Led Stop Turn Double Filament Bulbs And Issues.

[clarkey1984]

Hi all, I recently purchased 4 stop turn bulbs to replace the ageing double filament items in my 1990 abbey, 2 for that and 2 for the trailer I am building, thinking they would be a straight swap, however, for reasons I do not understand I'm having some quite odd behaviour.

 

When fitted, nothing happens when the lights are turned on, and the same when the brakes are on, however, with the brakes and the lights on at the same time they light up really brightly, which doesn't really make any sense as the bayonet and contacts are identical to regular filament bulbs in every possible way.

 

So I tested them out of the units using a battery and some small cable, when energising either one of the 2 contacts on the bottom and earthing the body it lights up at the same brightness regardless of which one I contact, and if I contact both it becomes slightly brighter, which also makes no sense, as I would expect the tail circuit alone to produce the least light, the brake circuit on its own to be brighter than the tail one, and brighter still with them both on together.

 

There was a brief moment whereby I managed to get what i would expect to see brightness wise from a tail on only when I got the bulb jammed in the housing out of frustration but it only happened once and i couldn't replicate it so I'm stumped now.

 

I should add that exactly the same thing happens when I fitted them to my trailers individual stop tail bulb holders as well, which work fine with regular bulbs, as does the caravan.

 

The bulbs were the flat style cob led items from eBay which are listed as 12v ba15d 5/21w so I was obviously expecting a direct swap, is there a particular bulb that anyone else has used and it's just worked as intended?

 

Many thanks in advance

Edited June 14, 2017 by clarkey1984

[gravon42]

Not being facetious, or undermining your intelligence, but are you aware that double filament bulbs

will only fit one way? The bayonet holder has staggered pins.

[Paul_B]

I believe led bulbs have to emit the same colour as the lens for optimal brightness unless the lens is clear

[CommanderDave]

I have tried replacing filament bulbs with Led bulbs years ago and gave up . First you need Can bus bulbs or the indicators and light warning systems will not detect a bulb and then I have found they are not very bright in daylight for braking and indicators . The front led bulb light would glow slightly when the brake light activated on the rear .

 

Then these bulbs are not E marked and not legal .

 

 

If I did anything like changing lights now I would just replace with Led light units .

 

 

Dave

Edited June 15, 2017 by CommanderDave

[Keefmac]

I've taken quite a few retrofit LED bulbs out of motorbikes over the years, reliability and complications with the wiring etc.

 

Sounds like you have an earthing problem in the wiring somewhere, or a corroded crimp within the wiring, or badly made led replacement bulbs.

 

OEM Factory led lighting units have been built to a certain standard, led replacement bulbs not so much. .

 

Depending on car some have switched -ve for some of the lights, very rare though.

Edited June 15, 2017 by Keefmac

[clarkey1984]

Not being facetious, or undermining your intelligence, but are you aware that double filament bulbs

will only fit one way? The bayonet holder has staggered pins.

.

 

No problem at all, it's an easy mistake which has no doubt been done many times, but in this case they will only fit in one way round due to the pins as you say so it's not that.

 

I'm at an utter loss with it so all I can do is just stick with regular bulbs I think, the whole thing could well be more trouble than it's worth.

Edited June 15, 2017 by clarkey1984

[Keefmac]

Good choice!.

[jetA1]

.

 

I'm at an utter loss with it so all I can do is just stick with regular bulbs I think, the whole thing could well be more trouble than it's worth.

 

There is a chance that the led's could be faulty. I have a number in use without problem but a friend on mine has had problems which resulted in similar head scratching, the supplier he used was very helpful and offered replacements which fixed the problem.

[Keefmac]

Have you got a car or motorcycle you can try the led bulbs in?.

[Ldsundance]

i have a 93 ABI and had replaced the rear bulbs with led bulbs needed an led trailer unit for the car, non can bus, changed the car can bus, and had problems with the leds mainly with the left side indicator intermittently working,tried different led bulbs but just the same so just changed back to normal bulbs mine are the single fillement, i do have a test rig to connect to the car with led units and they are working fine

[keithk]

replacing double filament bulbs tend to mean that ine.single bulb is operating two functions..i.e break lighd and tail light...replacing with a normal led wouldnt work properly due to it not being able to use both functions at the same time as it wouldnt be a double filamemt led....

[DACS]

Why did you want to change the bulbs in the first place?

[limecc]

On 05/09/2020 at 13:15, DACS said:

Why did you want to change the bulbs in the first place?

Speaking for myself (not the OP), because LED bulbs are shiny and I like them ?.

 

Unfortunately retrofit bulbs are not fit-and-forget because contacts are still subject to oxidation and tarnishing like a regular bulb.

Not all LED bulbs are created equal. Some will go straight in and work without error. Also there's a chance a future owner or tow car will not like them whereas they could be ok with your present tug.

 

It's an easily reversed modification, but set realistic expectations before beginning this upgrade. It's a shame to accept defeat and also some satisfaction to be had in success.

 

With the right learning it should be fairly easy to get them operational by means of ballasting, and this does not have to be local to the replaced bulb (although that's often the best choice). Lack of skills will lead to disappointment, an autoelectrician can have it sorted in no time.

[Blackhart]

The joys of LED bulbs. When we purchased our Swift Challenger caravan new last year the rear indicators on the 'van wouldn't work as out tow vehicle, Mitsubishi L200, has normal filament bulbs. I had to purchase a special conversion unit from Sargent at £100.00 to fit to the caravan.

 

To be fair though it was a strait plug & go swap and has worked fine since.

 

As I said the joys of LED! 

 

BH