MTFCA Forum

Hi,
I am experimenting with the use of LED based headligths om my Model Ts, since I drive them and for the next 2½ month we have not midnight sun, but never pitch dark. So even an evening event that may last a little longer than planned (there always a risk of good company) dim headlights for the trip home is no problem.
But from april to mig may and mid august to end of september you may need decent headlight to see where you drive (around here).
I've tried to types - first this type: and now lately this one, that is selfcontained with optics and all: I've tried it in two different vehicles. In both the high bean worked flawlessly, but the dim did not work or worked "spooky". The latter that I'm trying now the one of the two bulbs light up very dim. when I take the bulb the light out, the other one starts lighting up still dim.
With traditionel bulbs it works OK.
The LED bulbs supports 5 - 30 V pos or negative earth, so it can't be because I have the worng type.

Have any of you any experience with these sorts of bulbs?

The high bean have a fantastic warm white light, so it is definately something to aim for in a T driver.

I use the bottom style, which I purchased from Snyders. Great lights! I have not experienced dimness in one bulb over the other, but I do get flickering intermittently from the passenger side bulb. My car has new wiring and new headlight reflectors. No flickering with the old style bulbs. I'm starting to think that the reflector is vibrating or the headlight is letting the bulb wiggle and thus causing flickering due to changing reflection focus. The light never truly cuts out completely. I suppose I should swap the bulbs around in the headlights and see if the issue follows the bulb.

I've had a few years experience with the first type of bulb pictured. Did have a problem with one bulb where it would cycle itself to being on once turned on and then after about 30 seconds or so flicker quite fast and then would turn itself off, then repeated. With correspondence to the manufacturer they replace the bulb and no problems exist now.

I found ta WEB site for your bulbs https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/produc ... nd-pattern
Did you see this in the instructions?
-These are NOT suitable for AC systems. so will not work on MAG
-When fitting the lamps, ensure the black centre line is at the top of the lamp. An Allen Key is provided to allow you to adjust the beam so that it is level by undoing the 2 grub screws, carefully rotating the head of the lamp slightly until you reach the desired level and re-tightening them. Please take care not to over twist the LED and damage the internal connections.
-12 month warranty on this product.
The ones I found appear to have the same housing but different specifications. The specifications are not stated as those of the bulb but to fit Model T or Model A cars. Also what type of bulbs were the traditional ones for battery or for magneto. What I don't see mentioned, specifically, if these are considered double filament bulbs (think two sets of leds) or they have 1 set of leds and the low beam is controlled by resistance. You may have a bad bulb(s).
The issue with led bulbs is that do not disperse the light from the reflectors focal point hence the lens looks brighter when you look at but the light projected from the headlight lens isn't as good as it can be & is less focused. But still looks better than traditional if a high temperature bulb is used 6000k --
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This diagram shows how the light gets dispersed to the lens. It is the lens (the fluted style lens of the Model T) that focuses that light ahead onto the road. Again t just not as efficient as it can be --
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The expected light pattern from traditional style bulbs

An unwanted - and probably unexpected - consequence of LED bulbs is that because they take very little current, the contacts in switches etc have to be very good, very clean. I have found that LED torches work very well when new, but after some months, they don't always come on, and you have to remove the batteries and clean the contacts. I expect others have found the same.
I have LED headlamp bulbs and I found it necessary to solder ground wire connections from the bulb holders to the lamp bodies to stop flickering.