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MG TD TF 1500 - Halogen Tail Lights

Anyone using halogen tail light bulbs in their TD?
Any issues changing to halogen bulbs for more visiability?
B Moreland

B,

You want to refer to Bud Krueger's T-Series Tech Talk web-site - http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&mode=thread&access=&subject=8&source=T&thread=2007040901151725928

Its my understanding that the use of a 55-watt halogen tail lamp bulb, requires the use of a relay to handle the 5 amps of inrush.

Either that, or re-wire the stop-light circuit with heavier wire.

Gord Clark
Rockburnm Qué
Gordon A. Clark

It really depnds on the halagon bulb that is used. Some halagons draw the same amount of current used by the standard bulb and put out a greater amount of light. In this case nothing needs to be done to any of the circuitry. Others halagon bulbs draw a larger amount of current than the original as Gordon states above (they will also put a substantially greater amount of light). In that case you may want to uprate the wire (although the original wire size is quite sufficient to carry 5 amps). You will difinitely have to go to a heavy duty or an electronic flasher unit. the original flasher is designed to work with the current drawn by two of the original bulbs and will flash at a much faster rate with the higher current.

Regardles of which way you go, I would recommend that you install a relay/arc suppression circuit to protect the brake light switch. If youhavean original brake light switch, you want to extend its life as much as possible becaue the replacement switches are so light duty that they won't last more than a few months without the relay/arc suppression circuit. If you have a replacement switch, reread the above sentence. For inormation on making and installing a relay/arc suppression circuit, see my aricle at: http://www.omgtr.ca/technical/brakelightrelay/brakelightrelay.htm
Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

B
You might want to look around and find some led bulbs, that they now make to fit our cars. They are as bright and draw less than 0.50 amps each. Try googleing LED tail lights. John
John

One doesn't have to buy one's brake light switch from Abingdon/Moss, etc. NAPA offer the Echlin, a direct replacement, at a very reasonable cost - abt. $11.

The NAPA/Echlin SL144 is the grub screw version. for the original 55-63 Austin, 48-64 English Ford, 51-56 MG, 49-64 Morris, 48-64 Rover, 49-64 Singer and 50-64 Triumph.

Their SL147 is a blade terminal switch for a 57-70 MG.

At those prices, one can afford to keep a spare around - either switch can be used in a TD/TF. Its a matter of termination. I'm going to NAPA tomorrow and plan to pick one up.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Gordon - The Echlin switches from NAPA are just as bad as the switches from any other place (one of them lasted all of 2 weeks in our car). Additionally, there is the hassel of having to replace a switch every few months when they used to last decades, plus the fact that one usually finds out that the switch doesn't work because sombody pulls up next to you and says" your brake lights aren't working". I got so paranoid about the switches that I put in a tattle tale light in an inconspicuous place so I know when the switch quits working, but since installing the relay/arc suppression circuit, I have not had any further problems. At the present time, the only switch that I know of that may hold up (I haven't tried one) is the one offered by Ron Francis Wiring http://www.ronfrancis.com/showpage.php?page=main.htm It is billed as a heavy duty switch. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

john, what is your source for the LED bulbs? do they sell positve ground bulbs? all i have been able to find are neg grnd 12v bulbs. regards, tom
tm peterson

The archives are awash in LED info, especially about flasher issues with LEDs. While amperage draw is super low, I don't believe they are brighter than incandescents. In fact here's a quote from a facts page by a leading LED supplier:

"Brightness of LED Car Bulbs
LED bulbs are generally not as bright as standard incandescent bulbs, they have many advantages over filament bulbs (longer life, faster on/off times, lower power consumption, more vivid colors) but brightness is not one of them.
They are generally not as bright but some of them with large numbers of LEDs, will appear brighter than filament bulbs.
As an exception, our new 3 Watt Luxeon LED car bulbs are as bright or brighter than most standard filament car bulbs. The light is distributed differently so they can appear brighter in some applications and not as bright in others, it depends on the size and shape of the bulb housing and reflector.
Most LED bulbs emit light like a flashlight, all out the end. Regular filament bulbs emit light from the end and all sides, so they will be better suited for some lighting applications than LED bulbs.
This is the same reason why we do not rate LED car bulbs in lumens or watts, they would be a deceptively low numbers because the light is measured from all sides and the end on standard filament bulbs but only from the end on LED bulbs"

I don't think we can pack a "large number" of LEDs in our tail lamp sockets. Their info page is here, with lots of good info that confirms what the BBS archives contain:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm

Larry

L Karpman

Dave DuBois,

I'm convinced!

A halogen bulb, relay and arc supression goes on my "to-do" list.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

The Y site>mgytypes< under Regalia offers a brake switch that works. Have had one for two years and no problem yet. Before had to change every six months. Don't know if it fits a TD/TF but it is made by C&C Parts in Holland and they are also on the Y site under Links. Terry
Terry O'Brien

To add to the pointer provided by Larry Karpman, here is some additional information about LEDs:

"Well, the curves on the LED vs. incandescent brightness graph have just crossed, because this 1.85" light cluster with 48 individual LEDs, manufactured by Radiantz and sold by Custom Dynamics, is a pretty cool product. This is the first direct plug-in replacement for an 1157 tail light/brake light that appears brighter than its incandescent cousin."

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/led/led.htm

Here's another link that discusses an 1157 LED unit:

http://www.product-testing-labs.com/led-brake-lights.html

LEDs appear to be closing the gap in brightness to other bulb options, although their size and need for a substitute relay may still limit their appeal in our T cars.

Larry
Larry Shoer

http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/BrakeLightRelay.html shows how I installed mine. BTW, my NAPA/Echlin switch has now been working for 12 years, 10 of which were before I installed the relay.
Bud Krueger

This thread was discussed between 09/04/2007 and 10/04/2007

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