LED's v's incandescents for rear light clusters

[Rissy]

I'm fed up. I've spent hundreds of pounds on LED's over the past 5.5yrs.

I can't find anything which beats incandescents. Has anyone?

Look at this picture. It's like night and day. Incandescents still win by a mile!

This is my latest supplied attempt. I've been waiting to try these out for nearly 3 months. So disappointed.

[MikeWard]

I'm curious, where did you buy the LED's from? The saying buy cheap pay twice certainly applies when it comes to LED bulbs.

I sourced all of mine from superbrightled's and have never had a problem with them, they knock the socks of incandescent bulbs.

I have these in the rear cluster (red's for the brake/running lights, and warm white for indicator and reverse lights)
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinf ... tower/526/

The 45 smd one is the best to go for. DMCH ship 18 tower smd bulbs their new tail light boards, and these ones are a little cheaper per bulb: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinf ... tower/163/

[DMCTodayMichael]

I never got the whole LED craze (and I have literally bought and used thousands for different projects). Unless you are trying to reduce the current draw, LEDs don't work well as marker lights since the direction or field of view is so narrow. These reflectors are designed to reflect the light hitting them, so with most led bulbs sendi g their light outward, the result is a smaller overall light with less intensity unless you happen to be in the projection radius of the bulb.

SMD bulbs(multiple SMDs in a single housing) help a little but still when used in a reflector housing do not work as well as a good incadasant. The only leds I have in my car are for interior and door lights since I leave my doors open at shows. The rest of the lights look better with incadasants...which do dim over time so if you have old bulbs you might be suprised what new ones will do.
There are a few people working on SMD platforms for different areas of the Delorean. Door light kits and HVAC panels and soon front amd rear markers. The difference is they all use a special housing that illuminates the entire lens, not just a single spot.

I will post links later. I have the HVAC panel and it's awesome. The HVAC panel always was poorly lighted as well as the instrument cluster. LEDs have certainly fixed both of those areas and I have a choice of any color I want including factory warm white.

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[TheOriginalMrP]

Explained this in my previous post to you Chris, and this is exactly the same. The LED scene might suit modern day cars with the fancy lenses and reflectors, but in this instance I think standard is best.

I've played around with these bulbs too and they are touch and go with polarity, delays won't work on courtesy lights, and bulb failure warnings occur, unless resistors are used.

It's more bother than its worth and the results are not exceptionally better.

[Rissy]

This is the types I bought (not same seller in each case)

http://m.ebay.com/itm/231277760349?_mwBanner=1

http://m.ebay.com/itm/360985098513?_mwBanner=1

http://m.ebay.com/itm/390825435023?_mwBanner=1


You'll notice my left licence plate light in the picture above is also brighter than the right. That's the difference between led and incandescent in accordance with my separate licence plate led thread, even in winter daylight.

[DMCTodayMichael]

As promised, links for LED kits for the Delorean.

This first link is where my HVAC panel came from. Finally true blue and red on the temp gauge and evenly dispersed light throughout the panel no matter how cracked the clear plastic is. Adjustable brightness levels to boot!
http://dm-eng.weebly.com/ .....and Dave have some awesome electronic components as well. I have several of his products in my car.




I have never dealt with this guy, but I have read nothing but praise for his products. Lots of LED kits with specially designed platforms for LED lights...not just the bulbs.
http://www.deloreana.com/

[Rissy]

Inside the car is not a problem for me. I've done all the changing over to LEDS I'm going to do already.

The only lamps I'm having problems trying to find LEDs for, which are better than traditional incandescents, are all the lights in the rear cluster and front bumper amber driving lights/indicators. The most important ones for being as bright as possible in other words.

I'm happy with all the others I've done so far, and although I have the issue described in another thread with the amber side markers, for still allowing them to be indicators too, I've got some ideas for fixing those. (I have to work on project ideas for the car, then wait for months to try them out because I don't live near my car)

Another member in the club has tried these with some success for the rear cluster side lights. Anyone else tried all three of these colours?

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/382-Su ... -Bulb.html