Re: LED versus halogen bulbs

Posted by Tim Cole On 2012/2/2 18:04:43

Just a note on these olds bulbs.

Light bulbs get dimmer as they age. You can test this by placing a new bulb next to a used bulb on a piece of white paper.

As for LED turn signals, one way to load the flasher is to parallel a heavy draw bulb to the flasher. This is easier than trying to find a suitable power resistor. The bulb can be hidden in a box under the dash.

If maximum candle power is the objective then I would certainly consider using relays controlled by the switches. Those automotive switches are old and subject to high resistance. It may not look 100% original under the hood and fenders but if done carefully nobody will notice.

Also, chassis grounds are important as well. You should run a long test lead from battery ground to to a multi-meter at a given light to check the voltage difference with the light burning and a battery charger hooked to the battery. Anything higher than .4 volts is a problem (0 to .2v is ideal). But mind you, that old metal loses conductivity so you might end up running a ground system parallel to the wiring harness.