Lebro Posted December 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2018 I fitted relays when running halogen bulbs - tests showed a marginal improvement, I have left them in now I am running LED's, but if I was starting again, using LED's, I would not bother with relays. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 On 12/20/2018 at 12:18 AM, tim hunt said: October's Club Triumph RBRR involved two overnight drives, much of the time on unlit roads. I was very impressed with the headlights on Alan Chatterton's Stag estate; he told me he had fitted NightEye LED bulbs to replace conventional halogens and thoroughly recommended them. He had carefully adjusted the lights before the Run and despite the outstanding illumination on dipped beam he told me that no oncoming driver had flashed him and no one on the Run he had been driving behind reported any issue. He was so pleased that he subsequently bought another pair of these bulbs for his Discovery 4. I bought a pair of NightEye H4 bulbs on Ebay for the princely sum of £19.89 delivered. (See www.novsights.com). They came in a very good protective packaging and appeared well made and of good quality. They were easy to fit, although the cooling fins project further into the headlamp bowl than the spade connectors on a normal H4 bulb and the extra wiring takes up more space so it took a little while to position it so that my Valeo (Cibie) units located correctly. Before changing the bubs I carefully marked the position of the dipped beam cut off on my garage door with the existing Philips Racing Vision halogen bulbs. I fitted the LED bulbs and noted that the beam cut off EXACTLY matched the previous one. The LED light sources are so small that they can be positioned to mimic the filaments on a halogen bulb, avoiding the glare problems with some designs of LED bulb. I will not have the chance to try these bubs on the road for a while as the car is laid up while I attend to some other jobs but from what I have seen I am sure they will transform my night driving experience. The light given is dramatically brighter than from the already uprated Halogens and very white (6,500 deg K). The bubs are rated at only 25W each, a real benefit since I am still running with a dynamo. I was amazed to see that when I switched them on my ammeter needle hardly moved! I am really looking forward to giving these bulbs a serious work out on Club Triumph's 28/29 April all-nighter planned for Drive it Day. Tim Just to add a bit more info to Tim's post. The new bulbs arrived this morning, so they had to be fitted immediately. The bulbs look well made - the instructions not so. On my standard Lucas lamps there is a large rubber dust cover that fits over the bulb/socket. This produced the first quandary. The hole in the middle is too small to go over the heat sink. Look at instructions. A simple picture with something like 'remove the bracket'. There is a grub screw DO NOT TOUCH THIS. The three legged holder simply unclips with a quarter rotation. If only the instructions had this. The three legged holder goes into position with its clip. Then the rubber dust cover. Then the bulb - but the bulb will not clip into place. The rubber dust cover needs to have a small amount of rubber removed (counter bored) from the back of the hole to allow the LED bulb to go further in. THEN the bulb can be inserted and turned a quarter of a turn. I hope the heatsink does not get too hot or that the rubber is good at high temp as they are touching. BE CAREFUL. The bulb does not have a key - so you could have the dip actually illuminating passing aircraft. Fitting - including doing my Blue Peter act on the rubber dust cover - took less than an hour for the pair. I have left the bezels off to allow for any small adjustments - tonight. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 Hi Roger, heat is no problem for the rubber but for the electronic in the LED bulbs as heat is the problem of all LED lights. I would keep the rubber covers out, but you know I'm not allowed to drive H4 LED bulbs at Germany. Ciao / Cheers, Marco Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 Hi Marco, I think the rubber dust cover should not prove a problem for cooling as it is only touching the bottom edge of the heatsink. I would prefer the rubber to stay as it does keep the reflector clean. Ciao Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 (edited) On my H4 reflectors the rubbers are like tea pot heat insulators, they are slightly compressed between the rear of the reflector and the outer shell made of tin steel. I would better kick them out than loosing one or both bulbs during a night drive. Ciao / cheers, Marco Edited December 27, 2018 by Z320 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 Donuts! They are like big rubber donuts! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 27, 2018 Report Share Posted December 27, 2018 Donuts, sums it up. