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LED light conversions...ATTEN DAN
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Author:  66aCUDA [ Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:32 pm ]
Post subject:  LED light conversions...ATTEN DAN
Does anyone know if there are plans to convert common bulbs to LED's?
I see a lot of trucks and trailers that are being converted. I would be willing to pay more to convert. I would REALLY like to do the dash lights and other hard to reach bulbs.
Thanks
Frank
Author:  oldgoat83 [ Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Are you talking about a take out old bulb, plug in new LED type thing?
Author:  GTS225 [ Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
There are already "replacement bulbs" available for the 1157 and 1156 lamps that are used in the front and rear. I cannot say if there's anything available for the dash/instrument lamps.
The big problem is that they draw much less current, so the resistive flasher for the turn signals doesn't work. You'd have to get an electronic one to work for the turn signals.

Roger
Author:  james longhurst [ Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've used some replacement EBay LED 1156/7 bulbs on my A-100 and the quality was shiite. Luckily they didn't cost much more (I bought extras) than the "long life" bulbs at the local AdvanceAuto but did require a $10 electronic flasher to run the directionals. The "good" ones are still in the van and are holding up well.

-James
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
The big problem is that they draw much less current, so the resistive flasher for the turn signals doesn't work.
No, the big problem is they're frightfully unsafe.

See here and here .
Author:  Jopapa [ Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
For probably the first time ever, I'm gonna disagree with Dan on something. LED lamps are great, IF you get them from the right company. The only superior quality LED units that are direct replacements for incandescents are from http://www.ledtronics.com (they're very expensive, but you get what you pay for). Every other company out there (APC, etc.) is absolute piss-poor quality made-in-China sh*t. I do highly recommend Dan's procedures for cleaning the light lenses and housings, but instead of a metallic chrome-color paint, use a semi-gloss white paint for the inside of the reflector. I tried both on marker lights on my truck and the semi-gloss white worked far better for creating an even light pattern and making the light itself more visible when on.

Back to the LEDs, for replacing your turn signals with them, you do need to also use the resistor that LEDTronics sells. This keeps the flasher from getting "confused" by the lower power draw and lets it blink at a normal rate. You also need an electronic flasher, and NOT a thermal unit.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
For probably the first time ever, I'm gonna disagree with Dan on something. LED lamps are great, IF you get them from the right company. The only superior quality LED units that are direct replacements for incandescents are from http://www.ledtronics.com
Sorry, no. These expensive Ledtronics ones look nifty, but lamps' safety performance is based on how they actually perform, not how they look like they perform. The output from brake or turn signal lamps with these Ledtronics "LED bulbs" is about 1/10 their output with the filament bulbs they're designed for...and that's just on axis (straight back from the lamp). Off axis, the output's even more inadequate. They might give an adequate brake or turn indicator signal to a driver directly behind you on a dark night, but on a bright sunny day or at an angle or in fog or rain or snow, they're hopeless.

The info's right there on the ledtronics page; they do (to their credit) show the light output of these 1156 and 1157 "LED bulbs" they're offering: 72 end lumens for the yellow, 100 end lumens for the red. "End lumens" means lumens on axis (straight in front of the operating "bulb"). They also give the total viewing angle: 25°. These ratings are close matches for what I found in my tests. Now here's the problem: The kind of bulb our lamps were designed for produces 402 lumens with a viewing angle of 360°.

Hate to burst the bubble, but I've tested 'em — actual tests, not the look 'n' see kind — and they just plain aren't safe. The problem is with the concept (what they are), not with the implementation (who made 'em, how, and at what price).

