LED lighting

[West7se]

Do many of you use these to replace the tungsten equivalent?.

 

Being into electronics for years, I started making these before they were commerially available. For those lightweight freaks like me, getting rid of the original wiring loom (usually taken from a production car) was a huge saving in weight. Using these does involve a few mods to things like indicators which rely on current to flash its relay at a sensible speed, either by using ballast resistors or a custom flasher, also they far outlast a `normal bulb` I have had these fitted to my Volvo and have not had to replace anything in 8 years.

 

Since the early days of high brightness LED`s they have come on leaps and bounds in terms of true colour control and are mostly used here in commertial vehicles such as buses and lorries, though many top end car manufactures are using them now.

 

Rich

[DeanG]

I tried LEDs a few years ago on a car where it was a several hour job to change a side marker light. I didn't like the level of light output and were larger than what they replaced. I haven't tried LEDs since. What's changed?

[West7se]

yes you are correct, the light output in the past has been poor. I have to say the current generation are much much better.

 

The first set I made for the volvo used 5mm red ones at about 1000 mcd, and I had around 20 per side to make up a cluster. Today that same 5mm led produces 12000. Also you dont need separate leds for the brake/tail lights as you can use the same led to do both (simple case of resistors to limit the current on the tail lights). Instead of making the clusters now, I buy the unit from a supplier. An example of my indicator one is below

 

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/3821156ba15s-amber-indicator-bulb-pair-p-1648.html

 

Rich

[Hank]

Only LEDs on my Megabusa are the front turn signals. I did not want to install the large nosecone pods and amber lights so I stopped by NAPA and picked up 2 LED semi-truck lights. Probably used for decoration along the running boards. Turned out really nice.

 

http://hanksmegabusa.com/images/050309/11.jpg

[West7se]

Ditto for the front indicators, didnt like the big pods as per the standard issue. Small pair of motorcylce led ones fitted.

 

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6025/pic0045.jpg

[southwind25]

i tried the LED replacements for my rear tailights, and they didnt give off nearly the same brightness/candlepower? as the old filiment type. I switched back to what i had.

however, i have used LED's in other applications.

[Mondo]

Must depend on size or if new ones are just brighter... but they show up great on my car and I put some on my 67 pickup and their brighter than the original bulbs.

[West7se]

A mixed bag of responces to this then.

 

Yes most folks are correct - the early generations of high output units were not good, colors were poor and general light output below that of tungsten units.

 

Its been two years since I last got some new units and I have to say they have come along way in that time, the output is now equal or in some cases brighter then a tunsten bulb. The biggest issue is still the price, there is a huge difference between the two, yes the LED will far outlast the bulb but will folks buy them now??.

 

All but my headlights are LED`s , mostly because I wanted to get rid of the heavy weight of a standard wiring loom and does give you the option of fitting a smaller car battery ( as long as it cranks the engine its fine)

 

Rich