LED Replacements in halogen warning lights? The how and why examples

I created this extended in-depth video to answer the question that comes up a lot, "Can I use an LED instead of a halogen bulb in my lightbar?" The short answer is it depends... Depends on the specific reflector, LED size/style and your intended use with the lightbar.
See individual bulb results along with side by side comparisons.
Although the video is about 20 minutes long, I still didn't cover all that I wanted but did hit the main points. Hopefully it answers some questions that you didn't think to ask.
Please leave a thumbs up on the video and pass it along to those you think might be interested. Would love any questions or comments you may have too.
3:01, compare all bulb pattern size and brightness over varying distance.
7:30, compare the 9 LEDs side by side flashing and rotating in a 795 in a Federal Signal Jetsonic.
10:48, comparing 2 LEDs with 2 795x bulbs side by side, in a 22 Aerodynic in light and night plus a Code 3 LP6000 outdoors.
18:35, showing effects different color filters have on the LEDs.
19:50, additional info, observations and wrap up including notes on the Vision and D-Tech lightbar.

[@alainleblanc4031]

Thank you Ms. Lightbar, this was an awesome video! As a LEO for 35 yrs, I have been "playing" with beacons and lightbars for a long time. I would never swap the old halogens for LED's. Thank you so much for your in-depth experiment, well done.

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you. Always like to hear when someone gets something from it. I think the main draw for people to want to use these is the reduced power draw. Doesn't help that the manufacturers of these overstate and misrepresent their capabilities or use. They do have places they can work great but that is typically not in a reflector designed for a halogen or filament based lightsource

[@steelswarfs]

Very well produced and edited. You put a LOT of work into this presentation, cost, and research. Very well done and informative.

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you.

[@johncase2974]

Nice testing and demonstration. I’ve been throwing the idea around about replacing my light bar bulbs with LED but thanks to your video I have decided to wait until a suitable version is available in the future (if one ever is). Thank for taking the time and putting in the effort to perform the testing as well as videoing your presentation for the rest of us to view and learn. Good luck with your future projects and stay safe & well.

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you, glad ya found it helpful.

[@toddzwetzig5728]

Great review and comparison. Very thorough.

[@paulb6934]

Great video ! I agree 100% with your conclusions. Nice job.

[@servicesroutiersphoenix7270]

i was suspected this with L,E,D. you confirm that i was suspected. Thank for this. really happy of this video

[@danmiller7079]

I am a retired School District Police Officer and when I started, two of our units had jetsonic r/b cal. spec. lightbars, two had code 3 force four LP-6000’s, and one code 3 MX-7000, lower level: four steady burn (2-red & 2 td), intersection sweep each end, single alley on each end, 2 flashing ambers to the rear plus traffic director. I have seen some of the MX-7000’s retro fitted with L.E.D.s but they were woefully dim. After replacing our fleet, we went to the Code 3 21TR. As far as voltage consumption the LEDs are great but the “movement” of the light beams with halogen or incandescent bulbs is what I considered the most attention getting. Just my thoughts.

[@lightbarmuseum]

Amazing video, well put, well compared, very informative, and great video editing skills. Especially how you commanded the daylight to turn into night and back ;) LOL Thanks, loved the video!

[@matt9c1]

Nice video, well done. The other music is "Ambush in Rattlesnake Gulch".

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you, hope ya got something from it. About the music, not sure what you mean though.

[@genedieball]

Thanks for your video.I have a old schedule jet sonic that I love. I was going to upgrade it with LED’s. Now I’m glad I didn’t.

[@evilsnakes1980]

perfect video. i had some problems with my Fed Sig Vision too... so i bought original Halogen Bulbs....

[@danguerrero4377]

Excellent information. Thank you

[@yy5cav]

Excelente comparativa y demostración, denota un trabajo muy profesional de parte de los realizadores de este vídeo, para lo cual invirtieron valioso tiempo. Mis sinceras felicitaciones.

[@MsLightbar]

gracias

[@nealgold8442]

Great video and very informative!!!

[@beakfish7319]

This is a great video!!!

[@raycampbell7944]

I bought some leds and put them in a code 3 420 mini bar. It has extremely bright pops at night. During the day (because the orientation of the bulb) one side looks brighter than the other. Just depends how or what angle you are facing the bar. Wish they would make filamented leds like they do for light fixtures. That might do better. Federal signal navigator has SLR led rotators that are amazing.

[@SplitSecondTowing]

Master class right here.....

[@jdglock9114]

Bravo 👏🏻 Thank you for your efforts. I’ve wondered about beacon lights. Federal Beacon-Ray or their CJ lights. How would they perform if an LED chip or multiple chips were in a deep dish reflector. Not unlike a flashlight or PAR 35 spotlight. Thanks for sharing your interest with other emergency 🚨 light enthusiasts.

