Your experience with LED bulbs? Options

[lagos]

I've tried a few cheap led replacement 194 bulbs, only to have them burn out after just a few days of use.
Anyone have better luck with theirs? Any specific brands to stick with?

Im looking for something that will work well for the rear license plate, not to illuminate the gauge cluster.

This post has been edited by lagos: Aug 22, 2009 - 11:05 PM

[Tom_SS2]

i've had nothing but problems, they are cheap you end up paying more for P+P then you do for the bulbs and they never seem to last the 100,000's of hours quoted in their guarantee but who is going to waste time sending back defective bulbs?

[Seztor]

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/EnKMall__W0QQ_armrsZ1
Use this seller.
Bought from him about 10 times know and they work perfectly

[Tigawoods]

as long as you dont mess with the dimmer on the ones hooked up to the interior lights they should last a while.
i dimmed my clusters on a extra set to see what happened and burned them out

[Culpable04]

LED are design for an specific Voltage, if they are not getting that voltage they'll die.

even cheap ones will last as long as they get the right voltage, that means, no messing with the dimmer switch and making sure you have good grounds.

[Random_Stranger]

^^ I agree with the man above.... No, not GOD! With Culp! LOL

[808celica]

what kind of leds did you get?? invert cone style? 360 3mm refractor, SMD chip type, simple 5mm led?? I noticed when i bought 194 from my friends shop ($10 a pop) they were really good for awhile, until my tach bulb started dimming more that the others. asked my friend, shop owner, he said my dimmer switch might be on full crank and its reacting like how led turn signals would. Ahhh frick its too early in the morning for me forgot the exact words he said If your gonna just do your plate lights you prolly want something shooting down, not forward, cuz i used diff. types and the 360` type works best.

[lagos]

LED are design for an specific Voltage, if they are not getting that voltage they'll die.

even cheap ones will last as long as they get the right voltage, that means, no messing with the dimmer switch and making sure you have good grounds.

You are correct, however there is one problem.
Say for example we are talking about the gauge cluster. The power at the cluster alone can range anywhere from 14v all the way down to 11v depending on how many after market accessories your car has, as well as your alternators output. Even if you never touch the dimmer (im planning to by pass mine in general) there is a wide range of voltage that the bulbs will see naturally. The really cheap ones tend to be very sensitive to these normal changes in voltage and quickly blow out.
This is at least my experience with cheap LEDs that I've tried before.

[lagos]

Im thinking about trying these for plate bulbs.. 12leds in one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...RK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

[Tigawoods]

i thought you fixed the problem so that the voltage doesnt fluctuate as much due to your electronics

[samir0189]

Mannnn. I was just gonna get some white leds for my gauge cluster. crap!!!!!!!!


On second thought, these people say the dimmer switch works with theirs?! http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm

This post has been edited by samir0189: Aug 23, 2009 - 10:25 PM

[2bcelica]

Mannnn. I was just gonna get some white leds for my gauge cluster. crap!!!!!!!!


On second thought, these people say the dimmer switch works with theirs?! http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm

I just bought a bunch from them for the gauges - so we'll see how well they work when I get them.

This post has been edited by 2bcelica: Aug 23, 2009 - 11:04 PM

[samir0189]

Mannnn. I was just gonna get some white leds for my gauge cluster. crap!!!!!!!!


On second thought, these people say the dimmer switch works with theirs?! http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm

I just bought a bunch from them for the gauges - so we'll see how well they work when I get them.

please let me know!

[lagos]

i thought you fixed the problem so that the voltage doesnt fluctuate as much due to your electronics

Yes I did, but you have to remember that normally your voltage will not always be the same. When you start the car up cold, you normally see 14.4v. Then it settles to around 13.7. Then when your roll your windows down, or your fans come on, it dips down to around 12.7. This is all normal, but I think its what blows out the cheap LEDs.

[lagos]

Mannnn. I was just gonna get some white leds for my gauge cluster. crap!!!!!!!!


On second thought, these people say the dimmer switch works with theirs?! http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm

Yeah someone else just recommended them to me and claims they dim just fine with no problems.

[lagos]

here is an interesting solution i found for those having issues with even coverage of their gauge cluster.

http://www.celica-club.ru/board/index.php?showtopic=13031

[Tom_SS2]

here is an interesting solution i found for those having issues with even coverage of their gauge cluster.

http://www.celica-club.ru/board/index.php?showtopic=13031

they are mega bright, you'd get sun burn off them driving at night

[lagos]

http://superbrightleds.com/specs/bulb_specs.htm

these have an operating range of 9-14.5v. I wonder what the official operating rang is of the cheap leds that always blow out.

[808celica]

maybe the resistors suck???

[BonzaiCelica]

hey 808 celica. your saying that the resistors on the cheap led bulbs suck. that why they have a tendancy to blow out if you dim cluster gauge lights...

and since lagos said our the dimmer can output anywhere from 11v-14v max. and those superbrightleds website specifies it that the bulbs can range from 9-14v then they will work great on the cluster gauge and will last a lifetime....

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Aug 26, 2009 - 12:25 AM