LED rear bulbs?

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Discussion

onward

Original Poster:

168 posts

201 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
I have just purchased some clear light fittings for the rear but now I need need the correct colour bulbs.
LED would be good - can anyone send a link to the correct spec bulb please.
Someone mentioned that if you get the wrong indicator bulb it will flash too quickly ?
Thanks in advance......

JONSCZ

1,178 posts

236 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
Hi 'onward'...
Some useful info on these posts from 'Blatchat' - you don't need to be a member to do a search on the forums there.
Seems like it might not be a straightforward swap for LED indicators, though!
Cheers
http://www.lotus7.club/search/site/led%20indicator...

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
LED replacements aren't as direct a swap as it might seem. The way they emit light differs to traditional filaments so, in combination with the reflector and light lens, the emitted light can be woefully poor.
And that's in addition to the need for a replacement flasher relay.

My Evil Twin

457 posts

132 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
Im just going thought this main at the moment..

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/

My packet arrived last week, tried fitting this weekend some success some not so... nothing wrong as far as i can see with the products.. but I need to call them to send back some items on Monday.

--I ordered a 60 LED red fog for the defender lamp which has a clear lens.. excent, brigher than the cheap stuff off ebay.thumbup
--Rear brake/tail lights.. I ordered the 60 LED again.. Bright but too long, my fault, should have measured better.banghead
--Philips chromed indicators.. they have sent me off-set barb bulbs (12-5 oclock).. the indicators are 12-6. just a mistake i guess when i was chatting to the lady on the phone.. no big deal. i guess they will take them back.



onward

Original Poster:

168 posts

201 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Nothing is ever simple - not even changing a light bulb !
I was told a 360 led but there's loads out there frown
How would you fit a relay? Where does it go?

My Evil Twin

457 posts

132 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
easy.. dont use LED indicators.
After abit of faffing, I fitted my clear lens this evening.

I have to say, the chrome Phillips I got from Autobulbs work rather well. (after I filed off one of the barbs to make them fit, see above) They are brighter than the very chrome/silver bulbs I got via local Halfords type place, but the trade off for that is more orange and less silver.

Iv got about 4 pairs of crap brake LEDs off ebay before I purchased the items from ABD. The cheap china/ebay tail/brake LEDs are not a red/bright as the autobulbs units. Even the 'CREE' items which are currently fitted are only just OK in my opinion.

And the ABD 60LED fog light is pretty good, that about as bright/red as the ABD 60LED brake/tail lights I got.. but cant fit as they are too long.. I will be ordering the ABD 27LED I think, unless I can move the location of the bulb holder when I fit the carbon light blocks.
The sales lady did state the 27s will not be as bright as the 60 & 90s.. so this maybe as good as it gets.. I dont know.

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/380-P21-5W-led-bu...



Edited by My Evil Twin on Monday 29th June 21:59

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
onward said:
Nothing is ever simple - not even changing a light bulb !
I was told a 360 led but there's loads out there frown
How would you fit a relay? Where does it go?
When I upgraded to LED indicators on my Triumph bike it all came as a complet kit from Triumph, designed for the bike.
Cheap tat off the net is best avoided.

ghibbett

1,900 posts

184 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
My LED indicators work fine. See this thread for details: http://www.lotus7.club/forum/techtalk/led-indicato...

My Evil Twin

457 posts

132 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
When I upgraded to LED indicators on my Triumph bike it all came as a complet kit from Triumph, designed for the bike.
Cheap tat off the net is best avoided.
constructive and helpfull comments make PH what it is today.
oh wait..

