Author |
Message |
TX-73 Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 1133 Location: Texas
|
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 7:57 am Post subject: Re: 1969 bug LED bulb conversion? |
|
|
Mine's a 73 so I know the exterior lights are different, but I agree that modern tech LED is much better than even just a couple years ago.
I used COB LED's for interior footwell lighting, all exterior lights are LED, and headlight LED's came from Thomas at vintagecarleds.com
All are an improvement, very bright, I would never change back. You do have to research and use the right bulb for the application though. _________________ My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
Click to view image |
|
Back to top |
|
|
vintagecarleds Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015 Posts: 178 Location: Houston, TX
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15982 Location: North Florida, USA
|
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 2:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
tunes wrote: |
Hi Joel.
I see you say you replaced the speedo light or cluster lights/bulbs to LED.
Would you be able to point me to the correct bulb on Amazon... |
I'm gonna jump in for Joel and answer this question....
For Joel's speedo illumination lighting he didn't use "bulbs". Take a look at his pic:
Look at the copper colored strip that runs along the inside from 1-o'clock thru 10-o'clock... this is an LED strip. You can see the white LEDs every few mm along the length. This is wired into the illumination circuit from the headlight switch. You can see the white power wire passing thru the hole at 2-o'clock.
Also note the aluminum tape Joel added to the inside to reflect more light around.
I believe Joel did this a few years back. With the LEDs available today you could probably use fewer LEDs and get the same lumens of light... or for the same cost add MORE lumes and have multi-colored dimmable LEDs allowing a disco light show in your dash!
I'm firmly of the opinion that old incandescent bulbs should all be replaced with LEDs. If you are impatient tackle it as a project. if not, wait until they burn out and then buy an LED replacement.... or in Joel's case make a replacement. _________________ AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
|
Back to top |
|
|
TX-73 Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 1133 Location: Texas
|
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 bug LED bulb conversion? |
|
|
If I'm using 12v strip SMD LED (those little square looking led lights) I like the 5050 or 5730 SMD sizing. I'd recommend either for the speedometer. Those numbers are the size of the led chips 5050 means 5.0mm by 5.0mm and so forth. 5050 are readily available almost anywhere.
One of my garages is lit only by 5050 led strip lighting using step down transformer and two 50w 110v COB LED's. For my bug I also added white COB led under the sills as door open courtesy lights and blue COB led when running lights or headlights are activated. Lots of applications for these type of lights! _________________ My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
Click to view image |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bob Brugge Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2015 Posts: 721 Location: Missoula, MT
|
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 bug LED bulb conversion? |
|
|
I used these exact lights and had nothing but issues. I am sure others have had better luck, individual results have varied. When I first put them in along with the correct flasher, I lost all my blinkers. replaced the rears with incandescent and the blinkers came back.
The brake/tail lights worked great for about two years. One of the bases came loose and shorted out. I replaced them with regular 1157's and keep blowing fuses. Now I have no lights on the back of my bug...at all. Not sure what went south, it may or may not even be related, but I will never, ever use led replacement bulbs again. _________________ Keep on Dubbin'! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mr.Duncan Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2012 Posts: 3542 Location: Houston, TX
|
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 6:35 am Post subject: Re: 1969 bug LED bulb conversion? |
|
|
Bob Brugge wrote: |
I used these exact lights and had nothing but issues. I am sure others have had better luck, individual results have varied. When I first put them in along with the correct flasher, I lost all my blinkers. replaced the rears with incandescent and the blinkers came back.
The brake/tail lights worked great for about two years. One of the bases came loose and shorted out. I replaced them with regular 1157's and keep blowing fuses. Now I have no lights on the back of my bug...at all. Not sure what went south, it may or may not even be related, but I will never, ever use led replacement bulbs again. |
That's pretty odd. I installed the Zevo LEDs for my brake & turn signals.
They have been working great for 2.5 years now. All I had to do was swap the flasher relay out for a LED version. (same 3 prong plug)
Sorry to hear that man! _________________ (Owner) www.vintagecarleds.com
Red 1971 Squareback Thread
Red 1966 Beetle Thread
---------------------------------------------------
1971 Green Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Ghia (sold)
1971 Blue Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Java Green Std Beetle (sold)
1971 Red Squareback (sold)
1966 Red Beetle |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|