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tim hunt Posted December 28, 2018 Report Share Posted December 28, 2018 I am sorry you encountered one or two issues fitting the bulbs Roger. As I recall, the instructions with my bulbs clearly showed/stated that the bulb should first be removed from its adaptor by a twist. I removed the halogen bulbs, secured the adaptors with the spring clips, put the rubber shields in place and then carefully inserted the bulbs through the shields and twisted them to lock in place. The heat sink does not have to pass through the hole in the rubber shield and in my case I did not have to modify the shields to get the bulbs to fit. Like you I have left the bezels off so I can fine tune the settings once I can try the car on the road. I also do not see that the rubber shields will interfere with heat conduction and subsequent radiation/convection, they do not cover any part of the heat sinks. Were any adjustments needed in your case to match the dip cut off pattern of the halogen bulbs? Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 28, 2018 Report Share Posted December 28, 2018 (edited) Hi Tim, Not sure if there are different rubber dust shields but mine had to be counterbored a small amount to allow the bulbs to lock into the three legged holder. Not a big job. They needed no adjustment. The dip is almost identical to the filament bulb. The bright white lighting has an odd effect and I think it is just me. illumination looks 'thin' if it is possible to be. Whereas the off white of a filament bulb has body. Compare the blue flame on a gas torch with the red flames on a roaring log fire. Having said that they certainly do light up the road. Country lanes are now quite clear. Roger Edited December 28, 2018 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted December 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2018 Well, you guys have been playing with a relatively cheap option, the ones I have cost £70 a pair, which may explain the difference ? I am completely happy with mine, both in my TR, & my 6 Volt Hillman. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tim hunt Posted December 28, 2018 Report Share Posted December 28, 2018 Roger, what do you mean by 'Country lanes are not quite clear'? Should it be now quite clear? Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 28, 2018 Report Share Posted December 28, 2018 Oooops - silly me. It should be 'now'. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
michaeldavis39 Posted December 30, 2018 Report Share Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) Think everyone thinking about fitting Led bulbs should read this article before they do as it does point out that you will be breaking the law and invalidating your insurance if you do - I'm just the messenger and I found this from looking in a different Triumph forum - https://blog.motoringassist.com/news/gems-latest-research-on-illegal-car-bulbs/ Happy Christmas everyone! Edited December 30, 2018 by michaeldavis39 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted December 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, michaeldavis39 said: Think everyone thinking about fitting Led bulbs should read this article before they do as it does point out that you will be breaking the law and invalidating your insurance if you do - I'm just the messenger and I found this from looking in a different Triumph forum - https://blog.motoringassist.com/news/gems-latest-research-on-illegal-car-bulbs/ Happy Christmas everyone! Having just read the article in the link above, It is basicly incorrect. The photo referred in it to shows a non halogen indicator bulb, & an LED suitable equivalent. Many people have already checked with their insurers, & have found that they have no problem with LED bulbs being used in our cars. Modern LED headlamp bulbs (the better ones) exactly mimic the halogen ones they replace, & give an extremly good beam pattern which does not "blind" other road users. There are some really cheap ones which are not good, these should be avoided. The only way in which 1) LED headlamp bulbs, & 2) LED indicator bulbs are not compliant is that the do meet the minimum wattage requirement of the vehicle lighting regulations. even though they are in fact brighter, making this constraint a nonsense. All other locations for LED replacement bulbs are completely compliant for our older cars. Bob. Edited December 30, 2018 by Lebro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HowardB Posted December 30, 2018 Report Share Posted December 30, 2018 I posted this the link on the CT forum as part of another discussion about LED lights on old cars, but as mentioned above it does appear to be "biased" but the other link I posted was a detailed technical review of using electronic sub assemblies in cars :- e-marking-faqs As Lebro mentions the change to LED's must be declared, but appears to be acceptable unless it effect the drivers control of the car (and by implication any other driver who is blinded by the brighter LED headlights) so swapping the side/brake/indicator/read