Thread: Switchbacks Burning Out

I drive an 04 GTP and I purchased a pair of 60 LED SMD Switchbacks from autolumination.com for my turn signals about a month ago. All of a sudden, 1 of the "turn signal" functions of the bulb stopped working. A couple days later the other one did the same thing. I have them hooked up to the 6 OHM Load Equalizers autolumination suggested. When I took the bulb out to inspect it, it looked like one of the connector pins was burnt and i suspected that this was why the "amber" portion of the bulb stopped working.

Crappy Phone Pics, sry

Notice the burntness

Has anyone else experienced anything like this, because id like to solve this issue before i fork up another 50 bucks for two more Switchbacks that are just gonna burn out.

Thanks

Bump. I'd like to know about this before I ever get switchbacks.

nevermind

From abther forum.

Here's the email exchange I had with the Autolumination representative. Hopefully it answers your question:

"If you have an led flasher, then you should not need the equalizers if the signals were functioning properly. That said, because you are using them in a GM DRL/signal light, you need to add led protectors to them. There are several causes of voltage related failures on leds. Some vehicles chronically cause premature led failures. This is normally related to excess voltage, voltage spikes, high levels of AC current being generated from the alternator, or excessive ambient heat. While glass bulbs are slow to react to rapid surges, leds can be destroyed in milliseconds from a sudden spike or chronic high voltage, or excessive AC current from an alternator that has one or more burned out diodes. Additionally, led bulbs should only be used in areas where the ambient temperature is less than 150F.

If the bulbs are being used in DRL positions, especially GM DRL's, we highly recommend using only our patented 30 led SMT, 20 led tower II or 48 led SMT bulbs in combination with an led protector. If these precautions are not taken, the leds will fail prematurely in most DRL applications.

If the bulbs are being used in gauges with a dimmer, always set the dimmer to 80% or less. This minor adjustment will make the leds last ten times as long in some vehicles with chronic voltage issues.

If the bulbs are being used in an application with no dimmer, we have a new led protector that can be spliced into the + wire to protect against minor voltage surges. These work great in vehicles that have high voltage, or are prone to voltage surges. They can also help protect the leds from:

1. Switching on the ignition & starting the engine.
2. Changing or disconnecting the battery.
3. Charging the battery with an auxiliary battery charger, or revving the engine hard with a weak or dead battery.
4. Using jumper cables.

These are +$1.99 each, and can be purchased from the Load Equalizer page here :

LED Flashers Blinkers Resistors Load Equalizers for Turn Signal Replacement Bulbs Rapid Flashing Fix http://superlumination.com/images/au...otector_wm.jpg

You can return the bad switchback, and I will replace it. You will need to add the led protectors."

One other thing to check is that the sockets are wired normally and not the oddball way. Regals have an odd wiring to the DRL's that causes issues with blowing fuses and burning up bulbs. I think it's a CK or SR bulb. But checking into this will tell you if they are wired normally or not.