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MG TD TF 1500 - question about front sidelamp wiring

I am pretty new to this forum and I tried searching for an answer but found none.
Thanks in advance for any answers and help.
I have a 1950 td without turn signals with a RF 95 control box. I have owned and driven this car since mid 1970's.
The prior owner did a total restoration.
When he wired the front sidelamps he used the "L" terminal on the lighting and ignition switch (window type) for both the right and left sidelamps.
This turns off the sidelamps when using the headlamps.
Is there any problem with this wiring and should I rewire them to the "T" terminal.

Thanks, Steve
steve hillerman

Should be on the T terminal.

That L terminal must have been added for other cars. Maybe something like a driving light?


Christopher Couper

The L terminal was used on military vehicles to light only the tail lamp when in convoy and running nearly invisible. Normally when used that way, the headlamps are extinguished.
Lew Palmer

Thanks Christopher and Lew for the info, do you think this will make the headlamps dimmer when I rewire to have the sidelamp and headlamps on at the same time?

Thanks again, Steve
steve hillerman

It shouldn't. That's the way the normal wiring works.
Lew Palmer

And if your car does not have turn signals you can easily fit led bulbs in the front side lights and rear tail lamps to save a bit of wattage. I did this with my 1951 car which has no turn signals.
John Quilter (TD8986)

Or check out the L471 (rear) and L1130 (front marker) LED light boards from www.brittrix.com
Lew Palmer

I am waiting for the LED equivalent of the original headlamp bulb. Those things will just about stop the car dead in it's tracks if the high beams are on and you are doing less than 3k. :-)
Christopher Couper

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
Nigel Atkins

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)

I am going to start a new thread for the main lamp LED discussion

https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&mode=thread&access=&subject=8&source=T&thread=20210608070927134420
Christopher Couper

John, thanks for the information.
I have 7" sealed beam headlamps and no turn signals with a positive earth system.
Which led bulbs could I easily install for the sidelamps and rear taillamps/brake lamps.
steve hillerman

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

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