Re: Does the BF falcon have LED tail-lights??

"Saab C900 Viggenist" <c900@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:fuodkt$5dv$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> the_dawggie <the_dawggie@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
>
>>David Z wrote:
>>> Was behind a Falcon today and noticed the tail-lights had an
interesting
>>> pattern.  Instead of a bulb or bulbs, there were lots and lots of
little
>>> bright dots arranged in a circular pattern (picture rings around a
>>> planet to get an idea).  Although the BA/BF "shape" has been around
>>> since '02, I've never really noticed it until now.  Are these actually
>>> LED tail-lights and if so, were they a recent addition or have they
>>> always been there?  I think it was a base XT model too.
>
>>All sorts of aftermarket products are available ...
>
> And LED replacement lights are really good for reducing energy usage 
> (which
> means less current draw in wiring, etc.),

**Not so much. UNLESS you are using the very latest and very expensive
LEDs, 
typical high efficiency white LEDs are approximately as efficient as 
halogens. The big problem, of course, is operating temperature. LEDs
cannot 
be allowed to exceed 150oC. As a consequence, high power LEDs need big
heat 
sinks. Red LEDs are a different matter. They are, typically, more
efficient 
than regular incandescent and slightly more efficient than halogens (which

are rarely used in tail light applications). The reason, of course, is
that 
they only need to produce light at one set of wavelengths, whilst 
incandescents need to produce light at all visible wavelengths. However, 
that does not tell the whole story. Unless you are using multiple LEDs, 
there will be wasted energy in Voltage conversion systems (usually, just 
resistors) with LEDs. Additionally, unless you are using something like a 
Luxeom emitter, the radiation pattern of the LEDs will be poor, to
average. 
Typically, less than 30o. Incadescents, of course, radiate a full 360o.

 and there are numerous ways to
> arrange the light output from an array of LED's to make them give the
same
> or better distribution/spread/whatever compared to using 
> grossly-inefficient
> filament lamps.

**That would depend on the incandescnt and the LED. Howeer, if you want
REAL 
efficiency, dump LEDs and use decent discharge lamps. Those puppies are 
seriously efficient.

Trevor Wilson