Ben

iTrader: (33)

Curious to know if anyone has tried the newer style SMT type LEDs for brake lamp bulbs? If you've tried em, please share your experience. Thx

chriscar

iTrader: (24)

Got a link?

C

Ben

iTrader: (33)

plenty of sources
http://www.v-leds.com/Shop/Control/P...id/0/SFV/32481

chriscar

iTrader: (24)

Someday, and I bet it won't be too far off, led's are going to completely replace incandescent's in cars and the price will plummet. Same goes for light bulbs for the home.

This guy did a nice writeup, and I dig those square led's.

http://www.maushammer.com/systems/ta...l%20Light.html
http://www.maushammer.com/systems/tail-light/index.html

C

SamS

iTrader: (2)

The taillight on my Ducati kept burning out from the vibration with aftermarket exhaust, so I replaced it with a 48-led 1157 replacement. The incandescent bulbs would last less than an hour, but the led bulb has lasted over a year so far. It was like $80, so it better last.

I also have 3 Watt amber 1157 LED's in my front turn signals which I am happy with so far.

I got mine from www.superbrightleds.com though it looks like they discontinued my monster 48-led bulb

EDIT: I'm an idiot, mine aren't surface mount

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

All the bulbs on my MS6 are SMD LEDs except the rear brake and blinker lights.. Haven't gotten around to those yet. Got all mine from V-LED, and like them a lot.

Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

hmmmmm those v-led things are quite nice... wonder how those would look. Dunno if i want to be the $80 guinea pig.

*goes back to check their customer satisfaction guarantee*

Newbsauce

iTrader: (2)

Alot of the IS300 crowd was doing LED lights using straight up diodes wired as a group.



Basically they are just drilling out the inside lens and replacing it w/ a set of LEDs ...looks nice at night if done right.

This fool used halos.. he''s the same guy that makes the flush mounted miata lights. (AAC) Not my style, but different.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

Standard diodes won't light up the reflector, and won't be seen from off center.

I'm looking for a lamp that will illuminate the reflector like an incandescent, but has the quick response time as the LED. This is for safety, not for ricer boy LED appearance. When I'm in rush hour traffic, I always notice how much faster the LED lamps illuminate on a car that has a combination of standard and LED brake bulbs.

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

*cough* rice *cough*

holy hell its dusty in here.

FHS

iTrader: (2)

LEDs have a lower power consumption per bulb than incandescent, but has anybody done the math to see if a given LED array draws less power?

Ben

iTrader: (33)

Good point, and very easy to prove/disprove, but not the direction I'm going for with this thread.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

Ben,

There is a few LEDs on that www.superbrightleds.com link that have rearward/outward shining LEDs to reflect off the reflector. I will try these as soon as I remove the bulbs & turnsignals from the Miata and get the bulb # off them. I also want them solely for safety reasons. Paul always says he can't see my turnsignals with these altezza style taillights.

FHS

iTrader: (2)

Sorry Ben, not trying to hijack your thread, but I do seem to have a power draw issue at night with my flush mounted headlights, running lights, and gauges lit up. It's even a bit more nocticeable whne I turn the blinkers on. If LEDs put out as much light as incandescents, but draw less power, that might help.

If anybody has the calculations or at least a source where I can get the numbers myself, could you shoot me a pm?

Thanks

SamS

iTrader: (2)

Oh, I just remembered, my dad's Passat has SMT LED taillights, they look a lot like that IS300, but much brighter. They work very well.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

Tim, those are still typically not too good for off directional viewing.

If you use standard type bulbs in your tail lights, they are
stop/tail 1157
turn 1156
reverse 1156
center brake 921
license plate 89

Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

Now im really curious to try the ones on v-led that look like a frikken christmas tree...

Ben

iTrader: (33)

Increase your idle by 100 rpm
Your alternator doesn't do much at idle

As far as power consumption goes, it's very easy to figure out... but start a new thread mkay. We can walk you through it.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

I went ahead and got some coming from VLEDs. If anyone else wants some use coupon code CLUBLEX for 10% off

Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

Ben,

Do you think in order to add the super-dooper-blind-everyone 48-led turn signal bulbs, our Miatas will require adding in the resistor to make sure they don't blink like a goddamn rave party?