LED lights - a robust solution found for both stop, turn, & brake lights
 

Incredible selection of superior quality LED lights:

http://www.pmlights.com/products.cfm?cId=1&fId=54

or more specifically
http://www.pmlights.com/products.cfm?cId=1&fId=54&pId=1438#V168A

What I bought:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151345582.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151345605.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151345622.jpg

The beauty of these units is this - you can cut off the end mounting tabs and have a very compact ( 1" X 3/4") unit!

Bought mine at WalMart - $7 each. Sealed, made in Canada.
I plan to use these for stops and front turns for the 930:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151345787.jpg

I use LEDs built to a standard bulb form factor for my brake lights. They are WAY brighter and turn on faster than conventional bulbs. I highly recommend them.

Based upon many prior posts, the challenge has been finding a setup that is bright at all - looks like we've found it -!

These pups are bright! I am really happy with 'em.....

Good info, thanks Craig & Kenik :)

Craig:
Marry what you found ( LED)..... together with what I say in the later posts here ( 03-10-2006 09:53 AM posting) of swapping the T/S lights with the side-markers-->

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108692&highlight=front+ opening

... and I think you've got a winner. PM me for details, if you want. I have a further update that uses a portion of the deck grill as screen for the front opening .....

Wil

Wil, Not sure that link is correct? Just takes you to the general list of Pelican web boards available.

I've never really thought of using LED's but ....how would these units Craig found be used in conjunction with our stock Turn Signal or Running light housings? Somehow they get installed INSIDE of our stock housings?

I can think of some ways it might be done and I think it might work great - though I think it would be labor intensive. Still, might be worth it for safety. They're certainly cheap enough.

These will tuck right by the leading edge of the side markers (which are turn signals as configured now)


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151352983.jpg

I have units like this in my car:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8077145126

I love them and they don't burn out.

Lets see some pics installed and on. I would love to go to something like that.

I am buying a set that Kenink listed - Kenik, can you take some pics and give us some impressions?

Craig911 were these in the auto or sporting goods dept. at Walmart? I'm interested in these. Thanks

I will as soon as I can, but my single battery died and am waiting for my Sonnenschein dual battery set up to arrive. I'll have no current until the work gets done. FWIW, I love them. My light buckets are no longer reflective, so the increased light output picks up the slack.

If your turn signal bulb is not 21 watts it doesn't work properly...

PBH -

Are you referring to the led cluster or the LED orange/red lights?

Good idea!

try my link now...should work....

Wil

How are you planning to put these in the rear Craig?

Auto section of WalMart -

By trimming the tabs off the sides, mounting inside the rear lights should be relatively easy. Securing to the housing may be a bit tricky.

I am going to try and look for these in white, would make a nice backup light for once I have the 911R lamps mounted. =o)

You need 21 watt bulbs as a load on your turn signal relay in order for the flasher to work properly, not enough load, and it won't work.

If you replace your 21 watt bulbs with 15 watt bulbs (which I did by accident) you will find the flasher circuit doesn't work right. The flasher frequency is wrong, and both turn signals in the dash illuminate. The LED's likely have the same issue.

I'd surmise that the brake lights would be fine - would you?

Brakes work great. The flashers are said to work fine. The base of the LED bulbs have a circuit board that ensures the correct load and impedance. I am sure you could confirm with any seller.

Maybe they add a resistor to increase the draw, but I don't think 21 watts is NA standard, 15W seems to be the standard now, and they would not work on my car.

I guess we need a guinea pig...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...x-DSCF1542.JPG

I'll give them a try when they arrive.......

Since the 930 is sans engine, I won't be testing them in the near future - but they arrived - this is what they look like:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151548170.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151548184.jpg

I just got back from Autozone. They have the lights Craig is talking about 2 for $8 ! Way cheaper than the evilbay guy!
T

Mine *were* about 8 bucks. It's just the 9 bucks screw job shipping that kills ya.....

Exactly! and we don't pay sales tax here in NH!!
Hey my trip to Seattle has been pushed out a few weeks. Any chance that beast will be running then ?
Todd

I'd say about mid-July - you here then?

Yeah, I should be. Won't be next week, the after at the very earliest and probably the week after. Let's plan on it .
T

Deal. PM me when you are in -

Oooh. I wonder if these will work on the 993. Since I have clear front lenses, I'd need the LED's to be amber. But my Euro tail light lenses should take white LED's. I haffta check the connections and wattage when I get home.

Actually I think I saw them in colors as well at Autozone.

100% correct. You can get them in any color.

Anyone know off-hand if the 3rd brake light on '86 (mounted high on rear window) will accept this LED clustered bulb base? I'm sure the fitting will work but which direction is the socket facing? The socket would need to be face rearward, in order for these LED's to shine rearward.

thanks

Can these bulbs be used for running lights,brake lights and turn signals?

That's the question of the hour! There seems to be some dispute about whether they provide sufficient load (15 w v. 21 w) for use as turn signal bulbs.

Do we have an answer from any of those that have installed these bulbs?

Typical light output from LEDs is pretty much on one axis with lots of light fallout off-axis. The result, decent light output and reception directly in back of a vehicle - not so good off to the sides.

Not sure if any of the links provided this info, but the latest versions of LED brake lamps mount some of the LEDs in the cluster at various angles to compensate for the off-axis light reduction.

Sherwood

Hey fellas

I have a bit of experience here AND I'm an electronics guy by profession, so theoretically I know of what I speak. Below is a view of one rear corner of my '66.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151789856.jpg

The LEDs came from the local truck stop store. I ordered a set of LED lights with the housings I bought (from MotoMotions--GREAT service and price!!), but I didn't like the LED assemblies that came with. Kinda clunky to me...these on the other hand are the spittin' image of the original Type R setup but with modern performance. They are BRIGHT. Here's my lowdown on the performance/adaptability issue: And the caveat is that my observations are based on an older (1966), relay-based turn signal flasher design. I'll bet, though, that almost all of our car vintages/technologies are close enough that this will apply.

With a set of LED lights in the back for both stop and turn, and standard front incandescent assemblies, no resistors, adapter, or anything are needed. You will need a bit of electronics so that the red lights cover both running and brake. Let me know if you want to try this, I'll be happy to show any of you how it works. Turn signal flash rate appears the same and the instrument panel indicators work normally. Add LEDs as the front turn signals (all are now LED--hey, they were 6 bucks, so I bought extra!)) and you need more load on the turn signal flasher. All this means is a 10 watt, 10 Ohm resistor hooks across the wires.

I recommend this to anyone willing to fool around with the idea. It works great!

Adam912. Out.