TR4A LED Tail lights

[ron88]

Anyone have any experience with them? Seem to be lots of manufacturers out there, and I notice amber ones Out of Stock at Rimmer. Do they really make a difference and is there a brand/supplier one might favor rather than ebay?

[Lebro]

I have had very good service from Gil at "Better Car Lighting" http://bettercarlighting.co.uk/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=42

 

In the end, current LED lamps on offer did not suit the downward facing mounting in my TR3, but may well work for a TR4.

Gil has been exceptionally helpful, he sent me quite a number of different bulbs to play with on sale, or return.

I ended up using his bulbs on sidelights (within my headlamp reflectors), & instrument lighting.

 

Bob.

[TorontoTim]

I use the LED bulbs that are supplied by Moss USA (and I think Moss UK too) in my tail lights. Red bulbs rather than white (for both stop/tail and indicators - red indicators here).

 

I find that they are excellent and much brighter than the originals which are so much dimmer than modern lights (I had several "incidents" where I was told....er...politely that my indicators weren't working, etc.).

 

Some will say that if you have nice clean connections, especially earths, to your lights that they are bright enough. I won't argue, but my recommendation is to use LED bulbs.

[peejay4A]

As Tim says, use a red LED behind a red lens. If you try a white LED behind a red lens you're likely to be disappointed. This is to do with the way that white LEDs are actually blue LEDs with a yellow emitting phosphor applied. The combination of blue from the LED and yellow from the phosphor gives white. This process is lossy and If you pass the light through a red lens you reduce the efficiency even more. A native red emitting LED through a red lens is more efficient. Not only that but if a lens breaks you'll still show a red light to the rear and could avoid a tug from the boys in blue.

[MikeF]

I find that they are excellent and much brighter than the originals which are so much dimmer than modern lights (I had several "incidents" where I was told....er...politely that my indicators weren't working, etc.).

Some will say that if you have nice clean connections, especially earths, to your lights that they are bright enough. I won't argue, but my recommendation is to use LED bulbs.
--

Hmm, if you buy a modern bulb it doesn't morph into a dim classic one on fitting. If it's dim then that's because its not getting its full ration of juice [and possibly the lens is a bit muggy too[. So even if fitting LEDs I would still suggest cleaning terminals of decades of oxidation, ensuring good earths, etc.

 

Mike

 

PS: Pete info on white LEDs and red lenses appreciated.

[AlanT]

One problem with the stop/tail bulbs is that a long length of wire carries the current for BOTH sides.

 

Or rather it does on an original harness. Not on mine.

[TorontoTim]

Mike, sorry I don't think I was clear - I didn't mean that my lights are necessarily dimmer than they are "supposed' to be and I would 100% agree with you about cleaning terminals no matter what bulbs are fitted.

 

To expand on my earlier post: I don't know what it's like in the UK nowadays, but over here it's extremely rare to see cars on the road that have only a single, 21/6W tungsten bulb dealing with stop/tail duties. Most cars have multiple lamps for this job, all have centre brake lights and anything even close to new have VERY bright LEDs. Of course, they are also a lot higher up than TR tail lamps and are therefore more in the "eyesight" of other drivers.

 

I wouldn't profess that my original rear lights were the brightest example of their kind (although the loom is fairly new, at least, so I would say they are reasonably good) but compared to modern cars, in daylight they were, frankly, bollocks. And when the "norm" is great big bright lights clearly in a following driver's eyeline, our little glow worms are often overlooked. At least, that's been my experience. Similarly, I wouldn't drive quickly on unlit country roads with even brand new sealed beam headlamps. Brighter, better lamps are available and, as I'm not an originality disciple, I have changed them.

 

Having said all that, your points are quite right - we should always make sure that connections and earths are clean and shiny otherwise any lights will be less efficient than they should be and that's not bright ;-)

Edited October 27, 2014 by TorontoTim

[tthomson]

You need to select any LED for use in your car with care. They have a minimum operating voltage below which they won't light at all. 12Volt LEDs are created by having three (or four) LEDs in series. The minimum voltage to run them is close to 12 Volts. If you have dirty connectors, you can lose a few volts with the result that LEDs won't operate, so I absolutely agree with others in this thread that clean connectors are essential for your lights to operate properly. The connectors and wiring in TR tail lights are not renowned for their cleanliness, and after 40+ years they will have a patina that could mean some LEDs won't work.

 

TT