual-element normal bulb in the brake light. I replaced the stock brake light with a smoke lens ,red LED brake light with two leads off of it, one for running lights and one for brake lights. Not counting black commons and white lead for the plate. Hooked it up and the running light part is fine,my signals still work as brake lights and signals,but I can't get the LED brake light to illuminate, and now the signals have to be turned off manually after turns. And now I have no voltage on the brake lead coming from the brake switch. What did I do??? Help please...