The Original i30 Owners Club
MODIFYING OR DETAILING YOUR I30 => ELECTRICAL | ELECTRONIC | AUDIO => Topic started by: tla on November 29, 2011, 04:33:51
-
Has anyone tried to change their car's bulbs to LEDs?
Specifically, the turn indicators and brake lights? Any issues with high indicator flash rates or lamp failure warnings?
TIA!
-
tla, you will probably need something like this for your indicators. Not sure about brake lights.
http://www.impartsp.com.au/products/lighting/blinkerloadsimulator.shtml (http://www.impartsp.com.au/products/lighting/blinkerloadsimulator.shtml)
-
Not sure what i30s use but have used these in the past
http://www.ledshoponline.com/electronic_flasher_cans.htm (http://www.ledshoponline.com/electronic_flasher_cans.htm)
-
Thanks for your replies.
I was hoping to avoid the need for load resistors and other devices to make LEDs compatible with the existing setup.
Oh well, life wasn't meant to be easy.
-
If you're into electronics, there are many ticker circuits using 555 timers to do the same job.
Try to stay away from using load resistors as the object of the exercise is to reduce energy demands on the whole electrical system. If you're going to use energy heating up load resistors, you might as well stay with bulbs, at least you get light as a result.
-
If you're considering changing the fog lamps to LEDs, be warned that the hole through which the bulb is inserted is small: less than 1.5cm in diameter.
I tried replacing the bulbs this morning, but couldn't get the LED ones through the hole. :blubber:
-
Sorry you got caught with that problem. As far as I know, the fog lamps are of a fairly low wattage as they are only supposed light a short distance in front of the car. So, I'm wondering why you need to change these bulbs at all. A lot of suppliers show dimensions of their lamps, so if you buy off ebay, I can only suggest that you look at the measurements or send a request to the vendor for information before purchasing. :(
-
I remember reading somewhere the fog lamps use around 28W each (may vary from from region to region). The LEDs run at 6W each.
I had grand plans of using the fog lamps as DRLs. Apart from the LED bulbs, all it required was a couple of piggyback fuses, a relay, and some extra wiring in the engine compartment fuse/relay box. No need for any cutting or irreversible changes.
I also considered using the side/parking lights as DRLs, but, according to the wiring schematic, they seem to be linked to the tail lights.
-
Where I live, it's illegal to use the fog lamps unless it's foggy. :fum:
-
if they become day running lights, then they are not fog lights! :P mr officer...
-
if they become day running lights, then they are not fog lights! :P mr officer...
They would then have to meet ADR 76/00 or ECE R87 standards.... :p
-
For people considering changing their lights to LEDs, below is a list of the lights I tried to change, their types, whether I think it is worth changing to LED, and the related SKU at www.dealextreme.com (http://www.dealextreme.com). Please note that the SKUs from dealextreme are only for reference; Actually, I bought similar LED bulbs elsewhere.
Light Type Worth changing to LED?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Map 31mm festoon Yes (SKU:13435)
Centre dome 31mm festoon Yes (SKU:13435)
Trunk 31mm festoon Yes (SKU:13435)
Rear license plate W5W/T10 Yes (SKU:51356)
Parking/side W5W/T10 Yes (SKU:91224)
Front fog 881 Yes (SKU:13435) [polarity wrong for i30]
Side indicator WY5W No: Tight fit. Low brightness.
(T10 yellow) Poor light distribution. (SKU:51355)
Rear brake/tail P215W/1157 No: Low brightness. Poor focus. (SKU:80351)
Rear brake P21W/1156 No: Low brightness. Poor focus. (SKU:51369)
Rear indicator PY21W ?? (didn't try)
Front indicator PY21W ?? (didn't try)
Reverse W16W/T15T10 ?? (didn't try)
Generally, if the original incandescent bulb was less than 10W, then it was worth changing. Otherwise, the replacement LEDs didn't produce enough light, or the shape of the led bulb didn't match the focal point of the reflective housing (e.g. brake/tail lights). There do exist brighter LED bulbs, but they are either too large for the housing or were too expensive.
I also finally managed to convert the fog lights to DRLs by adding a relay and tapping some fuses in the engine compartment fuse box. Now the fog lamps are on when the ignition is on, except when the low beam head lights are on.
Personally, I think they look much better than the typical aftermarket rectangle-shaped DRL.
-
Thanks very much TLA (excellent) :goodjob:
-
If someone could find some effective rear indicator Turn, stop etc. that would be really great. All I've seen are nowhere near bright enough. :exclaim:
-
If someone could find some effective rear indicator Turn, stop etc. that would be really great. All I've seen are nowhere near bright enough. :exclaim:
On ebay, search for "1157 7.5w led".
I have an H11 6w version: they're blinding to look at. Definitely brighter than the typical arrays of 5050 leds.
The larger surface may be better suited for the reflective housing of the brake lights.
-
I typed 1157 Hyundai 7.5w led into ebay global site and a lot of Hyundai models came up, but not i30, does anyone know what an equivalent model or lamp fitting we could use of those listed. :question:
-
BAY15d/P215W/1157-type bulbs should be the correct one for the tail/brake light on the i30.
Check out www.donsbulbs.com (http://www.donsbulbs.com) for bulb specifications and naming. It looks like some of the ebay sellers directly copied the diagrams from donsbulbs.
For the tail/brake lights I remember reading somewhere it is better to use red bulbs rather than white.
Also, you need to be careful that there is a differentiation between the brightness of tail-only and tail+brake. With some LEDs, it's hard to tell the difference.
-
Thanks tla :goodjob: