Airhead LED pr0n

[DeutschMark]

That looks good good. It has an almost modern glow.

[ignatz72]

Originally Posted by brocktoon

With some help from the posts in this thread, I just replaced all the bulbs (except the gen light) in my /5 with LEDs from superbrightleds.com. Thanks for compiling this info.

Nice job brocktoon, glad the info here helped!

What bulbs did you end up using? Did you replace the gauge illumination bulb?

2 miles? If that's not a new or rebuilt gauge, I'm envious.

[blaine.hale]

Would totally love more detail there brocktoon. I'd like to replace my /5 gauge lights with LEDs while I'm in there.

[craydds]

I ordered four of the 1156's, http://www.superbrightleds.com/morei...led-tower/526/ , for the turn signals; awaiting their arrival. I have installed the Beacon 1, http://www.motoelekt.com/lighting.htm , made some pictures but am having problems with them. Will re-make pics tonight. I will order the Signal Minder SM-1, too. Pics to come.

[brocktoon]

SBLEDs only has one style of BA7 bulb, so I got the following:

Gauge illumination: 2 white bulbs
Neutral indicator: 1 green
High beam indicator: 1 blue
Oil pressure light: 1 amber

For the turn signal indicator (BA9 blub) there are more choices. I went with the green wide-angle BA9 bulb. Since the bulb's only for notifying the operator (i.e. not for visibility) it was cheaper and has proven plenty bright for its intended purpose.

I haven't field-tested the gauge illumination bulbs yet, so I'm not sure how well they'll light it up at night. Comparing them head-to-head with the standard bulbs they appear brighter, but it's a cooler light.

Down the road I'll likely replace the turn signal bulbs and the flasher relay with one that can support LEDs.

[ignatz72]

Nice work, and it's good to have the info on the /5 gauge bulbs.

Down the road I think an SM-1 would work as a flasher relay? This is the three spade Kisan flasher.

[brocktoon]

The Kisan looks nice. Looks like the full setup for four turn signals plus the relay would run about $200: $25/each for signals plus $107 for SM-1.

I imagine it's also possible to make a relay up with whatever functions you wanted. I found this instructable. I think i'm going to try it out before I drop the $$$ on a Kisan.

[craydds]

Out with the old:


In with the new Beacon 1 from Motorrad Electrik, http://www.motoelekt.com/lighting.htm :


Simple to connect:


Got four LED's from Superbright, http://www.superbrightleds.com/morei...led-tower/526/ . Two in amber for the front and two in red for the rear:


Old:


New:


Signalminder SM-1 was shipped today, https://www.kisantech.com/view_product.php?product=SM-1, should be here soon.

[craydds]

Tail and brake lights work:


Turn signals flash at a normal rate, no "fast flash", with the stock signal relay:

Sorry, out of focus. I await the arrival of my Kisan SM-1; more bad pictures to come.

[DeutschMark]

I love my Beacon 2. It puts out tons of lumens. Are the turn LED signals any brighter than the incandescent lamps?

[ignatz72]

Short answer is YES.

Between the 18T and 45T bulbs (18 or 45 LEDs each bulb), the 45 puts out a LOT of pure colored light. Even the 18 LED varieties put out more light than an incandescent.

Only the really cheap non-tower, Autozone type 6-8 LED bulbs put out less light than a regular bulb.

If you love the Beacon, you'll love the SBLEDs.com 18T or 45T bulb options.

[craydds]

Originally Posted by ignatz72

If you love the Beacon, you'll love the SBLEDs.com 18T or 45T bulb options.

+ 1. The 1156-x45-T's are BRIGHT. It is hard to judge from the pictures, but they are much brighter.

[khale]

Originally Posted by brocktoon

SBLEDs only has one style of BA7 bulb, so I got the following:

Gauge illumination: 2 white bulbs
Neutral indicator: 1 green
High beam indicator: 1 blue
Oil pressure light: 1 amber

For the turn signal indicator (BA9 blub) there are more choices. I went with the green wide-angle BA9 bulb. Since the bulb's only for notifying the operator (i.e. not for visibility) it was cheaper and has proven plenty bright for its intended purpose.

I haven't field-tested the gauge illumination bulbs yet, so I'm not sure how well they'll light it up at night. Comparing them head-to-head with the standard bulbs they appear brighter, but it's a cooler light.

Down the road I'll likely replace the turn signal bulbs and the flasher relay with one that can support LEDs.

I think I'm missing something here. Did you not change out your charging system indicator bulb with a Red LED? From the looks of it, it's a BA9. Is that correct?

[brocktoon]

No, I didn't replace the charging system indicator with a red LED. There were some posts earlier in this thread about why an LED will not work there, as I recall. I left the incandescent bulb in place.

*EDIT* Found the post:

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

Others have, and an LED won't work in place of a GEN bulb. The bulb provides a little "energizing current" to the alternator rotor on startup and an LED doesn't. There is a way to bypass that by putting a 330 ohm, 1/2W resistor in parallel with the bulb, IIRC, but I've have no first-hand experience with it on a LED-application. The GEN bulb works well enough and is not prone to burning out, so I left mine alone.

"YMMV", or maybe someone will chime in...

[khale]

Originally Posted by brocktoon

No, I didn't replace the charging system indicator with a red LED. There were some posts earlier in this thread about why an LED will not work there, as I recall. I left the incandescent bulb in place.

Killer, thanks for that detailed write up. I just changed out all my LEDs (except the charging light) and it all works great