PART XIV:
MY CAR’S L.E.D LIGHTS:
If you are in the age group of 50s, you are one of the finest generation who have witnessed the killer technologies that the scientific world offered to human beings.
The beginning of my life, during childhood time, gave me an opportunity to see a mono valve radio, followed by stereo transistors, valve TVs, analogue TVs, LCD, LED, OLED TVs and now 4K TVs and the latest the foldable ones.
I still remember the way I got excited to see the old LED bulbs dancing to music, what we called then disco lights.
Even I had created a set of lights that would flash different colors as break light in my old Premier Padmini during 1990s.
Life is changing very fast.
Today we have super- efficient LED light bulbs and I would say automobile industry catalyzed the need for the technology.
Auto industries go on exploring the new generations of L.E.Ds from the old 5mm diffused type old L.E.Ds.
Now the popular SMD L.E.Ds are providing high brightness, and consumes less energy.
One must see the unbelievable illumination produced by CREE L.E.D technology which I could see from the torch light (TechLite Lumen Master) sent by my daughter from US.
SMD (Surface Mount Diode /Device) is the more modern type, most often looks like a little brick with a yellow dot. These have better cooling (not encapsulated in a plastic bulb) and can be very efficient.
5050 LED chips and 3528 LED chips (based on their shape) are the most popular in the automobile market.
I learnt many things while choosing led lights for my car and I too wasted some money as misguided by the advertisements. One should give importance for stock lights compatibility, to the size, type of adopter, lumen, watt, color temperature, power consumption before buying the right and the best light. The led manufacturing in China has become almost a cottage industry and only a good brand has value @life. The size should fit in properly to the lens case. Over size or under size will not serve the purpose. Adopter of stock socket like T10 to be noted.
Most important thing about these bulbs the polarity. In the beginning, I felt I got the fused one as it was not illuminating. After I realized that the mistake was only on my part , it got powered up when I reversed the polarity.
Sometime advertisement about lumen a misleading one. Practically it may have lower illumination, that’s why while purchasing online we should go with good manufactures. Market fitting gives us an opportunity to witness the power.
Watt and power consumption should be far below than the stock ones, then only we would be saving the battery energy.
While choosing the white color, white should be white and warm white should be yellowish like the stock incandescent bulbs. I didn’t like White with more bluer tints.
Parking L.E.Ds
12V T10 SMD LED Bulbs (4+6nos -1 watt LED used in one bulb) - Cool White (6000 Kelvin color)
- I preferred normal lights that should not distract the head lights.
Boot L.E.Ds
T10 2W 6500K 126-Lumen 9-SMD LED Car White Light Bulbs
- I preferred more light for visibility.
Fog L.E.Ds
- I preferred correct light for visibility. I gave importance to the length, as it should not touch the housing, and lumen for acceptable illumination both day (as DRL) and night (as FOGs). I also wanted the bulbs to be more silvery so that it would not spoil the inner look of FOGs. I got, at the time of my purchase the yellow tipped type only. Now newer bulbs with the best CREE technology are available with glass tip.
Number plate L.E.Ds
12V T10 SMD LED Bulbs (4nos -1 watt LED used in one bulb) - Cool White (6000 Kelvin color)
- Preferred correct light to cover the area. Got the one, bulbs type focusing one side down.
Next, wait for my interesting experience in choosing the Dome / Festoon L.E.D bulb!
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