LED sidelights - yay or nay

Trifid

Trifid

Trifid

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Joined
18 Feb 2006
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Do you frequently drive with your sidelights on? Honest question. I don't think I've ever used mine.
 
I have these, only cause I had a few spare when my other sidelight blew. The light is indeed white/bluer and they've lasted pretty well over the years. They are most certainly not as strong as the Audi ones and you would look a pillock having them on in daylight.
 
Avoid the multi LED ones as best as possible, the single 1Watt LEDs are generally more resilient and will not break as easily, at least in the experiances of people who have had both.

I just did all my cars old filaments with LEDs, info/judge for yourself here:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18046583

Stick to white, do not get blue ones. White already have SOME blue tinge but it's not solid blue, which you do not want.

My sidelights are always on, even before they were LEDs. My car is small enough so any extra visibility for 4x4 moms to not run over me is good.
 
Main reason for 'upgrading' is I want them to be a closer match to my new Osram Night Breakers. Plus I like the idea of having the extra visibility when running daylight running lights.

Nods, already know the blue ones really are blue and will get pulled over/fined.
 
What colour temp are your Osrams?

The White LEDs you buy will probably be closer to 6000k. My HIDS are 4300k and the LEDs are a cripser white/bluey. I wont be changing my HIDs to 6000k as it's a shocking loss in lumens. PIAA did do some 4500K LEDs that I wanted to get but nowhere has stock, it's end of line now.

led_1.jpg
 
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Not sure on the colour, but they are filament lamps so I guess around the 4000k mark?

I was interested to know if LEDs were able to provide the daylight piercing light found on the new Audi's (for the record I don't like the strip of LEDs they have) and cars running HIDs.
 
Yes, LEDs can. The highest 12Volt LED I have seen is 1 Watt. Beyond that I think they draw closer to 24volts and I doubt your sidelights are rated for that.
 
Buyer beware, lots of UltraLED stuff has had "mixed reports" I know of people having failed bulbs from them within 2 weeks.

It has a 1 year warranty but one thing to keep in mind is that bulb is 6500k, it will be bluer than the ones I showed you in my pics which are 6000K
 
I have LED sidelights in my car. They have 4 leds that point straight forward and as they are located in the main reflector I don't get much reflected light. The bulb itself is nice and bright though, much more so than a standard bulb.

They do make my halogens look very yellow though with the intense white spot of the LED shining away.

I've also gone a bit LED crazy with LED numberplate lights and interior lights... which reminds me that I need to source one for the boot :o
 
Sin_Chase said:
Buyer beware, lots of UltraLED stuff has had "mixed reports" I know of people having failed bulbs from them within 2 weeks.
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I can beat that, I had an ultraled bulb that started smoking and blew the fuse to my lights within 3 seconds. To be fair though their customer service was spot on.
 
Here is my bike fitted with them... the top LEDs are T10 501 replacements, dual chip, single bulb.

As someone else said, avoid multi LED units, the fall to bits...

dusk1.jpg


dusk2.jpg


dusk3.jpg


They match my 6k HID almost exactly, the OEM bulbs were yellow and dim in comparison. These ones put out a suposed >60 Lumen, but I have some lights in development that put out over 400 :-), though they require electronics to drive them and heatsinking.
 
Sin_Chase said:
Buyer beware, lots of UltraLED stuff has had "mixed reports" I know of people having failed bulbs from them within 2 weeks.
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Where is a good place to buy LED replacement bulbs?

Flukester said:
Here is my bike fitted with them... the top LEDs are T10 501 replacements, dual chip, single bulb.



They match my 6k HID almost exactly, the OEM bulbs were yellow and dim in comparison. These ones put out a suposed >60 Lumen, but I have some lights in development that put out over 400 :-), though they require electronics to drive them and heatsinking.
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I was hoping you would reply Flukester. I remember your thread when you first upgraded your bulbs. Will those LEDs work on a car? Where did you get them from?
 
Yes FlukesterI would be interested in them for my Side lights on my Fazer 600.

Is it just a simple job of taking the old one out and putting new ones in. ?
 
Flukester said:
Here is my bike fitted with them... the top LEDs are T10 501 replacements, dual chip, single bulb.

As someone else said, avoid multi LED units, the fall to bits...

<pics>

They match my 6k HID almost exactly, the OEM bulbs were yellow and dim in comparison. These ones put out a suposed >60 Lumen, but I have some lights in development that put out over 400 :-), though they require electronics to drive them and heatsinking.
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Very nice looking bike :D

Those LEDs look like they would dazzle oncoming drivers though, but maybe that's just the camera playing tricks. :confused:

OP: I've just bought 2 of those exact bulbs from that company to replace my previous sidelight LED bulbs that blew. I'll try and get some pics up once they've arrived & are fitted if you can afford to wait.
 
Trifid said:
I was hoping you would reply Flukester. I remember your thread when you first upgraded your bulbs. Will those LEDs work on a car? Where did you get them from?
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they should fit most cars from the last 5 years or so... straight plug in replacement. (you can check if your current sidelight bulbs just push fit, rather than screw or bayonet, if they do they should fit)

i shouldn't really plug my own business, but I sell them (import the LEDs in from malaysia).

a lot of the ebay ones I see blow within 5 mins of use, these seem rock solid, follow my link in siggy for specs on them.. again sorry for plug, but it's a useful link as most LEDs I've seen are just junk.
 
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Durzel said:
Very nice looking bike :D

Those LEDs look like they would dazzle oncoming drivers though, but maybe that's just the camera playing tricks. :confused:
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Thats just the mobile phone cam giving lens flare... they are bright in low light, but no more dazzling than any other headlight on the road. helps the old bike get seen though :)
 
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