LED lowbeam experiment

[ps2fixer]

You can withdraw over the $500/month limit if your paypal account is verified or a Premier account. Don't remember which one removed the limit, but I have a CC + Bank account verified on mine and I have no limits at all (my account is also from 2006).

For the cost, personally, I would keep searching. $500 is a lot of gas!

[oil pan 4]

When I realized there was a limit I assumed they wanted more money to "upgrade my membership" and relese all my money, but I don't mind. I can only hope this becomes a regular problem. -$500 cleaned out most of it.

I emailed truck-lite.com today and asked if they plan on making a high quality 4x6inch 4656 LED replacement in the near future.
I await their reply.

[dwtaylorpdx]

You can buy dual pin mount LED units at Lowes for about 9 bucks, equiv to 40 or 50 W bulb... Also some really pretty cool pin mount flat LED's both run on 12 V for low voltage track lights...

Dave

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by dwtaylorpdx

You can buy dual pin mount LED units at Lowes for about 9 bucks, equiv to 40 or 50 W bulb... Also some really pretty cool pin mount flat LED's both run on 12 V for low voltage track lights...

Dave

Yeah I have numerous posts and topics on the "G4 LED replacement array" on here (see page 2 of this post), dieselplace.com (super bright reverse light mod for any 74-91 tail light) and wind-sun.com.
I will post links when I have time later.

I like the G4 array so much I try to keep 1 or 2 on hand at all times incase I think of a new place to stick one or find a new use for them.

[oil pan 4]

LEDs offer a brighter future, says report - Page 3

DIY: Super bright reverse light mod for any 73-91 style tail light - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

[ps2fixer]

Good links.

For the dome light, you could have saved some money and just bought this: Warm White Light Panel 48 SMD LED Bulb Lamp T10 Dome Bulb BA9S 12V DC Adapter | eBay

I have one in my Camry. 3-5 times brighter than a new OEM bulb. My door didn't close very good one day I came home (morning/daylight time) and the LED light was on from noon to about 11pm and I still was able to start the car and go, didn't even seem like the battery was down at all. With the OEM, I had the same thing happen to me when I was running late for work, when I got out to the car, it was too low to start the car.

I'm thinking about replacing my marker lights with similar panels glued inside the lens. Could probably do the same for the brake lights even though they are white leds (lens will filter out some of the light). Them panels should work well for a cheap led lighting for off grid houses as well, but a true constant current power supply is more efficent than resisters.

A note on the 194 replacement LED bulbs, I bought a lot of 50 on ebay cheap (eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices).
On my house power supply (13.8v dc) they had a slight blue look compaired to the LEDs I bought in the past (120 degree 20ma) + resister. When installed in my marker light, they appear about 65-50% as bright. In my dash, they appear purple for some reasion, the OEM 194 bulbs had a blue/green skin over the bulbs, removing them made the gauges more white/yellowish, and now they are purple lol. I have my light brightness at the brightest adjustment.

So my suggestion is to not buy from Guangzhou, CHINA. The other LEDs I bought before was from Hong Kong, but require a resister + the socket plastic.

For my marker light needs, I plan to put 2-3 of my 120 degree leds in replacement of the concave led. Pretty simple mod since the 194 bulbs are made of 3 simple items... the concave led, a resister soldered to the LED's leg, and the 194 bulb plastic.

You can just buy the bulb plastic bases for a tad bit cheaper than the complete setup. 10 LED T10 194 168 Dashboard Side Light Lamp Bulb Base | eBay

Now to find out what socket the rest of my dash lights are! lol

[oil pan 4]

I have only even seen #194 lights behind the dash.

I don't know about those LED dome lights, they don't have a heat sink. My G4 dome light mod is heat sinked with RTV and aluminum.
Also the G4 array is at least assembled in the USA.
Plus my dome light mounts were rusty and had burned wires, so drop in LED replacements were never really an option.

Autozone and O'rielly's has red and amber 194 LED replacements with 4 bendable/aimable 4mm LEDs. They are a bit expensive but are very bright and since they are colored all the light generated is useable for blinkers and running lights.
The colored pre-made 194 replacements are good for me because I work so much these days I don't have time to fabricate all my mods from scratch or raw componets. (I have more money than time)
Truck stops tend to have white 194 replacement LEDs.

[ps2fixer]

I measured the 194 bulbs I have and at 13.8v they draw 21ma. I would guess yours draws more to produce more light. My 160 degree 3w leds require a heat sink, but if I run them at around 600ma they barely warm up and produce a lot of light (light/watt).

More money than time is a nice setup, but I know what you mean, I work 8 days in a row, 10 hour days, and 1 hour from work, but my off time is great... 6 full days, so I have time 1/2 of the time lol.

I should be able to fab up something with my 3W leds, the 194 bulb sockets, and the correct resister size. Maybe if I get a system down, members here would be interested in the DIY guide .

[Grant-53]

Manufacturers such GE have on line catalogs for their bulbs that includes technical data on headlamps. The big legal hump is to have a high/low beam with the SAE spec cutoff for low beam operation. The driving lights need to be low glare and mounted low enough (say less than 24 inches from the ground) not to blind oncoming drivers. Some amber lens tape across the top might be helpful in snow conditions.

[oil pan 4]

I have the 4 headlight setup so as long as they are 4x6 inch they can be low beam only, high beam only or high/low beam.