D lamp bulbs

[series1buff]

It seems that the original D lamp bulbs were only 10 watt things .. they are still available easily .. they have a smallish glass bulb as opposed to the normal 21 watt type .

Has anyone converted the bulb holders to take the larger 21 watt or LED type bulb ??? it's possible to install 18 w festoon bulbs in the lower parking spot , with some mods .

Also glue some alum. foil inside the housing , like a mirror, it greatly increase brightness.

Contemporary driving is a nightmare in these old bangers .... you need every bit of help ... large blinkers are a must too.

MIKE

[1953 BEADELL]

hi, I have some d light s im converting to led too, i agree they get hot with origonal bulbs.Replacing with led r cooler and modern appliances where what landies are all about.im still running positive earth as it kills modern cars!ha ha haaaaar.Watch the sparks fly. LED WORKS just swap power back but dont quote me yet as i havent actually tried it yet.But they are cheap as chips now.I made some D lights out of some old landrover speedo gauges cut and shut.Lenses from big lenses.Easy.All origonal landy bits too.

[dennisS1]

Have converted several over to bayonet type holders, these are readily available from rare spares and the like. One solution to brightness and heat is to remove the divider and install one holder with conventional wattage dual element glob. This gives you a bigger tail light and very bright brake light. But still looks right from outside.
Dennis

[series1buff]

The heat shoudn't be a problem with the stop lights as they are on for a relatively short time / intermittently .... but the parking light will generate heat as its on all the time .

Yes the LED bulbs are cheap as chips on EBAY now .

Good suggestions anyway .

[Lotz-A-Landies]

It seems that the original D lamp bulbs were only 10 watt things .. they are still available easily .. they have a smallish glass bulb as opposed to the normal 21 watt type .Mike

The tail lamp should be 5 watt - even in the modern bayonet globes the tail light side is only 5 watt (range 4-6watt) Stop/Tail & Indicator - Products - Narva (http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/stoptail-indicator).

Even the side lamps should only be 5 watt, but to use 10 watt globes will give you a little illumination when the dip switch fails. Given the cross-eyed position of the headlamps, having 10 watt side lamps is also good to indicate the side of the vehicle to oncoming traffic. http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/interiorpark

I can however see the benefit of using a 21 watt globe for the stop lamp.

Diana

[JDNSW]

It should be noted that replacing incandescant bulbs with LED bulbs for on-road use is not legal, although I think you would be unlikely to get spotted, at least with the red ones (colour of "white" ones is a giveaway!).

John

[series1buff]

One thing I forgot to point out :

The LEDS are polarity dependant .. normally the body of the LED bulb is the neg. side and most modern cars are neg. ground , so no problem. But, for those of us with POS ground, you would have to isolate the bulb holder from ground or the cars body and wire the LED in appropriatly.

MIKE