Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I just got in some LED bulbs from http://www.superbrightleds.com/ to try in my tail/brake lights on my '47. I have blue dot lenses. The LED bulb sure lit the blue dot up nicely but nothing else. It is totally directional one direction. It throws no light onto the rest of the lens nor anything to the side or back into the fixture to light up the rest of the lens. Woefully inadequate. I'll be sending them back and getting replacement for my halogen that just burned out. Here are some photos showing comparison of LED to standard incandescents and halogens.

LED lighting up the blue dot only:
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_2377.jpg

LED on the left. Standard incandescent on the right:
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_2370.jpg

LED on the left. Halogen on the right.
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_2376.jpg

Standard incandescent on the left. Halogen on the right.
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_2379.jpg

The LED I tried:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/image...157-x19_mm.jpg

P.S. The LED bulb would not work turned in the socket, only just pushed straight in. And, there was no change in the bulb when brakes were put on.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Henry, This style LED is, in my opinion, the type you want;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1942-1948-Fo...sories&vxp=mtr
They make them in different styles to suit different cars. I run the 33-36 style they offer in my 35, and I love them! What you do is use the mounted LEDS they supply, but throw away their rubbish plastic lenses, sustituting them instead for your glass ones.
Now...you're gonna tell me you are still running 6 volt aren't you? I could be wrong, but I think that even though these are rated at 12 volt, the current draw is so small [applying brakes in my 35 does not even make ammeter flicker], that they'd work perfectly well on 6 jolts. Brian

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Old henry, The reason they only light up the very center(which does look super bright) and dont throw the lighting outward or back into the fixture is because the 1157-x19 bulb you have pictured they are a "Narrow viewing angle" style bulb and designed that way, as stated on some of the bulbs in the same selection box you picked yours from ,If you goto this page http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...15x-x12x19.htm and go down to the second picture which is the 1157-x19 bulb you have pictured and click on the 3D view option , the picture that pops up says "Narrow angle LED"

If you go to this page of the website http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...rake-turn.html and look at the bulbs in the 2nd selection box under the ones you purchased ,at the bulbs 1157 Dual & 1156 Single Contact BA15 High Power SMD LED Automotive Bulbs
with the LED's not only on the top but also the sides of the bulb you'll see they are a "360 degree Viewing Angle" bulbs which throw light all the way around the fixture, but they cost quite abit more then the ones you bought.So most likely it was a misunderstanding from the buyer and not the bulbs fault:D hope this helps and congrats on the super amount of posts you have made!

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Make sure to order the correct color when you use the red lens (see their instructions). Note your photo of the dimensions of the bulb base one pin is 0.21 from the very boittom and the other is 0.356. This is the offset pin base of the 1157. If you have the socket for the bulb with the pins at the same dimension then the 1157 style bulb will not turn and lock in place. I do not believe they offer their LED bulb with the other base.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

All of your information is about 12 volt bulbs. There are, indeed, a lot more choices for 12 volt. Since I'm at 6 volt I got one choice only on this page: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...57-x12-24V.htm I bought the only bulb available for tail/brake light for 6 volt. I did have a choice between 15 degree viewing angle and 100 degree viewing angle. I bought the "wide angle" 100 degree viewing angle bulb and that's what I got.:(

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

LED's are very voltage sensitive, meaning they must have their rated voltage to operate. They're not like an incandescent bulb that will run on lower voltage, just dimmer. If LED's don't have the proper voltage they just don't light up. I've tried it. That's how they are.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

The bulb would turn and lock like it's supposed to but the contacts were not lined up right to contact locked in place. They would only contact when first pushed in.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I know these are 12 volt, but they are, by far, the best tail lights for a 46-48 ford.
http://www.cool-leds.com/42ford.htm

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I bought some 12V ones for my trailer. LEDs operate on a very low voltage, a lot less than 6v. So a dropping resistor is mounted in the assembly somewhere. I can easily see the resistor on the bulbs I got. Simple matter of soldering a replacement resistor in there to work on 6V. I agree the SMDs are the ones you want. The resistor size will depend on how many leds are mounted on the assembly.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I've had good luck with the Super-Brite 6v, 14/50 CP, filament bulb from Sacramento Vintage Ford (p/n 06143-6SB). I also painted my tail light buckets white.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Thanks for the tip. Looks like a good bulb to try. I just ordered three of them.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I still use the standard 6v bulb in mine. When I got the car the housing was painted black so you can imagine how useless the illumination was. Recently I took them out and painted them silver. Over the top of that I sprayed some of that "chrome" styled paint in a rattle can. I was amazed at the difference in brightness. It looks like a 12v setup now. PerHaps I should try some LEDs for a greater effect.

GB

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Although I am 12 volts, I have the equivalent light in 40 sargent stripe style and they ARE the brightest taillights I've ever had and I've tried them ALL!!!

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I actually painted the inside of one of mine silver and the other white to see which was brightest and the white was noticeabley brighter than the silver/chrome paint. I also compared white to aluminum foil lining the fixture. White was still brighter so I've painted both white. I also cut and inserted a backing to fill the "black hole" behind the bulb from which no light can reflect and painted it white too for maximum brightness. I was never pulled over for my lights being out (dim) until I put my blue dots in. The original bulbs just don't put out enough light for the blue dots and the cops started pulling me over for no lights. (After we'd get stopped and they walked up to my door they'd say, "Did you just turn your tail lights on? They were off when I pulled you over." No, they were just dim.) That's why I've got to have brighter than stock bulbs.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Henry. Yes I've heard that white is actually the best reflector and you've done the test. I've got blue dots in mine, the car came with them in but I have thought about changing them out for the original Duolite glass. Brighter is safer too so its a good move on your part with the LEDs and has got me too thinking.

