GMC Sierra aftermarket headlights/LED DRL's

maxum3300 · February 13, 2017

Hey guys, I have a 2015 GMC Sierra which has the single projector bulb that works double duty as the DRL, low and hi beam. I like the look of the 2016 Sierra headlights with the LED DRL but dont want to convert to the OEM 2016 Sierra lights is too expensive. I found these on ebay so I purchased them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/381738373248?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITThere are hundreds of these lights on ebay and amazon that all look identical but different brands. They are probably all made by the same manufacturer and branded with different names. I thought this was exactly what I was looking for until I read a review on amazon where a customer states he was disappointed to find out the LED tube light does not function as the DRL but only comes on with the parking lights. I emailed the seller and he confirmed that the LED's do not function as DRL's even though the title says "LED tube DRL". I have not received the lights yet as they are still in route. They have been shipped but have not arrived yet. There is a picture that shows the rear of the light assembly and the wiring. My question is if I can locate the DRL power wire and the LED power wire couldn't I just cut the wire to the DRL and tap it to the LED power wire so the LED would work as the DRL?

arcasey · February 13, 2017

I wouldn't jump right in and do that. LED's typically draw less voltage than incandescent or halogen bulbs. If you connect the LED's that are designed to run on 5V to a 12V power input you may burn them up. I know most of the swaps that are being done require another headlight harness for everything to function properly.

maxum3300 · February 13, 2017

I wouldn't jump right in and do that. LED's typically draw less voltage than incandescent or halogen bulbs. If you connect the LED's that are designed to run on 5V to a 12V power input you may burn them up. I know most of the swaps that are being done require another headlight harness for everything to function properly.

All LED lights require some sort of driver board. I would imagine the voltage going into the driver would be 12 volts and the driver would step down the power. I may be wrong but i believe LED's run on AC current and the driver converts the 12 volt DC to AC. The more I think about this I could probably just run a wire from a switched source in the fuse box to the LED tube light.

CaptainMcFunk · February 14, 2017

i'd say do it, people swap incandescent bulbs for led bulbs all the time, so you should be able to just swap the power wire over and be good to go.

arcasey · February 17, 2017

All LED lights require some sort of driver board. I would imagine the voltage going into the driver would be 12 volts and the driver would step down the power. I may be wrong but i believe LED's run on AC current and the driver converts the 12 volt DC to AC. The more I think about this I could probably just run a wire from a switched source in the fuse box to the LED tube light.

You are correct, but the drivers may not be able to accept the higher voltages. All I am saying is use caution. A friend of mine burned up an LED strip on a Dodge Durango trying to install an emergency flasher module. He installed the module and connected a 12V input power signal to the LED power wire and it flashed 3 times and has never worked since. Also, another example of what I'm talking about would be some of the Steamlight flashlights, specifically the Protac HL line. The HL and the HL3 are designed to run off two and three CR123a batteries. Streamlight has recently produced a HL4 which is designed to run off 4 CR123a batteries. Streamlight also designed the HL4 light to accept two of their 18650 mAH Lithium Ion batteries that produce a voltage of 3.7V each. The CR123a only produce 3V. Just this small subtle increase in voltage is enough to burn up the electronics inside the HL and HL3 lights that are not designed to run at the increased voltage.

Replacing "Bulbs" is not an issue because most of the replacement bulbs are designed to be run with a 12V input. What I was really trying to warn you of is connecting the LED tube inside the Headlight Assemblies directly to a 12V input because I don't think the LED strips are designed to run at 12V in the stock LED DRL Headlights. Again I could be wrong, going solely off of memory here.

A trick you can try to make the LED strips work if they are not designed to run on a 12V input is you can install a resistor inline to bring the voltage down to the required level. This is based on the principle of Ohm's Law (Voltage = Current * Resistance).

maxum3300 · February 17, 2017

You are correct, but the drivers may not be able to accept the higher voltages. All I am saying is use caution. A friend of mine burned up an LED strip on a Dodge Durango trying to install an emergency flasher module. He installed the module and connected a 12V input power signal to the LED power wire and it flashed 3 times and has never worked since. Also, another example of what I'm talking about would be some of the Steamlight flashlights, specifically the Protac HL line. The HL and the HL3 are designed to run off two and three CR123a batteries. Streamlight has recently produced a HL4 which is designed to run off 4 CR123a batteries. Streamlight also designed the HL4 light to accept two of their 18650 mAH Lithium Ion batteries that produce a voltage of 3.7V each. The CR123a only produce 3V. Just this small subtle increase in voltage is enough to burn up the electronics inside the HL and HL3 lights that are not designed to run at the increased voltage.

Replacing "Bulbs" is not an issue because most of the replacement bulbs are designed to be run with a 12V input. What I was really trying to warn you of is connecting the LED tube inside the Headlight Assemblies directly to a 12V input because I don't think the LED strips are designed to run at 12V in the stock LED DRL Headlights. Again I could be wrong, going solely off of memory here.

A trick you can try to make the LED strips work if they are not designed to run on a 12V input is you can install a resistor inline to bring the voltage down to the required level. This is based on the principle of Ohm's Law (Voltage = Current * Resistance).

Thanks for the info but it's not an issue now. I'm buying a set of SLT lights from another forum member from this site. Thanks.