fogs should not be an issue. If you are determined to fit LED headlight purchase a set of Land Rover (e) marked lights and you will be legal, but they are not cheap. Cheers Howard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richardb Posted June 10, 2019 Report Share Posted June 10, 2019 Hi all, i have been looking at fitting LED headlights and have been reading with interest. however i could not find a statement from A Plan on this so spoke to Peter Barrett just now and he has sent me this statement which he has asked i post: I have had the below confirmed by Richard Bauckham (Specialist Motor Underwriter KGM Insurance) as follows: “We are happy to confirm that we have no issues with LED replacement bulbs and this will not affect the insurance in any way, provided that the bulbs fitted are of the equivalent or higher rating (watts to lumens) than the standard fitment bulbs.” This does not indicate that they are legal but does mean that your insurance will not be invalidated by fitting them. Please note this excludes the fitment of angel eye style headlamps. Peter Barrett | Cherished Vehicle Insurance Manager A-Plan Insurance | Worcester 2 Foregate Street, Worcester WR1 1DB t: 01905 930740 e: Peter.Barrett@aplan.co.uk w: www.aplan.co.uk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted June 22, 2019 Report Share Posted June 22, 2019 Hi there, as I reported my TR4A failed the TÜV yesterday with its LED bulb. Not E-marked, not allowed at Germany at all but this was not the reason. The TÜV inspector realized "no significant difference from dipped beam to main beam, just lot of light and much more lot of light". As the TÜV inspector had a closer look through the glass and he realized the LEDs and "the wheel was off (the car)" (german saying). Time for me for a closer look, this are the bulbs the Chinese sold my via eBay. With LEDs on both sides, the front part of the LED for the dipped beam shielded to get no light on the lower half of the reflector. This is 9 Volt on the dipped beam terminal, current also reduced, with 12 V it is not possible to look on the LED. Next it 9 V on the high beam terminal, works lovely, doesn't it. Next is a look from below with dipped beam, no light goes on the lower ground of the reflector, everything is OK. But next is the dipped beam, 9 Volt, reduced current when I turn the bulb only a few degrees - massive light also hits on the lower reflector, passing the shield backwards. This is only some more degrees, at all not more the 30° The result is massive light on the part of the reflector for the dipped beam AND lots of light on the part for the main beam. This product is not only "happy engineering" but dangerous! There is a good reason bulbs are only allowed tested and E-marked anywhere - im my opinion also at GB. The E-mark for GB is E11. In my opinion the construction must be different: one LED "up" for the dipped beam, on the other side one LED down, both together for the main beam. As you can see on the 12 Volt Ba15d-bulb (only as a example for the construction). This was a nice experiment, but I wait until E-marked LEDs are on the market. Ciao, Marco Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted June 22, 2019 Report Share Posted June 22, 2019 Hi Marco, Thanks for sharing your nice work, this saves me going through the same effort. Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted June 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2019 https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/products/latest-led-headlights-h4-philips-z-es-hi-lo-beam-conversion-9-32v?variant=8239030763615 These H4 ones work very well, Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted June 22, 2019 Report Share Posted June 22, 2019 54 minutes ago, Lebro said: https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/products/latest-led-headlights-h4-philips-z-es-hi-lo-beam-conversion-9-32v?variant=8239030763615 These H4 ones work very well, Bob +1. For that combination Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted June 22, 2019 Report Share Posted June 22, 2019 Hi Bob, thanks for that, I will test that next week with my bulbs and report. Ciao, Marco Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted June 26, 2019 Report Share Posted June 26, 2019 Hi Marco, you may be waiting a very long time before you get a H4 LED bulb with an E mark. The manufacturer has to pay for the testing to qualify for the E mark and it is expensive. Not enough bulbs are sold to make it worth while. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted June 27, 2019 Report Share Posted June 27, 2019 Ok, checked my LED bulbs left dipped light, right high beam Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted June 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 Not impressed !! Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 ....and you go out at night with those.....? Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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