LED Bulbs - Yes These Keep Getting Better

[v8mgb]

Steve Carrick turned me onto to a decent set of 1157 LED replacements after I has a brake light go out in Townsend .  Steve said Allen Moor originally found these.  After replacing my tail lights and happy with the performance I went out on Amazon to replace my front turn signals and found ibrightstar offers 1157 two color replacements that are white with the parking / headlights on and turn Amber when the the turn signals are on.  With the turn signal on it flashes between off and amber.  Now I have a set of driving / fog. lights  

The LED bulbs are marketed by ibrightstar and available on Amazon.  Not saying there the best but they work and are brighter  / more noticeable then the incandescent bulbs I was using.  These lights also have a "projector lense" at the top to focus the light.

Mike Moor is using a bright amber LED module designed for ambulances along with a 3 wire to 2 wire trailer light conversion box.  The conversion box allows the lights to be powered through the tail light input as daytime running lights and when the turn signal input is powered the right or left indicator will flash.  



Red 1157 replacement for tail / brake light
 - PN, NA
 - A set of two is $16.99
 - Amazon link : https://www.amazon.com/iBrightstar-Newest-Projector-replacement-Brilliant/dp/B01MY4T4BU/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-drs1_0?crid=577GPIZUS3AB&cv_ct_cx=1157+led&dchild=1&keywords=1157+led&pd_rd_i=B01MY4T4BU&pd_rd_r=7fac3be4-6b07-4f41-92d9-4b20ab4c80c1&pd_rd_w=g2aHX&pd_rd_wg=ChUOe&pf_rd_p=ecbfa24d-f48c-4d5c-83aa-9549f4e7c925&pf_rd_r=BYX1XPAE06QRGVBW2332&psc=1&qid=1602694014&sprefix=1157+led%2Caps%2C172&sr=1-1-f6b8d51f-2c55-4dc3-89ad-0c3639671b2d

Amber 1157 replacement parking / turn light
- PN, NA
- A set of two is $21.99
- Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/iBrightstar-Switchback-Projector-Replacement-Daytime/dp/B07JC7233R/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-drs2_0?crid=577GPIZUS3AB&cv_ct_cx=1157+led&dchild=1&keywords=1157+led&pd_rd_i=B07JC7233R&pd_rd_r=3fdb2b19-9792-4481-9291-3f5ba7d74480&pd_rd_w=fYKvO&pd_rd_wg=h7Mog&pf_rd_p=ecbfa24d-f48c-4d5c-83aa-9549f4e7c925&pf_rd_r=0C51HC3CYBKASEDNBDR8&psc=1&qid=1602694977&sprefix=1157+led%2Caps%2C172&sr=1-2-f6b8d51f-2c55-4dc3-89ad-0c3639671b2d

In the pictures below the right is the LED and left side is the incandescent bulb.  ing5915 compares the two lights with the turn signal on.  

[v8mgb]

More Pictures

[v8mgb]

Here is the electronic flasher I am using

12V Heavy Duty 2 Pin Compatible Electronic Fixed Flasher Turn Signal Flasher Relay
Brand: VOFONO

The box is labeled Novita brand
PN - HD13

Amazon Lnk: https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Compatible-Electronic-Flasher-Signal/dp/B07MJGC28B/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1RUYEQBCG6PID&dchild=1&keywords=electronic+turn+signal+flasher&qid=1602697426&s=automotive&sprefix=electronic+turn+sig%2Cautomotive%2C194&sr=1-4

[Scott Costanzo]

Great information Jim! Thank you!!

[88v8]

Indeed, LEDs seem to be a coming thing.

I have bi-colours in the front of my Rambler, bright white but flash orange. https://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=358
The LED flasher unit does not 'tick' but I have a separate ticker if I ever get around to wiring it. The rears are still incandescent, a mix of LED and incandescent can be a problem with some flasher units.

Here we are with one LED and one original bulb.




I also have bright amber LEDs in the side repeaters.

Next step will likely be the headlamps. I converted the heads so that all four light on dip (low beam) which helps me see where I'm going but is hard work for the little old 1963 alternator. Now, I want a heater rear window, so something has to give. LED headlamp bulbs will cut the draw enough and more.

There are a lot of cheap LED heads on offer. Some give a very bad and anti-social beam pattern, so this needs some research on my part. The presentation and comparison of bulbs - lumens, watts - is opaque.

