Bulbs v Led's on the Wedge ..

Bulbs v Led's on the Wedge ..

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Discussion

Jack Valiant

Original Poster:

1,894 posts

235 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
Realise this topic has been done before but after long chats with Stewart (Mk1Fan) we decided to try them in stages on the Gredge to see what the fitting issues and performance would be. Any opportunity to reduce significantly the amount of current being used in our ageing wiring looms is worth doing. I decided to try the side lights first:



Originals...



Bulbs v Led's





So on side lights the effect is dramatic in terms of brightness and fitting and with a measured reduction of current of 50%

So indicators are next but with a low current relay needed .... more to follow yes


mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
Wow that is a massive difference mate..Im sold on the sidelights...

Rockettvr

1,804 posts

142 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
Hi Chris
As a "sparks" virtually all the lighting installs we do now we recommend LED lighting
LEDs can do (nearly) anything that the other types of lighting ( incandescent, halogen , fluorescent, metal halide, son etc. can do only usually better and with lower power consumption. The technologies involved in LEDs has moved on a huge amount over the last couple of years and the cost has tumbled and the very high ratio of lumen output to power consumed and the long life of LEDs make fitting them a no-brainer. The only downside is the initial upfront cost but once our clients realise that :-
A They'll have an 80% reduction in lighting power bills
B They won't have to pay my (frankly exorbitant smile ) labour costs to come round every 6 months and replace all the incandescent and halogen lamps that have blown
They realise that long term LEDs are actually cheaper than most other forms of lighting

Here ends the broadcast for the LED marketing board

My only concern in fitting LEDs to the wedge would be with the headlights and making sure that the beam pattern is correct to make sure you're MOT compliant.
The side lights look much brighter BTW and they look nice and white when compared with the orangey incandescents they've replaced.
Good job fella thumbup

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
So what is the consensus on Xenon H4 as a replacement..I would like to upgrade the headlights but without any serious modifications..

Rockettvr

1,804 posts

142 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
mrzigazaga said:
So what is the consensus on Xenon H4 as a replacement..I would like to upgrade the headlights but without any serious modifications..
Problem is you're replacing the std halogen with another (slightly better) halogen so all the same drawbacks
To get a decent upgrade in lighting output you'll either need to go HID or led.

A few years ago the top flight manufacturers ( and some lesser ones as an option) were using HID
Now look at the high end manufacturers that give full led lighting either as std or as an option - (BMW i8 a prime example)given the amount of money these guys spend on R&D it tells you all need to know

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
Mmmm...So would it be easier if i fit Plasma electron emitters...With massive injectors...People will think they have see a WFO......smile

GV

2,366 posts

223 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
I been running LEDs on the sidelights for a while they do the business just before its really dark before you need pop up the headlights....

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
GV said:
I been running LEDs on the sidelights for a while they do the business just before its really dark before you need pop up the headlights....
That was how Delilah's lights worked..Poppy's headlights automatically come up when i put the sidelights on...Sometimes i just wish i had that option of sidelights only..Maybe at some point wire a switch in?....

maston

872 posts

151 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
GV said:
I been running LEDs on the sidelights for a while they do the business just before its really dark before you need pop up the headlights....
Doesn't affect me as my headlights are permanently up due to kn*ckered motors frown

But I do like these LED sidelights and must get some smile

Chris, they look fab mate


whitewolf

751 posts

165 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
Just saw this thread, I'm not a wedge owner but a taimar.

I too have fitted LED sidelights and are worth it, towards headlights - have you checked the voltage at the bulb? I only got 9.5v and so my bulbs were poor dim, I fitted relays and now getting full power and brighter.


Just an option or atleast to check.

My hids on my other car came with a relay for the system, so potentially are safer and full voltage to the ballast feed.

If you get some hid or bulbs amd don't have full voltage now then will still have same potential problem later.

TvR Driver

564 posts

248 months

Saturday 8th November 2014
quotequote all
Please can you let me know the Bulb Type and where you got them from as want to order a set and too Lazy to research !!

At least im Honest lol

Thanks and they look Great

Ty

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
whitewolf said:
headlights - have you checked the voltage at the bulb? I only got 9.5v and so my bulbs were poor dim, I fitted relays and now getting full power and brighter.

I made up a sub-loom for my 390SE that takes a heavy-gauge feed direct from the battery down to the nose of the car and uses the original 3-pin plug from the O/S headlamp to switch a pair of relays... huge improvement as you say. As a side-effect the audio system works better; with the lights on the voltage drop used to make the CD cut out!

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
mrzigazaga said:
That was how Delilah's lights worked..Poppy's headlights automatically come up when i put the sidelights on...Sometimes i just wish i had that option of sidelights only..Maybe at some point wire a switch in?....
It most likely just needs a diode snipping out of circuit.

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
Wedg1e said:
mrzigazaga said:
That was how Delilah's lights worked..Poppy's headlights automatically come up when i put the sidelights on...Sometimes i just wish i had that option of sidelights only..Maybe at some point wire a switch in?....
It most likely just needs a diode snipping out of circuit.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=12&t=1442242&nmt=Dim+dip&mid=170116

I've still to do this little job......


Edited by JumboBeef on Sunday 9th November 11:17

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
Good thread on the headlamp bulbs.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

There a thousands of suppliers on ebay. Personally, I pay the premium to a UK based seller as they turn up quicker and easier to deal with issues.

If the indicator relay is the same as in the Tamora and S then a CF13 or CF14 is the type you need (led version).

The bulbs shown bt Chris above are BA15 or P21W items.

what I would suggest is where you need a coloured bulb then use the right colour LED as less light will be filtered out by the coloured lense.

For reversing bulbs I'd suggest using the 120 led bulbs or the more expensive combined cree led and smd led. If using larger smd led (5050 or the brighter 5630) then agin get the biggest number of leds on the bulb.

cob leds are good for festoon bulbs and the headlamp replacement ones.

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
Oh and looking good Chris.

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
Would this be an easy option for me?....Couldnt find any cob lighting yet...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CREE-60W-2400LM-6000K-Car-...

Also I'm thinking of moving my drivers window switch to just right of the gear stick on the tunnel cover...I really would prefer an independent switch that either:

1. Controls the sidelights only
Or
2. Controls the pods so that i can have them dipped up or dipped closed..Preferably off...

Ideally something that doesn't involve too much poncing about!!..Remember I'm an "Electrical dimwit"......smile

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
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I've got an unused HID kit sitting about if you're interested in fitting it. Can bring it with me to the next Suasage Meet if you want to check it out.

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
I've got an unused HID kit sitting about if you're interested in fitting it. Can bring it with me to the next Suasage Meet if you want to check it out.
Ill have a look for sure mate....smile

superwedge

1,286 posts

147 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
quotequote all
justlickidea ordered a set off fronts side lights for my baby,