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MG TD TF 1500 - Wiring Lucas fog/driving lights.

I just purchased a set of Lucas 576 driving / fog lights on eBay, they arrived today. I want hook them up so I can use them one at a time, either driving or fog, but not both at the same time. Dose anyone know of a way to do this, using the existing wiring. Also because of the amperage draw, is there a LED light that I can use to replace the existing Lucas bulbs? I would think the originals draw a lot more amps than a LED, but I don’t know if they will be as bright. Thanks John
John Hambleton

John,
TD or TF?
The "orginal" wire for this, (yellow w/red)
is wired to the "AUX" switch on a TF and runs to front of the car. To use seprate as I do you will have to run more wire.
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Don't think any LED will be near as bright as a normal bulb?
gordon lawson - TD 27667

John - I doubt that you can find a LED set up that will work in the reflector of the Lucas fog lights. Ultra bright white LEDs are usually specially designed and do not use reflectors. If you can find someting that will work I am sure that it will be of interest to the rest of the MG community as the LED set up will draw considerably less current than normal bulbs. Here are a few links to places that sell LED assemblies: http://www.theledlight.com/ledbulbs.html
http://www.jamstrait.com/index.html
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/
http://www.autobarn.net/pac207089series.html
Let us know if you come up with something that works. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

Dave,

LEDs generally, are less effective than a conventional Halogen or Xenon lamp. (I know, I know, Xenon is a halide). An LED does give intense light but is doesn't have the power.

I have a 3 D-cell Maglite that uses a Xenon bulb and this is a very powerful combibation. I tried a Luxeon Star bulb in it, and while the white was very intense, it simply didn't put out anywhere near the distance that the Xenon bulb would. You will notice that all the manufacturers and sellers of high-end LED flashlights avoid making this comparison.

For the same reason, I don't think there is any supplier of LED technology for headlamps, at least, I've not been able to find one yet.

For stop and rear (red) tail lights; this is an entirely different matter as one is not trying to light the road. LED technology will work well in this application and there are several suppliers for a direct replacement for the traditional 1157 rear stop, flash/turn bulb. Fof example http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/aut1157/ but you will notice the warning, that they may not work with electronic flash relays and some won't work with positive ground, and as a work-around, a resistive load kit is offered. All this gets expensive, as a single 1157 led bulb is $20.

I would love to hear from someone that had found any LED lamps for headlamp application. Similarly, I would like to hear from anyone who has successfully replaced the standard 1157 bulb, with a LED array. I won't put up the $40 (plus their often-outrageous shipping charges) to find out!

I would like to think that the power of ionized Xenon gas in a rear tail light could be made to work in two intensities - normal night-time running, and braking and turn/flashing, but again, I have yet to find such an animal!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Try these guys for the lights. THey don't yet make on for our type of cars(positive Ground) but I have been told they are working on it for the tail lights at least. http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm I have tried the bulbs and they way LED lights work, they dont work in our cars at present as originaly setup.
Tom

With regard to the other request, I formerly (on my BGT) used a latching relay that will activate alternate lights - turn on once, get one light, turn off then on to get the other one. Those being expensive, I just (this time) ran a paired wire back from the lights to a pair of switches under the dash which GROUNDS the light.

John
John Redman

This thread was discussed between 21/02/2006 and 22/02/2006

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