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
My Evil Twin said:
Crossflow Kid said:
When I upgraded to LED indicators on my Triumph bike it all came as a complet kit from Triumph, designed for the bike.
Cheap tat off the net is best avoided.
constructive and helpfull comments make PH what it is today.
oh wait..
Read it again and you might just notice the bit where I said the LED indicators came as a complete kit including the relay, suggesting that compiling the bits from individual sources might prove more difficult.
I won't fking bother next time. Happy?
Still, I guess the advice to avoid cheap tat off the net probably smarts a little, hence you don't see it as valid.......
My Evil Twin said:
I got about 4 pairs of crap brake LEDs off ebay before I purchased the items from ABD. The cheap china/ebay tail/brake LEDs are not as red/bright as the autobulbs units.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 1st July 23:49

Guy Lowe

94 posts

167 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
My Evil Twin said:
constructive and helpfull comments make PH what it is today.
oh wait..
My constructive and helpful comment, DON'T FIT LED BULBS TO A CATEHAM, they are woefully inadequate (even more so than the standard set up), I have followed many 7's with LED brake lights and you can hardly see them in bright daylight.

There, wasn't that constructive and helpfull? clap

BertBert

18,954 posts

210 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
What would be the benefits of fitting LEDs on as caterham were you to do so?
Bert

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
BertBert said:
What would be the benefits of fitting LEDs on as caterham were you to do so?
Bert
The benefits in general are that LED lighting is brighter and works on an entirely different frequency of light so the vehicle remains more visible across a wider range of light levels from bright sunlight during the day to the darkest of dark nights, and in addition LEDs are less prone to failure than traditional filaments. They also use less power.
Thing is, they can be difficult to install and set up on a retro-fit basis and often end up producing worse results than the OE lighting.
(Things might be different in Finland though)

onward

Original Poster:

168 posts

201 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
so crossflow,
what would you recommend to use for my clear cases? they are clear with a red reflector in the middle - I'm not fussed about LED, I just thought they would be brighter -
rarely is there another car up my arcensored anyway !

Eugene7

739 posts

193 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
I have the SVC rear LEDs - Brakes and Indicators.
They are great - way brighter then the standard bulb units.



If I changed them today I'd probably use these from Kitcar supplies:



Very similar, but better looking.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
onward said:
so crossflow,
what would you recommend to use for my clear cases?
I'd use a screwdriver and swap them for the original lenses. I've yet to see a Seven with clear lenses where they emit anything like the same light as a clear bulb (or lamp for the pedants) behind a red lens.

BertBert

18,954 posts

210 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
I'd use a screwdriver and swap them for the original lenses. I've yet to see a Seven with clear lenses where they emit anything like the same light as a clear bulb (or lamp for the pedants) behind a red lens.
me too

Guy Lowe

94 posts

167 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
I'd use a screwdriver and swap them for the original lenses. I've yet to see a Seven with clear lenses where they emit anything like the same light as a clear bulb (or lamp for the pedants) behind a red lens.
Yep, I agree it's a dangerous "upgrade"

My Evil Twin

457 posts

132 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
Thing is, they can be difficult to install and set up on a retro-fit basis and often end up producing worse results than the OE lighting.
(Things might be different in Finland though)
and another thread turns into a bun fight.... sesch

I actually aggree with you on your post (except the bhiness about Finland). They are a right pain in the ass.. and the cheap tat. is exactly what it is.. tat. Im happy to admit making mistakes in my life, it how we learn.
I think Caterhams OEM clear lens lamps leave something to be desired. I think they use amber indicator which then look like the fried egg and a not so bright red LED.
I had got to the point where I was thinking about giving up on the idea and keeping the OEM lens.. found ABD by accident and thought to give it a try... whilst they are not perfect.. compared with the old lamps I had at least, they do appear to be, OKish.

Red lens on left with orignal tail lamp.. clear on right with tail LED. Would I like it to be brighter, yes. but I still think its brighter than the old lamps.
But I think I will ask some local when out for a drive their opinion when driving behind me.. as Im sure it might be different when out on the road in the bright sun.


anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 4th July 2015
quotequote all
My Evil Twin said:
and another thread turns into a bun fight.... sesch
I know. It's terrible isn't it? I can't stand it either when posting about one's own experience, limited and obscure though that may appear, and some smart arse comes back with stuff like, umm.......oh I dunno......this?.......


My Evil Twin said:
constructive and helpfull comments make PH what it is today.
oh wait..
rolleyes