Incandescent bulb vs. LED current draw | FerrariChat
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Incandescent bulb vs. LED current draw

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by eulk328, Mar 22, 2008.

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  1. eulk328

    eulk328 F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2005
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    #1 eulk328, Mar 22, 2008
    I've been installing LED's from Superbright LEDs on my cars and did some current measurements today.

    Standard 1157 dual intensity (dual filament) parking/brake light bulb vs. Superbright LED's 1157-RLX5 dual intensity LED (their brightest LED--5 watt.)


    Normal bulb Superbright LED

    park light function: 0.42 amps park light function: 0.067 amps
    brake light function: 1.70 amps brake light function: 0.32 amps


    Bottom line.... big difference in power consumption. If you were to leave your parking lights on, by mistake, your battery should last about 6 times longer than with normal bulbs.

    Just some technical stuff for those that care/are interested :)
     
  2. TopElement

    TopElement Formula 3

    May 14, 2005
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    A Montoya
    #2 TopElement, Mar 22, 2008
    Good info. But how does the lighting look? The problem with LED's is that they are usually aim in a specific direction. They'll be bright from one angle, and less visible from others.
     
  3. eulk328

    eulk328 F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2005
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    #3 eulk328, Mar 22, 2008
    Yes, the narrower lighting angle from LED bulbs is definitely the down side. The new-ish 1156 and 1157 bulbs from Superbright LED's have a specially shaped center LED and then 4 more smaller LED's around the edges. They are an improvement over their 3 watt LED's and almost fill as well as incandescent bulbs. I've reversed the center bulb sockets on my 328 that used to light up the trunk area (don't need them) and it helps but I found that the center red section of the brake lamp assemblies pass very little light! They are designed, it seems, as reflective surfaces. Still working on that.
     

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