LED's?

C3RVETTE · 06-12-05, 06:18 AM

Has anyone thought of trying to switch out any lite bulbs out to LED type? www.superbrightleds.com

steelblue75 · 06-12-05, 07:51 AM

I have, Thats all the further i 've got!

WayneLBurnham · 07-03-05, 06:19 PM

In white, with no colored lenses afterwards, they are brighter...in anything else they are brighter dead on, but put out less light - does that make any sense?

I would not use them in main lights like brake lights or front parking lights if you fin those useful for illumination - especially the red. I don't have b/u lights, but those may be OK, as would normal tailights and side markers, etc. I think I have the white ones in some of my taillights currently, not the red ones you may think would be right.

Try some and see for yourself - there are also some at Autozone, etc. if the online source won't sell them in low enough quantities. I know they are in my van now, but I just can't recall what I have in the vette right now.

They are advertised as being cooler and eating a lot less current, which is probably true on both counts - if this is that critical.

C3RVETTE · 07-03-05, 06:28 PM

I have the 1157 style red colored LED's that I'm trying in my 79 in the 2 outside lites,but they dont work properly unless I buy something extra to correct the fact that they dont blink(dont draw enough power to activate our stock flasher module?).If they were just for illumination,they would be just fine,but not if using the bulb alone for turn signals.As far as in some applications not seeing them from the side,our C3's arent visible from the side anyway except by reflection.Otherwisw,I may be able to use the bulb somewhere else...this style looks white until lit,then red (these are from APC,& were in the store)

geekinavette · 07-03-05, 07:00 PM

It's not that they put out "less light"...they just dissipate MUCH less power than a "standard" incandescent bulb. A typical incandescent bulb is rated in Watts (power dissipated). This power is in the form of heat and light....mostly heat. It takes a lot of current to get a decent amount of light from an incandescent bulb...most of it is wasted in heat output. LEDs are much different...they generate VERY little heat, thus it takes a LOT less current to get decent light output.

The turn signal/hazard flasher is a very good point. The flasher needs the fairly large amount of current that a standard bulb takes to work. The current causes the flasher to heat up...when it gets hot enough it opens...cools off and closes...heats up and opens....and so on. With the small amount of current that LEDs use, the flasher won't work, so you have to add a "dummy load" to draw enough current through the flasher.

Bill

Mac · 07-03-05, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geekinavette

With the small amount of current that LEDs use, the flasher won't work, so you have to add a "dummy load" to draw enough current through the flasher.

I wonder if anyone is making flashers that don't require current draw to toggle?

-Mac

geekinavette · 07-03-05, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac

I wonder if anyone is making flashers that don't require current draw to toggle?

-Mac

A simple 555 timer circuit would do it easily. I would imagine "someone" is doing it?

Bill

Mac · 07-03-05, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geekinavette

A simple 555 timer circuit would do it easily. I would imagine "someone" is doing it?

Bill

Exactly what I was thinking. I've seen the LED bulbs but I've never seen modified flashers. To my consideration, any company who is selling LED bulb replacements should also be selling modified flashers to address this concern but that kind of common sense isn't all that common...

-Mac

Vettehead Mikey · 07-04-05, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac

I wonder if anyone is making flashers that don't require current draw to toggle?

-Mac

Good old Canadian Tire has been selling them for at least 25 years. Look in the 'trailer' parts section where they have wiring harnesses, lamp assemblies, tires etc. for small trailers. You want an electronic unit that flashes consistantly, irrespective of electical load. Cars pulling trailers need these as the extra lights added to the circuit will cause a standard unit to flash too quickly. Looks like a cheap strobe light in an old disco.

Mac · 07-04-05, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vettehead Mikey

Good old Canadian Tire has been selling them for at least 25 years.

You know, you never miss Canadian Tire until you're stuck someplace without one. When I was posted up north, the nearest Canadian Tire was an eight hour drive from my home... so I had to plan well in advance to make the trip.

-Mac