| Alister |
Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:39 pm |
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Super Bright LEDs
Every single bulb in your Bug can be replaced with various intensities and colors of LEDs. Super Bright's bulbs are very good quality construction and fit perfectly - none of that cheap parts-store stuff that falls apart after a week. Their customer service is excellent, as well: I had to return two bulbs and exchange them. They were polite, fast, and I had my stuff on the way in no time.
I just finished swapping all the bulbs in my '74. Cost a total of $140, including a new flasher. The lights are much, much brighter and use a LOT less power - I went from 12.9v (idle, parking lights and 4-ways on) to 13.6 with the LEDs (same condition)! Your genny or alternator will thank you!
Notes from my install:
- The BA7s may be a bit tough to fit in the speedo illumination and warning light positions. Be patient and try not to bugger the bulbs up - they will fit with a bit of work.
- Oil pressure and generator warning light positions seem to be resistance-sensitive: the LEDs won't work. High beam and turn indicator work fine, though.
- Yes, you will need a -true- electronic flasher. Pull your old one and look at the position of the poles (mine is 38 left, 49a top center, 49 right) to make sure you order the correct one. There's three different 3-prong types.
- Sadly, the 5w Luxeons are no longer available in the 1156/1157 style - I've got a pair installed in the brake/tail light position on my MG Midget, and they will almost blind you! The 4w work just fine, though.
- The 6-LED high-power festoon bulb WILL fit your dome light (42mm). Just don't look at it when you open the door...
- The 'warm white' BA7s light up your speedo just fine and the rheostat (dimmer) still works well.
- I do reccomend 3w or better for your brake/tail lights and turn signals. Any less, and they may not be visible in the daytime; particularly if your lenses are old and a bit foggy or dirty inside.
- Make sure your turn signal and hazard light switches (and associated wiring and connectors) are in top shape. Otherwise, your LEDs will find that "leak" and work in... unusual manners.
- Worth every penny, and you get to keep the stock housings and lenses. |
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| glutamodo |
Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:43 am |
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The warning light bulbs, all three of them, are reverse-polarity. So the bulbs they sell for those require rewiring using an isolated bulbholder to reverse the polarity. I knew this and planned for it when I bought my LEDs from them several years ago. The turn light will work, but "backwards" from proper operation.
I talked about the warning light installation using SuperBright LEDs in this thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=153718&
You can buy plug-n-play reverse polarity LEDs elsewhere.
look in this thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=334894&start=160 |
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| EverettB |
Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:57 am |
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| Let's use the threads mentioned above. |
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