[@fiafighterdude]

Excellent video !!!

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you!

[@TempoDrift1480]

This is a good video.

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you!

[@retiredk9copper726]

Great video

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you!

[@Sandy_Seats]

very very well done!

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you!

[@Geister7]

Only criticism I have is that it's hard to hear you over the music, I can barely focus on and hear you

[@cmferrara2000]

I agree

[@elightbars]

Great video. I like the comparison and reflector design description. Was there any difference in color temperature an how well they lit colored domes? I have always subjectively felt LEDs mean to replace halogen bulbs are assuming you are using a clear lens, and some color temps seem almost filtered out by colored lenses.

[@MsLightbar]

Thank you. In LEDs higher color temps will work better with blue while lower would do better with red and amber. This is mainly because the color filters will block out certain wavelengths of light. White LEDs are a bright white or higher color temp value. These were mainly rated in the 8K range. They do make some colored LEDs too so you could skip the color filter. Closer to the end I did a 4 color test in a mini Excalibur (no dome but color filters). I used an 1156 along with an LED that was a similar brightness. You can see they are similar in the blue but the red drastically reduces the light output.

[@elightbars]

@@MsLightbar Exactly what I meant thanks for quantifying it.

[@michaelindyjohns8632]

Hello there, first and foremost thank you for all the hard work creating this experiment for our education and entertainment! I currently have a code three MX 7000 dual deck light bar that has of course halogen lightbulbs that I would like to swap out for LEDs and have felt this is now more possible than ever thanks to your experiments. Would it be possible if you could give me a list of the LEDs that you used? I have been searching online and still can't seem to get the correct LEDs model for the socket. Currently using blue lenses. Thank you very much for your attention.

[@nelsondimas8157]

Went back to a 795x in my wolo tear drop beacon after seeing this the light output is sommuch better than with that led i put in

[@mugsysemergencylightsandsi4553]

Very great video thanks so very much for sharing it and taking the time to make it your awesome

[@MsLightbar]

Glad you appreciated it, thank you.

[@mugsysemergencylightsandsi4553]

Your very welcome this was absolutely a bad ass video one of the best ones yet you are awesome

[@psychoaftershok]

similar problems occur in applications with fresnel lenses like tail lights and such, affecting brightness and spread with LED's over OEM type bulbs. also, you must be careful if your vehicle uses its lightbar in DOT (etc...) compliant situations, like recoveries/maintainence/service on highways/motorways as replacing normal bulbs with LED's can void compliance due to poor visibility over distance, or poor visibility in inclement weather which can affect your safety and get you into trouble with legislation, depending on area and local laws.

[@ptww6024]

Main idea is focus.halogen make a spot beam to flash direct to the eyes from distance away .otherwise led looks like turn signal.

[@MsLightbar]

Turn signals are brighter then half of these but yes, you are correct.

[@romanbennett8578]

this woman has to be the most bad ass woman on youtube

[@PolizeiPaul]

10:10 seems best. Others look weak and not as bright.

[@fiafighterdude]

What is the last led bulb you used, the one with the big heat sync that seemed to have better overall output than the rest.

[@TempoDrift1480]

So if this wasn't the most comprehensive video... I have one question. The Aerodynics that use that collar with an H1 bulb. Can that collar and blub be removed to reveal a bayonet bulb post for use with 1156? I understand that the internals are different but as long as the post will accept a bayonet bulb I can swap all the internals. As in adding the spring and terminal disk.

[@MsLightbar]

Although I do not know all the variations over the years, the ones I have are not interchangeable. A lot of the code 3 ones are as they have the ba15 mount but use an adapter for the H1. I know for sure the earlier ones will not work as they have fixed forks on a slim base to hold the H1 vs later ones that use a wrap around clip.

[@vegascvpiaaron4026]

damn i was really hoping to be able to use an led bulb in my vison

[@MsLightbar]

I hear ya. If you are good with electronics you could wire a resistor inline for each bulb circuit.

[@zdfgdssdgsdg]

Thanks for your video! How can I contact you?

[@michaelszilagyi7842]

I'd like to see this video with sealed Beam variance

[@MsLightbar]

Unfortunately that is not in my budget. This video cost a decent amount out of my pocket and I didn't get to test all the bulbs I had hoped for. That said, a very narrow spot beam (about 2 degrees) in the correct luminance and color temp should preform great. They will still look a littlle different then a halogen but have the potential to work good because the reflector in those is designed for the LEDs.

[@Lightchaser-yk7zu]

I skip the problem by just putting the LEDs on the reflectors 😅

[@Lightchaser-yk7zu]

nice vid