As for the paint: I can believe semi-gloss white worked well for you on your marker lights, which do not have a reflector per se (just an "inside of the housing"); they are designed for all the light distribution to be via the lens optics. Chrome paint, and not white, is the correct material for refurbishing reflectors on brake/tail lamps, turn signals, etc.
Author:  66aCUDA [ Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:29 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Dan...Maybe some day they will get the kinks worked out. Ill have to try the tip on the crome paint on the lenses. Do you have a link to good quality replacement lenses( see my sig line for models).
Thanks again,
Frank
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:46 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Thanks Dan...Maybe some day they will get the kinks worked out.
Mmm...no. What I'm trying to make understood is that the problem is not a question of kinks that haven't been worked out. That would be an implementation problem (how they're built). The problem, again, is at the conceptual level (what they are). Think of it as trying to see through somebody else's eyeglasses: no matter how good they look on you, you can't see properly because the lenses were made for the needs and characteristics of somebody else's eyes. These "LED bulbs", just like headlight "HID kits", aren't safe or effective for exactly the same reason. LEDs and filament bulbs (and HIDs) require completely different kinds of optics to do the job effectively and safely.
Quote:
Ill have to try the tip on the crome paint on the lenses.
Well...on the reflectors, anyway :-)
Quote:
Do you have a link to good quality replacement lenses
Don't specifically know who's making '65 and '66 lenses. It's possible David Azzopardi is making them in Australia, but he might have exclusive marketing arrangements with somebody up here. You want to hope it's not Layson. Azzopardi is at www.tailights.com .
Author:  66aCUDA [ Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Dan
Thanks Again. I was afraid that we didnt have a good source for the early A's
I have looked around but you seem to have a better handle on whats available.
As for the eyeglass/optics thing I now get it (call me slooow) :oops:
Between lenses and patch panels we seem to be screwed.
Frank
Author:  Jopapa [ Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:
For probably the first time ever, I'm gonna disagree with Dan on something. LED lamps are great, IF you get them from the right company. The only superior quality LED units that are direct replacements for incandescents are from http://www.ledtronics.com
Sorry, no. These expensive Ledtronics ones look nifty, but lamps' safety performance is based on how they actually perform, not how they look like they perform. The output from brake or turn signal lamps with these Ledtronics "LED bulbs" is about 1/10 their output with the filament bulbs they're designed for...and that's just on axis (straight back from the lamp). Off axis, the output's even more inadequate. They might give an adequate brake or turn indicator signal to a driver directly behind you on a dark night, but on a bright sunny day or at an angle or in fog or rain or snow, they're hopeless.

The info's right there on the ledtronics page; they do (to their credit) show the light output of these 1156 and 1157 "LED bulbs" they're offering: 72 end lumens for the yellow, 100 end lumens for the red. "End lumens" means lumens on axis (straight in front of the operating "bulb"). They also give the total viewing angle: 25°. These ratings are close matches for what I found in my tests. Now here's the problem: The kind of bulb our lamps were designed for produces 402 lumens with a viewing angle of 360°.

Hate to burst the bubble, but I've tested 'em — actual tests, not the look 'n' see kind — and they just plain aren't safe. The problem is with the concept (what they are), not with the implementation (who made 'em, how, and at what price).

As for the paint: I can believe semi-gloss white worked well for you on your marker lights, which do not have a reflector per se (just an "inside of the housing"); they are designed for all the light distribution to be via the lens optics. Chrome paint, and not white, is the correct material for refurbishing reflectors on brake/tail lamps, turn signals, etc.
Were they the LEDTronics units you were testing? Not that I'm questioning your results (I'm not), but I know from seeing crappy (mostly in ricers)and good LEDs that the visible light output varies greatly among them. What originally got me turned on to the LEDTronics bulbs was talking to a Jeeper I met on a trail who had them in his CJ7. He had done the new lens and housing cleanup (with white paint, which is where I got the idea to try that as well) along with the LEDTronics units, and they were WAY bright, even in braod daylight. I can't argue for or against lab results cause, obviously, I don't have access to the equipment to properly test them Vs. incandescents, but I was definitely impressed by what I saw on his rig.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Were they the LEDTronics units you were testing?
Yep. Those and many others. Most of what you can see on the road (and on the net) in auto lighting equipment makes a stop at my test bench sooner or later.
Author:  Jopapa [ Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:
Were they the LEDTronics units you were testing?
Yep. Those and many others. Most of what you can see on the road (and on the net) in auto lighting equipment makes a stop at my test bench sooner or later.
Interesting. That makes a good segway into another question then: What's your thought on (properly done) HID lighting? Since my Duster is a two-headlight car, I've toyed around with the idea in my head, but haven't taken the time to do any serious research yet. All I know at this point is most (iof not all) of the "kits" out there are poor quality.
Author:  Sam Powell [ Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Dan, I have used leds for my turn signal indicator lamps on my new dash board. Are there any hidden "gotchas" there that I would not anticipate?. I haven't tried them yet, so I don;t even know how they are going to look. I have everything wired, but haven't actually plugged anything in yet. I could build a lamp holder bracket for these if I need to, but the leds lamps were a plug in for this dash.
Sam
Author:  Matt Cramer [ Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:59 am ]
Post subject: 
Here's one thought on something that could possibly make an acceptable LED taillight: Remove the whole reflector assembly, and stick a legal LED taillight intended for a commercial truck behind the stock lens. Would this be likely to work out well?
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