Anyone using LED 'bulbs'

[barreti]

I'm curious about these. Has anyone replaced their traditional bulbs with the LED variety - such as these
www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm

[97octane]

Talk to Andy Malpass (via TVRCC) - he's got LED afterburners on his Griff & likes them.

[johno]

All my indictators, brake lights and fog/reverse are LED's and the site you listed is run by a guy whose name escapes me but was a lot of assistance in getting them set up.

[GreenV8S]

The local motorfactors sells LEDs bulbs which plug into the standard bulb holder (along with various other Max Muppet tat) but they are all marked as not legal for road use. So you can use them for decorative lights, but not for any of the legally mandated bulbs.

[mongoose]

Quinny said:

There is an article in this months Practicle Classics that encourages the use of led bulbs for stop lights, tail lights and indicators, on the gronds that they use less current, are brighter and last a lot longer.

I'm sure Volvo once ran an ad to say they were using led brake lights for the quicker response.Some incredibly minute fraction of a second quicker to see them meant quite a few yards extra in distance for the car behind to brake before reaching you.Sounds like a good idea to me.

[GreenV8S]

The LED brake lights and indicators are noticeably quicker to come on. I don't know how the life of the LED versions compares against ordinary bulbs, but I know that getting an LED to produce a lot of light and last a long time requires carefull control of the current. Personally I suspect that some of these aftermarket LEDs lack the sophistication of the OEM equivalents, but the fact that they are not legal has put me off trying them.

[barreti]

Quinny said:

There is an article in this months Practicle Classics that encourages the use of led bulbs for stop lights, tail lights and indicators, on the gronds that they use less current, are brighter and last a lot longer.

Exactly my reasons for looking at them Quinny. I might venture a couple of quid and see how it goes.

>> Edited by barreti on Tuesday 22 November 21:54

[Pum]

I guess that LEDs are legal on the road as all new London buses use them now. I believe they are supposed to last many times longer than filiments and burn less juice by not wasting it producing heat.

[david beer]

I also have lEDs everywhere, dash included. I also use around 5000 a month for the "day job". Run properly, they will last eleven years, even if you forget to turn them off !

[crackedfinger]

Quinny said:

As far as I'm aware there's some stupid technical reason why they have to be marked not for road use, some obsolete rule regarding filaments. There is an article in this months Practicle Classics that encourages the use of led bulbs for stop lights, tail lights and indicators, on the gronds that they use less current, are brighter and last a lot longer. They're talking about the replacement bulbs here, not things like after burners.

I think that there is a min watt for rear bulbs which is a bit silly when you compare the wattage used by LED's - the same applied to the bicycle lights too, the flashing ones are not supposed to be legal on their own without a light bulb, even through they ae more effective.

[barreti]

Is this going to be a problem with my insurance?
The last thing I want is someone running into the back of me and using these as an excuse.

[Podie]

crackedfinger said:

Quinny said: As far as I'm aware there's some stupid technical reason why they have to be marked not for road use, some obsolete rule regarding filaments. There is an article in this months Practicle Classics that encourages the use of led bulbs for stop lights, tail lights and indicators, on the gronds that they use less current, are brighter and last a lot longer. They're talking about the replacement bulbs here, not things like after burners. I think that there is a min watt for rear bulbs which is a bit silly when you compare the wattage used by LED's - the same applied to the bicycle lights too, the flashing ones are not supposed to be legal on their own without a light bulb, even through they ae more effective.

Isn't it to do with the fact LED's are directional..?

[barreti]

Bought some.

These
www.ultraleds.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=741
and these
www.ultraleds.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=679

I'll let you know how I get on with them when they arrive.

[zumbruk]

GreenV8S said:

The LED brake lights and indicators are noticeably quicker to come on. I don't know how the life of the LED versions compares against ordinary bulbs,

The traffic light manufacturers reckon they last more-or-less indefinitely.

Not sure how the illegality stacks up, given that a lot of buses have LED lights at the rear, now.

[barreti]

The story so far then.

PANTS

Stop/Tail bulbs were rubbish quality and the head of the bulb twisted off the base when I was installing the second bulb. I didn't know until it blew fuses. Bugger. Chap at UltraLeds has been great and will replace them FOC
He actually didn't like the ones he sent me in the first place either.

Indicator bulbs work a treat - on Hazards only. On indicator left or right only they flash like billyo. Think this is probably due to the low current they use. I've dropped UltraLeds an email about this tonight.

LED bulb test project is a miserable failure so far

[griffter]

The ones they sell in Halfords state 'not for road use', 'may affect operation of bulb check systems' etc... Unfortunately I think it's going to be an uphill struggle as the resistance of the LED 'bulbs' is much lower than filament bulbs. IIRC you can 'fool' the indicator circuitry into thinking a normal filament bulb is fitted by placing a suitable resistor in series though.

[Wildfire]

I used super bright white ones for the side lights and they were great. MOT tester failed me on them though.

[griffsmith]

griffter said:

Unfortunately I think it's going to be an uphill struggle as the resistance of the LED 'bulbs' is much lower than filament bulbs. IIRC you can 'fool' the indicator circuitry into thinking a normal filament bulb is fitted by placing a suitable resistor in series though.

I think I read on the Ultraleds website before about this and what resistor to use.. but I can't seem to get on there site at the mo..

not sure about the legality side of it? I thought the car could not solely rely on LED lights CMHSL (centrally mounted highlevel stop lamps) are permitted as they are used in conjunction with filament bulbs.. but this could have change over the last few years..It may be more to do with light coverage light intensity over specified angles a big part of a kit car SVA I think. I think with Halfwits they just want to cover themselves legally for selling potential shite.. I'm sure none of the products are tested to half the extent and OEM product is!!

Sorry Barreti I need to ask why are you going to the trouble? I don't think you live in Essex why are you try to make it look like you are??

[crackedfinger]

Pum said:

I guess that LEDs are legal on the road as all new London buses use them now. I believe they are supposed to last many times longer than filiments and burn less juice by not wasting it producing heat.

You are right - but only on the lower decks - the upper ones have normal bulbs (that I have noticed). So the LED's are not the only bulbs being used.

[griffter]

I followed an '05' Audi A8 t'other day and it seemed to have full LED clusters for tail, brake and indicator lights. They lit up and down (?) immediately, with no 'getting brighter/dimmer' stage that I could discern - as you can with normal bulbs (particularly when next to an A8!). I guess it's down to being type arroved whether or not their use is permitted.