Oh, and of course one needs to buy a spare for each bulb type, your local shop will not stock LEDs.

So far I got all my LEDS here, over in the UK https://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=52 where he has a bewildering range of bulbs.

Ivor

[Justinb]

Are you using these for both bulbs in each tail light assembly?

[ex-tyke]

Are you using these for both bulbs in each tail light assembly?

Good question, Dustin....don't think that's possible.
IIRC, doesn't the 1157 have offset pins and the 1156 have opposing pins - bulbs would have to be compatible with the correct socket.

[MGBV8]

IIRC, doesn't the 1157 have offset pins and the 1156 have opposing pins - bulbs would have to be compatible with the correct socket.

Yep, that is so the consumer does not mix up the double filament 1157 with the single filament 1156.

Of course, that doesn't stop us modders from changing the entire socket to accomplish what Justin would like to achieve.  

[Justinb]

iBrightstar makes an 1156 in yellow, white or red. Might be worth the upgrade to match the 1157's in the back too.

[waterbucket]

Ivor
Please can you elaborate, I am assuming that they are equivalent to two filament bulbs and are wired in as both sidelights and indicators OR are they like a single filament bulb that gives white light with continuous current but flashes orange.

[88v8]

@waterbucket they are indeed equivalent to two-filaments.

Previously, with the incandescent bulb it flashed white on the second filament, now it flashes orange on the second set of LEDs.

And while I'm here... I put a pair of Osram LED headlamp bulbs in there. Very bright very white. Save about 6 amps the pair.
Five year gtee if that's worth anything.
£65/$85 on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H4-LED-OSRAM-bulb-2pc-kit/254649780748?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

So far I just put them in the inner pair, may do the outers as well. The motivation was to save current as I want to fit a heated rear window, or rather an add-on rear screen heater, and I'm still running the original 28A alternator. Surprised how bright they are, even compared to the super-bright halogens I have already.



That thing on the back is a heatsink, and contains the LED drivers.
It's a straight swap for the stock H4 bulb, just needs a bit more space behind.
And the LEDs are positioned identically to the two filaments of the stock bulb, so no change in beam spread.

Ivor

[rficalora]

Interesting info Ivor.  I may try them the next time I need new bulbs.  Have you had a chance to drive with them at night to verify the pattern is as good as advertised?

[88v8]

No, and I need to go and check the beam height so I don't cause dazzle. Nowhere to do that on our sloping garden.

I think I have a case of newpaintitis. People often say they enjoyed their car more before it was restored, and I think in a small way I have the same problem. Recently had the boot lid, bonnet, one wing all painted, now I'm thinking if I go out it will get wet/muddy, that never bothered me when it was a bit more ...... lived in....

Ivor

[rficalora]

I know that feeling but stuff can happen in the garage too.  My hood (bonnet) came down when I started the car the other day.  I'd just finished rebuilding the carburetor and had my air cleaner sitting across the top of the  radiator and distributor so, of course, it dented the hood ☹️!  Net, might as well drive it and have fun with it.  You can always wash the dirt off!

[Spitfire 350]

Drive it like ya stole it. You can always fix what ya once built. However coming up with the time and ambition to fix things is sometimes a challenge. I've got a fender flare that's needed repair for around 20 years, maybe this winter, maybe not.

[BlownMGB-V8]

I had just finished painting my car. Less than a day since it had dried. Drove it in the garage and a towbar leaning against the wall fell against the door and dented it. Ouch. But whatcha gonna do? Drive it. That was 20 years ago and it's still there.

Jim

[MGBV8]

But can ya see it while driving it?  That is the question.

[JesseHiserp]

Great idea! I also recently replaced my headlights with LEDs. This is really a huge difference, even though the car's appearance is changing. But on the other hand, visibility will now be much longer, which was one of the reasons I changed them. Recently, I often bought LED devices because it's much more profitable and works longer. The last that I purchased were smart strip lights with which I decorated the whole house, and the lighting changed a lot for the better. Moreover, my children have long been asked to do something like this in their rooms with LED strips.

[Justinb]

Jesse - what headlights did you use? Any pictures?

[Scott Costanzo]

Jesse - what headlights did you use? Any pictures?

I'm not Jesse and I know this isn't going to be for everyone but here is what I did. I wanted to do everything possible to be seen. I'm very happy with this change. I did use the 1157 LEDs that Jim Miller mentioned above in my marker lights. The headlights are Amazon Jeep clones with the halo driving lights.