LED Bulbs: Front Amber/White Switchbacks and Rear Red

[devo]

Using Bikermike's posts from a few years ago, I purchased these in the last month for my '66. They fit and work perfectly.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Dual-Color-H ... AX&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182124689274?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301981235865?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Don't forget the LED flasher can.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Prong-Electro ... OH&vxp=mtr

[FairladySPL]

....
I almost wonder if it wouldn't be easier to make a voltage increaser gizmo. Just bump up the voltage a half a volt to make up for the poor voltage getting to the bulbs from the old wiring. I think I will pump a fresh 12v straight to the source and see how it looks.

Are you sure it's poor voltage? Your idea is good to directly connect to a strong power source for testing. But if you haven't actually measured the load and no-load voltage, I think it might be that the LEDs just aren't up to the same intensity. Story follows.

Maybe 40 years ago, what today seems like common sense was a discovery for me. I found something interesting when I hung a voltmeter across the terminals for the driving lights on my first 1600. Twisting the headlight knob provided full voltage, but there was a big drop once I hung a set of lights on there. Eventually I kept the function of the knob by using the wires to activate a relay that had its own wiring to power the lights.

So, relevant to this thread, most of the time the problem of being too dim is not the wiring but the actual lumen output available from the LED assembly. Most of the problems from old wiring come from its inability to deliver current, not voltage. Tarnished connectors, bad splices all can have higher resistance than original. And the consequences don't show up until you try to draw substantial power through the line.

An LED bulb typically draws less current than the filament-type bulb it replaces. In many cases, the operating voltage, under the less demanding load of an LED bulb, is higher than that for an incandescent trying to draw more current through the same wire.

[svwilbur]

Using Bikermike's posts from a few years ago, I purchased these in the last month for my '66. They fit and work perfectly.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Dual-Color-H ... AX&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182124689274?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301981235865?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Don't forget the LED flasher can.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Prong-Electro ... OH&vxp=mtr

Looks like those are
Switchback White Amber 1157
Amber 1156 single pole
Red 1157 dual pole

And these are from the same vendor in california (and all appear to be CREE high Power LED):

White 1157 dual pole for park and turning light or Tail Brake/Stop light?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AGQ-x2-Super-Wh ... SwiYFXKKCI


White 1156 single pole style for side markers and such?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JDM-2-pcs-1156- ... SwcL5XMBQh

appears to be super white and would be what I would use ( I guess? ) if I want to keep my stock amber front side or rear lenses and just replace the bulb?
Or would that wash the lens out?
Is it better to use amber or red 1156 equivalents so it does not get washed out?
What do you use for the single pole 1156 side markers and license plate lights????

[devo]

Whatever color the bulb is, will come through the lens no matter what color the lens is. If you use a red lens and a super white bulb, it will look white when the bulb lights up. So, if you use a red lens, use a red bulb, My 2 cents. I used clear lenses for my parking, tail and rear turn lights with colored bulbs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-roadster ... cw&vxp=mtr

I have a '66, so no side marker lights. And, I use a regular bulb for the license plate light. I don't want to make it too easy for the cops to see

[notoptoy]

All LED light sites tell you to use the color bulb to match the lens covering it.

[svwilbur]

Thanks for the response. colored leds seem to be the way to go, not white.

Thanks for saving me some time and money in not buying the wrong items.

[devo]

Thanks for the response. colored leds seem to be the way to go, not white.

Thanks for saving me some time and money in not buying the wrong items.

Happy to help.

[dbrick]

Just for an experiment, I picked up these from PepBoys.
They are DOT approved 1157 replacements, but seem to be made for a reflector, as the LED's are lined up like a filament and shielded. We'll see, mainly I want the extreme difference between stop and tail. Had a 30% off coupon, so we'll see.
Worse case, I'll put them in my trailers, might last better than regular bulbs.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-1157-Int ... B00P2D415K