So I have been messing about with replacing some of my rear bulbs with LED's and all of a sudden there was a buzzing.

 

I have traced this back to the Tow Bar Relay switch so it looks like this needs changing out. Has anyone ever done this before and is there a better unit for LED bulbs?

 

Thanks

So did you take the LED bulbs back out again to see if it stopped buzzing?

 

Those bypass relays are a cheap and dirty way of getting power to a trailer socket and are not really the best option for modern cars anyway.

 

 

Edited 27 December, 20196 yr by SuperbTWM

They work perfectly and follow established electronic good practice when used on an unmodified vehicle, using LED bulbs without shunt resistors is just asking for problems, but hey, for many people the quest for an unnatural light colour trumps all other inconveniences.

@SuperbTWM Yes bulbs swapped back out but still has a buzz. I think this was the straw that broke the camels back! I will replace but wondering if anyone else has found a replacement of a better standard. Like you say this does feel very cheap in the hand!!

 

9 hours ago, SuperbTWM said:

So did you take the LED bulbs back out again to see if it stopped buzzing?

 

Those bypass relays are a cheap and dirty way of getting power to a trailer socket and are not really the best option for modern cars anyway.

 

 

 

@J.R. I cant confirm if it was working perfectly as I have never used it. But I can confirm that it has not buzzed until now. Regarding the quest comment - Iam a simple man!!!!

 

9 hours ago, J.R. said:

They work perfectly and follow established electronic good practice when used on an unmodified vehicle, using LED bulbs without shunt resistors is just asking for problems, but hey, for many people the quest for an unnatural light colour trumps all other inconveniences.

 

12 hours ago, MRB007 said:

 

 

Ryder now appear to be Ring, either that or both Ryder and Ring are using the same supplier.

 

Either way, coming from Halfords / Ring should mean it has the required approvals and is of acceptable quality...

 

 

Which bulbs have you changed to LED, the MkII Octavia is really finicky with the wrong incandescent bulbs, nevermind LED's. It is also very difficult to find suitable dual function LED's for the brake/tail and fog/tail functions...

 

 

Yes I have found some other suppliers but just wondering if there is a better quality unit out there.

I'd guess not.

 

As mentioned, whilst these types of bypass kit have worked for many years without issue (a previous Octavia of mine had one), modern cars are now much more complicated.

 

The days of splicing into the cars existing wiring loom are all but over. All reputable tow bar manufacturers and fitters are using dedicated vehicle specific wiring kits these days.

 

Even the vehicle manufacturers are aware of the issues that can be caused by poorly retrofitted tow bars, including Skoda, so are actively discourraging it.

 

My advice would be to replace the bypass box with the one listed above from Ring (a well regarded automotive electrical specialist), or disable it completely and do without the tow bar.

 

This is based on the fact that removing the LED bulbs has not stopped the buzzing, and that you mentioned you don't use the towbar.