Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> LED bulbs
        
(Message started by: EinA on Feb 2nd, 2005, 3:54pm)
Title: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 2nd, 2005, 3:54pm
Hi All,
Has anybody tried the replacement LED bulbs for dash lighting. (clock etc).
i.e. if they work hopefully never having to change them again :)

David
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by Snoopy on Feb 2nd, 2005, 3:57pm
Its all here if you have a look

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/fasciabulbs.htm
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by daven on Feb 2nd, 2005, 4:06pm
Snoopy - I think David was refering to the LED bulbs as an alternative to the ones fitted!?

Can't remember anyone trying them -  some of the bulbs fitted in the dash are smaller - not sure if they can be supplied in LED?

Daven
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by Snoopy on Feb 2nd, 2005, 4:27pm
Sorry if I misunderstood !   I'll go back to sleep again .


LEDS !  before my time! ;D ;)
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by johnv on Feb 2nd, 2005, 5:57pm
hey, i have been meaning to ask that. On Ebay,(o god not ebay again) there are like tail light blubs, and rear light blubs and all sorts of outside light blubs, but I thinking Not headlight blubs that are led replacements for the normal light blub.
Does anyone know if they are worth having, they cost a fair bit, but I think lots of high end cars have these as standard.
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by craig on Feb 2nd, 2005, 7:29pm
john
IMHO i think the only led ones worth having,are the brake light ones (another plug for halfords ;D,they are currently selling the PAIR for £9.99),not too bad at that price,in theory they should last a lot longer,and they do make your brake lights slightly brighter....

HTH

craig.
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 2nd, 2005, 8:00pm
My point was only have to take the dash apart one time, I have not changed any yet. Does anybody know if the examples below on ebay are the right type/size/fitting

David

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28646&item=7951154147&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28646&item=7951329236&rd=1
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 2nd, 2005, 10:23pm
More info

The examples I posted earlier were 501's (side lights) it seems that some of the dash bulbs are 286's

and there are some on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28646&item=7950784221&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

If anybody has changed there bulbs and can comment on the type 286.
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by craig on Feb 3rd, 2005, 7:06am
not so sure about the LED'S fitting the dash,in total behind the dash,there are 10 bulbs all together..
4x large (finis 6329989)
and
6 x small (finis 7096694)
if contemplating replacing 1 of them due to it not working,replace the whole lot,ok a little costly,but nothing worse than replacing 1 faulty 1,and a couple of weeks later,another 1 has gone.....

good luck with it all....
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by daven on Feb 3rd, 2005, 7:46am
Hi David,

No the wedge ones won't fit - the Scorpio ones sit in a plastic bayonet! The ones on Ebay (7950784221) are the wrong way round as well! they are more like this :-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=72238&item=7950719553&rd=1

I have a spare of one of the large ones if you want it to compare before you go pulling the dash about!?

My local shop didn't even carry them so it was FMD that supplied mine!

Also I agree with Craig - do the lot and they should last a few years if you are lucky!

Cheers

Daven
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 3rd, 2005, 3:54pm
Hi Craig,
At least I know the qty now. are the different sizes, the bulbs or the holders?

Hi Davin,

I found this on the G&SO
http://www.granada-and-scorpio-online.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5560&highlight=286

are they the same and if you look further down you see they come apart and would be the wedge type ???

also found this site
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=44&products_id=303

which seem to have all different types

Just gotter decide do I try led's and never change them again or normal bulbs to last for 2-3 years.

I will change them all, its only money :)

David
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by daven on Feb 3rd, 2005, 6:38pm
Hi David,

Well you live and learn - sorry mate didn't know they do that! :-[

Below is a picture of one of the bulbs I took out, I think it was the bigger of the two but may be wrong!

I can't see any markings but it the bulb is 15mm long by 5mm at the wedge the bulb being 6mm!


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dave.neale/bulb.jpg
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by Geoff_W on Feb 3rd, 2005, 9:18pm
If the LED bulbs are brighter, whats that going to do for your night vision?

On the Mk3 there was a dimmer for adjustment, but the Ultima just has one light level (full on).

Has anybody come up with a work round on this one?

Sounds like one for Jamie Austin

I like the idea of LED bulbs in the rear light cluster, must pop into Halfords to see if the offer is still on. Also like the idea of xenon H1 s in the Front(seem to remember Oddjob got them for about £7.00 a bulb from a V**X***L dealer , see and be seen 8)
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by Paul B on Feb 3rd, 2005, 9:27pm
Ah, you mean a rheostat control Geoff.
I think this idea died a death because it would be too complicated. Something to do with the multiplex wiring or something.  ???
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by Geoff_W on Feb 3rd, 2005, 10:00pm
Paul your right, I remember now.

ok I can see how a variable current draw might be a problem with Multiplex,with Multiplex also carrying the signals from the motion sensors that trigger airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, fuel injection/pump cut off and I think locks in a major impact.

