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Road Lamp retrofit (Par36 H3 conversion housings)

Started by FSHTAIL, June 14, 2018, 02:52:40 AM

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FSHTAIL

I've found an interesting par-36 bulb replacement housing that uses a replaceable 55 watt H3 bulb, I verified with seller that it was a 4.5 inch diameter..   

They have a semi stock looking fluted lens, but nothing will be correct in appearance as far as the GE logo or fog lettering on the lens. 

Once I get them, I'll check them out and see what I think and post my results. 

I'm also waiting on some Mustang fog light housings to put them in...
Low buck mods that are era correct....ish...     :banana:
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)

Chryco Psycho

You could put a lower amp LED light in that housing

RUNCHARGER

Sheldon


FSHTAIL

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on June 14, 2018, 04:09:41 AM
You could put a lower amp LED light in that housing

There are already lots of par 36 LED style bulbs, but I'm not sure of the beam pattern, most of them just look like flood lights
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)

FSHTAIL

Quote from: RUNCHARGER on June 14, 2018, 08:13:22 AM
You'll be into those cheap anyway.

Yup.     Not too worried if they work better or worse than stock, more of a looks thing since they didn't do much anyways. 
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)

Chryco Psycho

Put a real bulb in there & they will do lots to help light up the road , , possible to shield or disable the lower emitter if there are 2 so it only lights the lower 1/2 , downward

FSHTAIL

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on June 14, 2018, 01:20:18 PM
Put a real bulb in there & they will do lots to help light up the road , , possible to shield or disable the lower emitter if there are 2 so it only lights the lower 1/2 , downward

There is only 1 filament on an H3 bulb
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)


Chryco Psycho

Agreed 1 filamnet bulb but with LED they usually have at least 2 emitters , either left & right or top & bottom

FSHTAIL

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on June 15, 2018, 11:09:49 AM
Agreed 1 filamnet bulb but with LED they usually have at least 2 emitters , either left & right or top & bottom

I've messed with several LED style high output bulbs that go in stock halogen housings and they only seem to put out enough light to be as useful as a running light.   I've never had anything of quality that I thought was bright enough to use as an actual auxiliary lighting source, it might be okay just for the look, but most LEDs kick out to White of a light that has more of a bluish hue... 
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)

Chryco Psycho

I am using LED headlights in my Caravans , they are far brighter than the Halogen supposed to be equivalent to 140 watt so almost 3x as bright as stock

FSHTAIL

#10
Quote from: Chryco Psycho on June 16, 2018, 07:11:36 AM
I am using LED headlights in my Caravans , they are far brighter than the Halogen supposed to be equivalent to 140 watt so almost 3x as bright as stock

Lumen rating is what you want to know, manufacturers will make up a crazy claim and only be about 12 to 15% brighter over a stock filament.    The Kelvin rating plays a huge part in light usability, 4300K is the most accurate representation of light, most LEDs run around 6 to 6500k which is more white with a hint of blue
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)


FSHTAIL

Here are the results.   

Hard to take a picture of, but the beam pattern is a nice wide output.   
A very useable pattern that won't get you highbeams if aimed properly. 
Lenses are glass in a similar to OEM fluted pattern..   of course.   No GE or FOG callouts.

The second I plugged them in, I bought two more pairs to sit on the shelf before even making this post. 

I'm still waiting on the Road Lamp style housings.     
After finding measurement specs online for a stock configuration Par36 bulb, I don't have much concern about these not fitting the housings.     
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)

FSHTAIL

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on June 16, 2018, 07:11:36 AM
I am using LED headlights in my Caravans , they are far brighter than the Halogen supposed to be equivalent to 140 watt so almost 3x as bright as stock

I have a test for you to do, take a picture about 20 feet back from a wall with your LED headlights and let's see how much light is scattered above the height of your headlight, does it light up Tree Tops and street signs on overpasses?  The only way LEDs in Halogen housing would work is if it had a factory projector to focus the light
LEDs aren't designed for halogen housings, they will scatter light in the areas they shouldn't be in...   
I'd be willing to bet you get highbeamed a lot. 

Wattage doesn't dictate lumens (brightness)
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)

Chryco Psycho

I will try to get you a picture , I have a very clear line , it actually changes color slightly yellow right at the line , no I ddon't get flashed for highbeams often at all ,
AS I said if the emmitter is on top & sheilded by the part of the light holding the emitter it cannot reflect off the lower part of the reflector sending light upward .
You are correct watts & lumens are different , I recall it was 120,000 lumen 

FSHTAIL

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on June 28, 2018, 09:51:42 PM
I will try to get you a picture , I have a very clear line , it actually changes color slightly yellow right at the line , no I ddon't get flashed for highbeams often at all ,
AS I said if the emmitter is on top & sheilded by the part of the light holding the emitter it cannot reflect off the lower part of the reflector sending light upward .
You are correct watts & lumens are different , I recall it was 120,000 lumen

Nothing you put in or in your car will produce 120,000 lumens.   

The sun puts out 10,000 lumens for reference.   

Most of those China plug n play LED'S are lucky to hit the 1000-1500 lumens mark..     

What year Caravan?   Got a link for the bulbs?
1973 BS23H Cuda' 340/TKX 5 speed (70 AAR clone-ish)