Topic: LED BULBS WHATS THE DEAL?

[siter81]

I was thinking of changing my dash indicator lights on my k5 to led"s.I am not to well educated on this subject. just know there are brighter.Can someone give me the 411 on them,CURRENT DRAW, PROS OR CONS ON THEM ETC?


Thanks ED,S Aka Siter81 Or GT380

[ProTeal55]

L.E.D's work well in some applications - and not so well in others.
I am sure someone else will chime in with a longer telling as to why ......

[Hop on a Honda]

Directional indicators (Blinkers) need a new flasher unit to be successfull.
I managed to get a LED tail light dual bulb , but it was no where as bright on the foot brake application as the old one (Volvo bulb). back to square one and A$20 down the drain.
Dave Australia.

[mick750F]

   I recenty changed out the bulbs in my gauges and dash indicators. For the indicators I used a normal pattern bulb and for the gauges I used a bulb which disperses the light in a sideways pattern. Brightness seems to be the same though the gauges might be a little dimmer. It may be due to the type of bulb I used. I plan to swap them with the others as a test to see if it changes. Also, the LEDs I used are clear/white in color. Because the incandescents have a bit of yellow to them the color in the neutral indicator is now more of a light blue than green. Using a yellow LED should fix that. The color in the gauges is off a bit too so yellow might be the better choice if you're picky about matching the original color.

   The bulbs were about $3 each and I can't find the info on the place I bought them from here at home. I'll check my shop and post it later if I find it.

Mike

[smrshl]

What is the process for replacing the indicator bulbs?  I don't imagine that it's too hard, I just can't find it in my manual.

[ProTeal55]

What is the process for replacing the indicator bulbs? I don't imagine that it's too hard, I just can't find it in my manual.

I would guess to remove the old bulb from it's socket, and replace.
If changing to different bulb/L.E.D , allittle wiring might be in order...

[crazypj]

White LED's dont work so good if your not looking directly at them. the LED is its own lens so needs to be angled to give light in correct direction. They do have a much lower power consumption though so you can fit a LED tail light (complete unit) and use the spare power for more important things, like ignition and seeing where your going
PJ

[smrshl]

I would guess to remove the old bulb from it's socket, and replace.

I meant how do you get to the bulbs to replace them.  I think that I'm mechanically inclined enough to pull a bulb and and push another one in.

[csendker]

I changed out the idiot lights on my 550, read here for the scoop --> http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=7931.msg72438#msg72438

Can't help you on how to get to the bulbs, but mine were a pain, quadruple joints required.  That was until I looked at the damn exploded diagram and realized the whole thing popped off, making life much easier.

Well, I just looked at yours.  And what do you know, they are the same.  There's a clip (#4 on the diagram) that unsnaps and the whole idiot light holder thing (#3) pops off for ease of bulb replacement.

And I have found the 4-LED idiot lights to be just right during the day, very noticible.  At night, they are a bit too bright and the gauges are a bit too dim (they do work better with the black faced gauges I'm now running instead of the green), but as I don't do very much night riding, I'm sticking with them for the day visibility.

[mick750F]

   I finally found the site where I bought my bulbs. http://www.autolumination.com  Many styles of bulbs in a variety of colors and beam patterns.

Mike

[csendker]

I used these guys --> http://www.superbrightleds.com/BA9S6_specs.htm