So I guess we would need to find a way to dim down the LED, maybe paint/whitewash type thing or  8)

Get the benefit of longer life without wandering around with loads of white spots in front of the eyes.

Geoff
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 3rd, 2005, 10:30pm
just been looking at this RR site

http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/binnacle.html

and they have little silicone sleeve's that fit over normal bulb's

I would have thought the manufactures of the LED's would have thought about how bright they are. Or maybe use red or green ones :)

Electrically the only way (I think) would be to drop the voltage for the led.

David
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by Geoff_W on Feb 4th, 2005, 12:04am
David,

Silicon sleeve would do it. Question is where do we find them.

This has suddenly become more interesting from my point of view as my clock light failed today. I know that the only way to sort that is a dashboard strip so might as well replace all my bulbs at the same time.

Geoff
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 4th, 2005, 12:20am
Geoff,
I got the same, with the clock which started me off on this thread.

I thinking I'm just going to order some anyway and see how bright is bright.  

I don't think any of the bulbs shine out directly so maybe easier to cover whats in front of the bulbs.

There are two reviews on the LED site, Though they are different cars they don't mention to much brightness

Maybe I'll test'em on my Granada first as that dash is half in bits already. Then the Scorpio if all ok.

David
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by daven on Feb 4th, 2005, 7:56am
So was the picture of any use? - if not I will take it off so as not to slow the board up! ;)

Quote "ok I can see how a variable current draw might be a problem with Multiplex,with Multiplex also carrying the signals from the motion sensors that trigger airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, fuel injection/pump cut off and I think locks in a major impact."

LEDs won't affect any of this will it? Hate to think an airbag going off because of an LED!! (will put ther question to Jamie via the Mlist!)

Cheers

Daven
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by daven on Feb 4th, 2005, 12:45pm
Answers from the Mlist

1
If you have the correct led with the correct current limiting resistor,
either integral or fitted in series ( R=(13-Vf)/If ), for dash
illumination I cant see a problem.  I fitted green leds to the heated
seats switches, not the on indicator, but the back lighting.  One guy
Rae I think, did his in blue.

A thing to remember with Brake/Rear cluster, the reason they haven't
been used by car manufacturers much to date, is the inherent thermal
shut down, this can be as low as 60C, apparently an attainable
temperature in a closed cluster in direct sunlight.

Jamie

2
Any work behind the dash carries some small risk of setting off the bags,
nothing to do with whether you are replacing the blown bulb with a normal one
or an LED.

Is the Scorpio dash lighting regulated? If it is, to +12v, a +12v LED ought to
just slot straight in, electrically, bearing in mind there are usually regular
and extra bright to choose from. The wattage is usually lower than a normal
bulb so there's no problem with current. There'd be no difficulty hooking up a
few outside the dash to get an idea which type will best suit for brightness,
and whether they blow when hooked up to the cigar lighter socket.

If it's not regulated, a glass bulb is nominally +12v but will work ok up to 16
or so, whereas a +12v LED will just dink out of service when the volts get up
to the higher levels. This might be be an issue with replacing them all and
finding out they all go dud at 80+ mph in the dark.

 Martyn H

Hope this helps

Daven
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 4th, 2005, 3:07pm
Hi Daven,
The picture was very usefull, can you email it to me or save it some where for furture ref.

David
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 4th, 2005, 3:16pm
Hi Daven,
Just had another thought. If you can get it saved on the site. It might save some members money by buying only bulbs ( normal or led ) instead of buying the bulb and holder.  ;D

David
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by Vulcan on Feb 4th, 2005, 3:43pm

on 02/04/05 at 15:07:11, EinA wrote:
Hi Daven,
The picture was very usefull, can you email it to me or save it some where for furture ref.

David


Right click on the picture pull down to "save picture as.." select a place on your hard drive and click save.

hth

George
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by daven on Feb 4th, 2005, 4:15pm
David,

Even better, take photos if you do the LEDs on the Scorpio, write it up and send it to Eric, Steve or Pete and they may include it on the Mods page!

Feel free to use the photo - download it as George suggested - I will leave it on my webspace for the time being anyway.

Good luck

Daven
Title: Re: LED bulbs
Post by EinA on Feb 4th, 2005, 8:47pm
Hi Vulcan,

Done  :-[

Hi Devan.

Will do


Ford Scorpio Forum » Powered by YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.3.1!
YaBB © 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved.