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custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20263

RDX relay sensitivity. (Trailer related)

Okay, so I'm currently saving towards getting a pair of Nolden headlights.
This buts the whole lighting thing into my head, my 90 is completely LED lit besides headlights currently.

Anyway, my reasons for posting is my trailer it's incandescent lit.
There are LED 'wedge' light units that's will fit an Ifor P8E which I have, LED plate lights, and I'm sure white sidelight I can sort out some how.

Only thing that has put my off is the dash trailer light legality, I wasn't convinced the load would be detectable being so much lower on the LED trailer indicators.

However, I have an RDX relay which is excellent and a member here said not long ago that on theirs it will detect an LED lit trailer.
I know, this is variable due to variations in LED light and load but I don't want to be fitting resistors to my trailer or buzzers etc to my 90.

So what do you think? Is there anyone else that has the RDX relay and LED trailers that works well?

Otherwise, I'll have to buy and rig up a temp harness just to test and see what happens. (Which I will probably do anyway sometime.)
7pin electrics on my 90 so 4pin Superseals would suit perfectly with rubber boots for my trailer connectors.

24th Oct 2016 6:53pm

VeeTee

Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1512

My vehicle also is all (RDX) LED (besides headlights), but my trailer has still incandescent lights. While I'm not a fan of using resistors in my vehicle - that's why I fitted the adjustable RDX relay - I would not mind using resistors for the trailers indicators, the trailer is not used very often, usualy only holidays.
What is against it using resistors in the trailers indicators if the RDX relay would not be sensitive enough? Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold)
1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold)
1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold)
1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold)
2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold)
2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold)

MySite

24th Oct 2016 8:43pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20263

I could fit resistors to the trailer if I wanted to but ideally I don't, they would be very exposed and prone to damage.
And of course the heat issue.

I guess there is only one way to find out and buy a set and go from there.
I was just wondering if anyone already had any success of having to fit no resistors or other annoying extra wiring.

24th Oct 2016 8:53pm

VeeTee

Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1512

I think you must bear in mind it would be dependend of which make LEDs other users may have in their trailers. I can image not all brands LEDs would trigger the adjustable relay in the same way, i.e. a positive result from a user using a different LED than you plan to use would not guarantee the same result with other LED brands...

Probably the best to buy the LED bulbs you plan to use in the trailers indicators and do a test...

Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold)
1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold)
1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold)
1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold)
2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold)
2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold)

MySite

24th Oct 2016 9:08pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20263

I think that is what I'll do.

One of many many jobs on the 'to do list' now.

24th Oct 2016 9:29pm

gilarion

Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5107

2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green

I hope this helps. I have a double axle trailer, a horse box and an Elddis Avante caravan, all are of 2014/2015 manufacture and all have incandescence bulbs fitted as standard on them all. I changed all my exterior lights on my Defender to led both TDi and TDCi. I found that neither worked properly with the relay supplied by WIPAC. On the TDCi I found that I needed to change the relay to that sold by RDX, as well as on the 200TDi but on that variant I had to obtain a special earth warning light, you have to phone them and ask for it to be sent to you. On the more modren Defender the RDX worked like a dream though I had to spend fifteen minutes fiddling with the little knurled screw to get it to work as i wanted it For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1

24th Oct 2016 9:54pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20263

I know LED's are much more sensitive to earthing issues than incandescent.
The little adjustment knob is quite sensitive, you can tell the difference between voltage at rest ignition on and running voltage which is approx 2v difference.
This is why setting up the Relay I recommend to people it is done with engine running at operating voltage.

I'm holding with the engine running and trailer light just off with no trailer on it will then work with trailer attached.

Setting up this way keeps it more accurate and should help it detect the difference in lower LED draw of trailer LEDs.
I will get around to testing sometime, evntually.

24th Oct 2016 10:37pm

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