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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Converting Original Headlamp Bulbs to LED

On another thread I made comment about converting the original incandescent headlamp bulbs to LED.

The following were two posts related to that comment.
Christopher Couper

Nigel Atkins, Northampton, UK View vehicle profile
Do you mean the GLB410, if so -

"Pair of Latest LED headlights P45T 410 Hi/Lo Beam Conversion 9-32V Excellent Beam Pattern.

Available in Modern Bright White 6000K or Classic Warm White 3000k.

Adjustable for left hand and right hand drive vehicles to ensure the correct beam pattern with a very simple twist mechanism that locks the bulb into place, these can be universally fitted with ease and are a simple plug and play solution with no changes to your existing wiring, they plug into your existing socket. The heat sink is also reversible so will mimic the length of a standard Halogen bulb.

These bulbs are not polarity sensitive so will work with negative and positive earth vehicles.

We use these headlight bulbs on our own cars so know the benefits these bulbs have and how easy they are to fit.

Current: 1.6 Amps (standard halogen uses 5 Amps) - power drawn dramatically reduced

If your headlamp fittings are tight, you may find it useful to purchase our purpose built 40cm extension leads (part number H4CABLE) which will allow you to remotely mount the IC units."

https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/headlight-led-bulbs/products/latest-led-headlights-p45t
Christopher Couper

John Quilter (TD8986) , Oregon, USA
I recently fitted LEDs to my Lucas PL headlamps shown in the photo. Greatly reduced electric draw but the beam from these is very concentrated and pencil beam like. Haven't done enough night driving to see how they really work. But coming with these LEDs was an instruction sheet that stated that I would also need to change the main beam warning lamp bulb from incandescent to an LED or the warning light would not work correctly. That seems to be the case as now the warning lamp is on whenever the headlamps are on either low beam or main beam. Not yet fitted an LED in the warning lamp but can't understand why this happens.






Christopher Couper

Nigel: I think my bulbs are GLB415.

Not sure what the differences are between the 414/415 and the 410s.
Christopher Couper

Christopher,
my Lucas catalogue didn't have LLB415 but Moss Europe show it as "Bulb, BPF P36d, 12V, 50/40W, clear, LHD", (cap is P36d and base BPF) detail and photos (plural) here. - https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/bulb-bpf-p36d-12v-50-40w-clear-lhd-glb415.html

LLB414 and LLB410 are below.

I'm only guessing, don't know, the difference between LLB414 and LLB415 is the aim for RHD or LHD.






Nigel Atkins

I have not seen BPF36D, the original headlamp bulb in the TF and probably TD available in LED format.

I know my provider of LEDs has not had success in getting his vendors to provide units with the correct beam patterns. I am sure anybody can make ones that spray light everywhere, but controlled beam patterns are not as simple.

I am using the real bulbs still.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Somehow my comment got listed under Christopher Coupe. No idea how. Here is my original post with photos,

John Quilter (TD8986) , Oregon, USA
I recently fitted LEDs to my Lucas PL headlamps shown in the photo. Greatly reduced electric draw but the beam from these is very concentrated and pencil beam like. Haven't done enough night driving to see how they really work. But coming with these LEDs was an instruction sheet that stated that I would also need to change the main beam warning lamp bulb from incandescent to an LED or the warning light would not work correctly. That seems to be the case as now the warning lamp is on whenever the headlamps are on either low beam or main beam. Not yet fitted an LED in the warning lamp but can't understand why this happens.






John Quilter (TD8986)

"Nigel: I'm only guessing, don't know, the difference between LLB414 and LLB415 is the aim for RHD or LHD."

That is correct.

So it sounds like there currently is not a LED equivalent to those bulbs.

I am curious why the bulbs are RHD/LHD. I would have thought the bulbs would be the same but the lenses it cause the beam to shift. Perhaps both are different.

Interestingly I actually have RHD lamps on my LHD car as that was all I could find that were correct NOS for my car. Not sure which throw my bulbs are.

Also I am confused why you need some sort of converting device for the led bulbs. The cars are 12V DC which is prime for LED bulbs in my experience. What do these boxes do exactly that are inline with the bulbs and original wiring?

Christopher Couper

Christopher,
I'm not an expert in anything including bulbs, incandescent or LED. I thought the same as you that it was the lens that put the beam left or right but I don't know 1940 and 50s technology (other than the A-series engine in my 1973 British car). All those various parts that do the same job was and remains now irrational.

P36d/Lucas 312/414 (BPF - British Pre Focus) (completely new design with excellent beam pattern) LEDs are available that I've seen from one supplier. You'll have to read the info and scroll down the page and click on the appropriate link. - http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/online-shop-for-led-bulbs-and-light-boards-etc.php

For the Classic Car LEDs 410 bulb I assume (always dangerous) which such a small market for various bulbs a multi-fit bulb is required to cover the lot to make product and sales viable. Not all cars are 12v some are 6v (and motor bikes), then there are commercial vehicles that are 24v, I've no idea what's 32v but perhaps it's industrial machinery or lighting of some sort. transformers are used for lighting too, say constant public lighting. same as when buying clothes you buy off the peg multi-fit (or not fit) rather than made to measure (at that time before all the weight went on or came off) because of availability and costs.
Nigel Atkins

LEDs are not as input voltage specific as incandescent bulbs.

Many will display a level of brightness from 3 to 18 or more volts. That brightness may not vary much.

I always ensure my voltage tracer uses an incandescent bulb, the brightness reflects the input. I do have one tester that is LED, but it incorporates a digital voltage readout. LEDs are wonderful, in the correct applications.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Is there a LED replacement for the 7" headlight bulbs as in the TFs? PJ
PJ Jennings

If they're the standard type 7" sealed beam you could perhaps get the halogen H4 (bulb) lens/reflector unit or conversion kits and then put in various types and generations of improved designs of LED bulbs to suit your tastes and pocket, and of course any legal requirement of where the vehicle is used.

Just an example of H4 bulbs from Classic Car LEDS. - https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/headlight-led-bulbs/Headlight-Bulbs-&-Adapters
Nigel Atkins

A few years ago I converted my standard 7" sealed beam headlamps on my Austin America to these LED units from Srark found on Ebay. Plenty of white light with little current use but getting the pigtail wire and line device into the headlamp bucket was tight. Might work on a T series as well but not really period looking with a relatively flat glass lens. Probably not available in positive earth.









John Quilter (TD8986)

Flat lens, curved lens, with pilot, without pilot, warm white, bright white, colour options, negative earth, positive earth, dual polarity lhd, rhd, with gubbins boxes, without gubbins boxes, extension leads to move gubbin boxes, 6v, 9v, 12v, 24, 32v, lots of generations, the world is your lobster.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2021 and 09/06/2021

MG TD TF 1500 index

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