GB

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I still have not found an LED bulb that will work for our 6 volt fixtures. (See http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67526) That's why I've been using halogens. But, I've just ordered the super bright incandescents recommended by 4dFord/SC at #10 as they are rated as bright as the halogens and hopefully last longer. They're available here: http://www.vintageford.com/part_sear...3-6sb&Category=

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Cheers for that OH I've copied that into my "V8" folder.

GB

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

gloss white or flat white or does it matter? think i'll try this out along with the bulbs from Sacremento Vintage Ford.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I used gloss, but I suspect the color is more important than the finish.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I used gloss too.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Im using 32 Ford Headlight bulbs in my 40 and painted the inside of the buckets gloss white . Installed a relay under the floor to take the extra load so all the brake light switch does is make and break a ground.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

thanks fellas.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Here are the results. Halogen on the right. Super bright incandescent from Sacramento Vintage Ford on the left.
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...mparison-1.jpg

Indeed, the incandescent is just as bright as the halogen with even some other advantages: 1) They're less than 1/3 the cost - $3.95 compared to $15.50 for the halogen. 2) They are conventional filament location just like standard bulbs rather than the weird double bulb configuration of the halogen. The advantage of that is that the filaments actually line up with my blue dot and shine straight through them instead of being off to the side like the halogens. That's why the left light looks so much bluer. I really like that. 3) Hopefully they'll last longer. But, even if they only lasted 1/2 as long they'd still be cheaper because they're less than 1/3 the cost.

For my application of stock 6 volt and blue dot lenses, there's nothing better. I'm very pleased. Thanks again 4dFord/SC for the tip.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Glad it's worked out so well for you, OH. I've had mine in for about five years with the stock wiring and no relay.

BTW, what are you using for a license plate bulb? It shows up your plate very well. Mine with the stock bulb is distinctly visible to the naked eye, but that's about all:(

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

The picture of the Superbright looks like the one on page 1 showing the LED.

How about picture comparing the Superbright and the LED?

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Oops. The two pictures look so much alike because they are, in fact, the same picture. My bad. I've replaced the later duplicate with the correct picture that shows better the difference.

Here's the close up comparison:
The lense lit up by the LED.
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_2377.jpg

The lens lit up by the incandescent:
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...candescent.jpg

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I just use a stock bulb but notice that sometimes the ground between the fixture and the frame it's mounted in gets a little loose making the light dim and I have to wiggle and twist it until the light is bright again. You may want to check that.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Old Henry,what is this relay you mention and how do you hook it up? Thanks for now, Moe

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Not sure why you think you need such heavy wire; 14 gauge would carry the current for both stoplights, or 12 if you want some margin. There are many sources, but here's a convenient one: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...6&postcount=11

Here's another: http://forums.aaca.org/f120/what-wir...se-195137.html

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Yeah, I think you're all correct and I was wrong. I had my reasons but they were wrong. I would certainly use 12 ga. but probably nothing bigger is necessary.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I used a horn relay (from Mac's here: http://macsautoparts.com/early-v8-fo...0R3CHL1074089/):

http://macsautoparts.com/images/400/...853-A_pJPG.JPG
Heavy wire from battery or circuit breaker goes to battery (B) terminal. Heavy wire from horn (H) terminal goes to brake lights. Lighter wire goes from switch (S) terminal through brake light switch to ground.

But, as others have said and are probably correct, this may not be necessary for the Sacramento Vintage Ford super bright incandescents, just the halogens.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

There is a reason blue dots are illegal just about everywhere, they take a marginal light and make it useless.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

[There is a reason blue dots are illegal just about everywhere, they take a marginal light and make it useless. ]

I agree - additionally, the wavelength of LED output is strongly in the blue region, causing the blue dot to act as an optical filter, cutting down the light output level in comparison to incandescent lamps, whose output is in the red range....Bob L

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

I'm certainly not trying to talk anybody into blue dot lenses. They are the only non-authentic thing on my '47. But, as far as visibility, we have all seen cops go from the old red-only overheads to blue. Why? Because the blue stands out among so many red lights on the road. Blue-dot lenses actually work the same. They are a contrast to all of the red tail lights seen on the road and draw sharp attention to them which is particularly important because the size of the old stock fixtures are so small compared to modern tail lights. That isn't the main reason I run them though. It's mostly because I remember as a kid seeing them on old cars and thinking they looked so cool - like neon - that I dreamed of having them some day and now I do. Yes, they are illegal in my state (that's why I use a pseudonym:eek:) but no cops have bothered me about them since I got the bright bulbs in them. Probably because they love the looks of them as much as I do. :rolleyes:

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

If you have ever driven behind a car with blue dots you would know that whole statement is just not accurate.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Now I have guilt. :(

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...pse81b6d81.jpg

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

OldHenery, Try lambertenterprises.com they will make either 6 or 12 volt kits.I went with their 40 conversion kit and now I can be seen at night.Thay are not plug in bulbs they are boards made for your tail lights. hope this helps. Reguards 40f convt

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

My 2c worth. . . . .

Ditch the blue dots.

The original red lenses are the best for visibility.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Called Sacramento Vintage Ford today and placed an order for 2 Superbright 6 -Volt 14/50 CP bulbs....unfortunitaly they are out of stock, but I was told the next shipment should be here March 1...just three weeks away.

Re: Not so Super Bright LEDS
 

Maybe I'm old fashioned , but I would never put LED's in an old car, they just don't look like they belong there to me. JMO