[DeTomaso] LED question

[Christopher Kimball]

Hi John,
Thanks for the reply, I'll give you a call/
I just went out to the garage and tested the lights, and in the garage they look fine.  There is no difference in brightness between the left and right sides, or right and left blinkers.  If I were just to look at them now, I'd say they were working fine.  I guess in the really bright sunlight, however, they just must not show enough, so I'd better get the newer, brighter ones.
I like the idea they take less wattage and are cooler-operating, too.
Thanks again,
Chris

> Date: Sun, 5 May 2013 20:21:47 -0500
> From: jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com
> To: MikeLDrew at aol.com
> CC: chrisvkimball at msn.com; detomaso at poca.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] LED question
> 
> Hi Chris
> 
> Indeed, LED technology has improved steadily over the years.  Our latest 
> generation LEDs, fourth,  differ from previous versions in that they are 
> omnidirectional and better utilize the housing's reflective capability.  
> They are available separately as an upgrade to an existing kit.  It is 
> called the Space City Taillight kit.  This kit offers the rear brake 
> lights and rear blinkers only for $136 and the price includes shipping.  
> The front blinker LEDs I can source separately as well.  I just 
> performed a quick check of our vendors and have not seen either an 
> upgrade in LED tech offerings in automotive bulbs or a reduction in 
> prices since our previous orders.  I am eager to learn of the potential 
> breakthrough Ron has found.
> 
> I haven't heard of the failure mode that you have described for our 
> LEDs.  I'm not saying it couldn't happen; only that this is the first 
> case brought to my attention.  Are you able to try the LED in another 
> socket, i.e. front blinker housing, to determine whether the issue 
> actually is the LED?  While the LEDs require less amperage, they are not 
> immune to poor grounds, corroded connectors or sockets.  These problems 
> have always been the catalyst for the poor performance I've encountered 
> during installations.  I haven't heard of the LEDs dimming over time.  
> They are good for probably 25,000 hours.
> 
> The John Haas kit is ideal for compromised sockets as it does not 
> utilize that component.
> 
> I wish you had brought it to my attention while we at the Rally.  I 
> would have been easy for me to diagnose.
> 
> Call me if you like  713.553.5475 on my cell or Monday at my office 
> 281.348.9411.  I'll get you sorted out.
> 
> JT
> 
> 
> On 5/5/2013 2:56 PM, MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:
> > In a message dated 5/5/13 11 07 21, chrisvkimball at msn.com writes:
> >
> >
> >> I have a question, and am sure I'll get multiple responses, so here goes!
> >>
> >> Years ago my wife bought me an LED light kit, which I really like.  During
> >> some of the drives during the fun rally, though, some people commented
> >> that my brake lights and especially rear turn signal lights were very faint
> >> and hard to see.  Do you think a replacement LED bulb kit from a regular auto
> >> parts store would be better, or is there some sort of specialty LED bulbs
> >> I can get?
> >>
> >>>> I have always been a strong critic of the various LED light kits that
> > were sold in the past.   I think the folks who put them together were
> > well-meaning, but they were very much missing the point.
> >
> > The purpose of the bulb is not to create illumination in and of itself.
> > The purpose of the bulb is to light up the reflector in the light housing,
> > and THAT then sends the light out in the appropriate direction, to be viewed
> > by other motorists.
> >
> > The LED lights that were being offered were, truthfully, brighter than
> > conventional bulbs.   But they were unidirectional, and significantly, they were
> > shining in the wrong direction.   The bulbs just shine straight to the
> > rear, leaving the reflector completely unlit.   As a result, the various lamps
> > are LESS bright and less visible to other motorists than with a conventional
> > bulb.   This is a very bad thing.   Intalling one of those kits involved
> > time, money, and resulted in a significant step backwards in terms of actual
> > performance.
> >
> > It's sort of like pulling your old cast-iron 351C and replacing it with a
> > modern, fancy, fuel-injected two-liter four cylinder Ford Focus engine.
> > Yes, it's modern and sophisticated and has all sorts of things going for it.
> > But at the end of the day, you're going much slower than you were before--so
> > why exactly would you bother?
> >
> > I remember running behind Charlie McCall when he had the first-generation
> > Space City Panteras LED setup installed in his car--during the daytime it was
> > all but impossible to see his brake lights or turn signals, and at night,
> > his car issued a dim, feeble glow from the taillights, grossly insufficient
> > for safety.
> >
> > Over time, the Space City kits have become better, and now they might even
> > be as good as conventional bulbs.   Recently, Ron DeMaderios from PCNC
> > showed off various components of an LED lighting kit that he would like to offer
> > to compete with the long-established kits.   Significantly, the LEDs are
> > omnidirectional--they shine not only to the rear, but also to the sides and
> > front.   They do a FANTASTIC job of illuminating the lens housing--in fact they
> > are arguably a bit TOO bright.   His taillights are so bright that it looks
> > as though he is stepping on the brake at all times, which is
> > counterproductive, so he will have to dial those back a bit.
> >
> > The lights themselves were very cheap--something like $5-10 each at the
> > Goodguys swap meet.   Once he figures out the appropriate wattages for the
> > various lamps, he hopes to offer a complete kit that would cost substantially
> > less than the ones available now.   However, there are still important
> > technical details to be worked out--getting the turn signal flasher to work, for
> > instance.
> >
> > Personally, I am fond of the conventional bulbs.   Especially with Gr4
> > taillights, they are absolutely perfect--no more or less bright than they need
> > to be.   I see no upside to switching to LED lights of any description.
> >
> > Mike
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