

| Subject: | Re: LED Refit |
| From: | John Rodgers |
| Date: | Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:10:30 -0600 |
Scott, Mind telling us the source?? Thanks. John Rodgers Clayartist and Moldmaker 88'GL VW Bus Driver Chelsea, AL Http://www.moldhaus.com Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote: > re > I've got a pair that I intend to experiment with in the taillights of > one of > my vans, to gauge whether >I< consider them safe to use (from a > visibility > point of view). Many modern cars use them, but their taillight > housings have > been designed with them in mind, whereas are Vanagons weren't. > > LED tail light bulbs already available. > They use a cluster of about 10 or a dozen red LED's. > they 'stick out' a bit more than a regular globe on a standard tail > light > bulb, but the fit in a Vanagon just fine. > I have some, and just love 'em. > A nice bright cherry red too. A distinct improvement . > > Scott > www.turbovans.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:34 PM > Subject: Re: LED Refit > > >> The LED lighting industry is still evolving. A couple of years ago >> when so >> called white LEDs first came out, they had a distinctly blu-ish color to >> most folk. This is why it is important to pay attention to the color >> temperature of lights. Most of those first "white" leds, were in fact a >> 5000K "temperature", which most folk perceive as somewhat harsh and >> bluish. Many fluorescent fixtures suffer this way as well. >> >> Your traditional incandescent light has a "lower" temperature, closer to >> 2650K. This is a yellower light, but and folk think of it as "warmer". >> Daylight fluorescent fixtures are closer to this (2700-2800K). Halogen >> bulbs are a bit brighter at around 3000K. >> >> It is now possible to get LED lights in the 2700-2800K "temperature". >> I've >> got them in my house. I've got a few on some pinball machines (which >> tend >> to use bulbs similar to those used in cars.) They aren't blue at all. >> And >> in directed lighting situations, they are effectively as bright as the >> incandescents I've replaced, using about 1/7th the power. That is an >> important caveat..."directed" light. Incandescents throw light all over >> the place. LEDs don't. They are very directional. They should work very >> well in illuminating backlit areas (dash heating controls for instance), >> somewhat less successful in dome lighting. >> >> I've got a pair that I intend to experiment with in the taillights of >> one >> of my vans, to gauge whether >I< consider them safe to use (from a >> visibility point of view). Many modern cars use them, but their >> taillight >> housings have been designed with them in mind, whereas are Vanagons >> weren't. >> >> >> >> On Feb 22, 2010, at 11:01 PM, John Rodgers wrote: >> >>> The LED is a very white light, whereas the human eye is functions best >>> in a yellow light, thus a conflict. This is why to me the bright >>> blue/white lights some people are putting on their cars are anathema to >>> me. 'Should be outlawed in my opinion. But the white LED inside is >>> OK if >>> you like them. but I don't - not for reading. Again - white vs yellow. >>> Even flourescents can be problematical. >>> >>> John Rodgers >>> Clayartist and Moldmaker >>> 88'GL VW Bus Driver >>> Chelsea, AL >>> Http://www.moldhaus.com >>> >>> >>> >>> Joy Hecht wrote: >>>> I'd be interested in the link for the source of your lights too. >>>> Though >>>> actually I'd like lights in that place that are MUCH brighter. I do >>>> read by >>>> the incandescent light, but it is hard, it is very dim. Has anyone >>>> done >>>> a >>>> refit that greatly increases the light available? I don't like LED >>>> lights - >>>> are there fluorescent refits that folks have done? They are much >>>> brighter >>>> than LEDs. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Joy >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 7:22 PM, Paul Gordon >>>> <paul_gordon@sympatico.ca>wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> Moderator, Could you please post this as it may be of interest to >>>>> some >>>>> list >>>>> members. >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: Paul Gordon >>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 2:04 PM >>>>> Subject: LED Refit >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I have just completed a LED refit on the light over the Water tank/ >>>>> Storage area. The incandescent lamps (3) seem to draw an obscene >>>>> amount >>>>> of >>>>> power from the auxiliary battery. After shopping around I found a >>>>> molded >>>>> strip of 12 LED's that fits perfectly into this fixture. removed the >>>>> existing lamp holders by drilling out the rivets. The new strip >>>>> has an >>>>> adhesive backing that appears to be permanent. Rewiring was really >>>>> simple. >>>>> Light output is about the same as the old incandescents but have a >>>>> very >>>>> slight bluish tinge. No problem reading in this light. Just not as >>>>> warm >>>>> a >>>>> light as the old. I regret not throwing ammeter on the circuit to >>>>> see >>>>> what >>>>> it did draw but I would estimate the new lights draw less than >>>>> 1/20 the >>>>> amount of power the incandescents did. FWIW. Thoughts or comments >>>>> welcome. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> > >
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