LEDs - some photos

[JamesL]

I've been working round the car replacing the original bulbs with LEDs.

I have not yet done the near side (left) headlight. Long story. I have gone to a standard H4 halogen for the headlight bulb as I didn't like the look of the LED (too yellow and so "one sided" I doubted it would pass the MOT (safety test)). Due to resistance/relay issues I have not touched the indicators
I got the "bulbs" from better car lighting.co. Uk

So. Pictures and details (Paladin wanted these)

Rear lights -207UHP red neg

[JamesL]

Front sidelights - 233UHP warm white (on right as you look is the original)

And reversing lights -382 high power

[JamesL]

Parking (or clearance) lights - again, the right side as you look is original

207 warm white COB

[JamesL]

Front fog lights
BA20D 12v neg  - I've learned that the D is double terminal on the bottom of the bulb and S is single

[JamesL]

Brake lights
380UHP red stop neg

[JamesL]

Headlights
The left side unit has stayed on the car, the right side is a new H4 halogen
I took out a P45t yellow unit but it was more in keeping with a Citroen traction avant.

[JamesL]

Finally, Gil sent me an LED panel to replace the frankly useless trunk light. So same BA15s fitting but with a panel stuck on the frame of the boot lid.

[66andBlue]

James,
please post a close-up photo of this LED panel. How is it wired?

[JamesL]

It's a unit I got from bettercarlighting. One end is the traditional bayonet fitting that goes in the standard bulb holder/switch unit. Two wires to the LED panel which I simply stuck on the horizontal cross-member at the back of the interior of the trunk.
I shall get a photo of it in the next day or two but it's something like this (what I have is not on the website) - one end being the bayonet bulb fitting and the other, the panel
http://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=88

[66andBlue]

Got it! Thanks.

[Paul & Dolly]

Hi James,

You have been busy, interesting results,
is your conclusion that the LEDs are all good, apart from the Headlight LEDs ?

Thanks

Paul
(NB did you get your wiper relay sorted out eventually ?)

[JamesL]

Paul
Yes - the back end in particular is a marked improvement. The fogs is a tough call as I changed the reflector at the same time. Sides/parking are brighter. So well worth a few hours and £150 but the headlamp unit is very one sided and I didn't like the look. See pic...


Wiper unit done, thanks, though cack-handed idiot that I am I broke the relay holder on re-assembly and had to get a replacement!

I have declared the lights to my insurer and they view it as a maintenance/consumable, not a  modification

[Garry]

James


Your headlight looks like you have installed the LED’s incorrectly.  They should light all of the reflector if you have not removed the back tighting unit that sits in front of the LED unit.


Garry

[JamesL]

Garry
That's not my car but the effect was similar when I did. I did remove the "baffle" that sits infront of the conventional bulb and behind the lens. Looking at the lower left bulb on the blue background in the pic above, the light only comes out of the one side of the unit - the other side having cooling "fins" that cannot be removed. As a result, the light only shines out of one side of the unit and therefore only hits half the reflector. I couldn't see a way to make it shine "all round", so I went back to a high power H4 haolgen unit

My units would work really well in an old Bentley blower type installation where the base is in line with the radiator of the car and installs vertically (ie, the unit installs through the top or bottom of the reflector, rather than trough the back. On ours, with the back side of the LED not removable, they give the light in the picture