Leds

[webbcraft2150]

With leds getting more popular and not as pricey, I was thinking of doing some fab work to lighten (pun ) the load on my anemic charging system. I know candlepower and wattage is a way incandesant and halogen bulbs are measured. How are leds measured and how does it compare to wattage and candlepower?

[TopCatGr58]

Anemic humor needs more "pun"ch!

Hey Webb,

Brightness of LED Car Bulbs
LED bulbs are generally not as bright as standard incandescent bulbs, they have many advantages over filament bulbs (longer life, faster on/off times, lower power consumption, more vivid colors) but brightness is not one of them.

They are generally not as bright but some of them with large numbers of LEDs, will appear brighter than filament bulbs.
The light is distributed differently so they can appear brighter in some applications and not as bright in others, it depends on the size and shape of the bulb housing and reflector.

Most LED bulbs emit light like a flashlight, all out the end. Regular filament bulbs emit light from the end and all sides, so they will be better suited for some lighting applications than LED bulbs.
This is the same reason why we do not rate LED car bulbs in lumens or watts, they would be a deceptively low numbers because the light is measured from all sides and the end on standard filament bulbs but only from the end on LED bulbs

Which LEDs bulbs are brightest ?
Some of our bulbs are available with 12, 19, 24 or 30 LEDS, the more LEDs they have, the brighter they are.

Here's the link to the FULL PAGE where this was found on the Superbrights LED web site:

LED info

They have realized this situation, and have since made various styles of bulbs with wider viewing angles, as well as some with leds mounted pointing to the side as well as straight back to further enhance side visibility!
T.C.

[webbcraft2150]

Thanks for the information. I have a pair of "wide view" bulbs on there way from Dennis Kirk. Gonna try them in my tail/brake light. I already have a 14" LED light bar under my tail light now that sends out a piercing band of red light. Once I get the bulbs installed, I will file the required report on there performance. Finally made the move to digital camera so I can take pictures and post em. Since I have been rear-ended 3 times, I want a blazing "light signature" behind me.:

[GNEPIG]

.. since reading all this mess about LED bulb replacement, i have gone to my local auto parts store and purchased some. they come in packs of two and cost $18 bucks. the only bulb that i intend to replace is the tail light and i'm not adding any extra. after doing so the first thing i noticed was that the oil pressure light stayed on constantly, so i pulled the black with red wire that goes to the little black box that hangs to the left of the battery box=oil light works properly again.. the second thing i noticed is that if your not right in line with the back of the tail light it is considerably dimmer than the incandescent bulb in the tail light that's in the other 1100 sitting next to it. also, the LED shines a red glow on the license plate insted of white, i'm not sure but i dont think thats so good for the visibility of your back side at night..
.. so after reveiwing the link in that other guy's reply to the LED site it has become clear that i have purchased the cheap ones
. but i did like how much crisper the charging system feels at idle with the LED bulb in the tail light - the starter seems to have a little more kick, the turn signals flash properly and the horn doesn't seem to sound so dead. and because of all that i have left the el cheapo LED in the bike until i score a good one from Superbrights

[TopCatGr58]

Not so bright LEDs?

Hey Gnepig,

Did you read the fine print on the LED bulb package? I've seen some in the auto stores...and they are NOT DOT approved!

The Superbrights ARE DOT approved! With the LEDs, you could wire in an extra socket to hold one of those little 194/158/168 style bulbs to shine downward thru the clear bottom of your tail light lens to better illuminate your license plate with a WHITE version!? Mine has the separate little light and holder down below the taillight, so the RED led's weren't a problem! I may get the LED versions for my other lights..gauges, license plates, turn indicators. They come in many colors as well as white!
T.C.

[webbcraft2150]

I have also purchased the cheapos from auto parts stores with the same sad results. Will wait and see how these $40 each ones work.