LED Bulbs- Spiderlite

[Phoenix]

SPIDERLITE - Expanding LED Replacement Automotive Lightbulbs

Just happened to see these in a catalogue at Pep Boys yesterday. Very interesting. Might be able to use them. They're expensive though.

[DennisGardiner]

Saw these lights at SEMA last year in Vegas, they looking great and are nice and bright to boot with zero modifications.
Unfortunately the cost is higher than I'd have hoped for.

[Phoenix]

The cost is the only thing that may prevent me from ever trying out a couple.

[2 Fast 4 U]

In time they'll get cheaper

[jtb]

I guess some time has passed. They're $28 (instead of $50) on this site:
1157 1156 Superlumination.com leds (Automotive Replacement Light Bulbs, Headlights, Foglights & Lamps)

And yes, they will probably get even cheaper.

jtb

[Phoenix]

Wow, there are a lot of things on that page that might look good on any of our cars. They have those 2-wing Spiderlites that might be nice in side marker lights or the square ones that have a wire running to the socket. All interesting stuff.

[Lindsay]

What was Pep Boys price?
Not sure if load resistors would be required for brake lights, but would be needed for turn signals.
I have the DESTEC LED, "Wink Before Blink Brake & Tail Light Kit."

[Phoenix]

My uncle and I both have DESTEC sets, but I'm always thinking.

Pep Boys didn't have a price, I don't believe. It was just a big catalogue with part numbers.

[tomking]

JTB, I have been to this site about 6 times:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess some time has passed. They're $28 (instead of $50) on this site:
1157 1156 Superlumination.com leds (Automotive Replacement Light Bulbs, Headlights, Foglights & Lamps)

And yes, they will probably get even cheaper.

And all it does it take me in circles. I am not able to navigate to view any of their products. Their site or my computer??
OK, guess I have it figured out now. Ignore this message!!

[newman27]

So did anyone try these LEDs? I would like to use them in the brake lights as the standard bulbs are so dim in the daytime.

Matt

[BQS4]

Matt;
The only thing I can suggest is, just buy one, put it in one side and step back a ways from the car and judge for yourself. Please keep us informed if you do this, and if possible, take pictures. Here's a hint, get one, put it in, take a few pics and don't tell us which one, and see if we can tell the difference.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Matt; The only thing I can suggest is, just buy one, put it in one side and step back a ways from the car and judge for yourself. Please keep us informed if you do this, and if possible, take pictures. Here's a hint, get one, put it in, take a few pics and don't tell us which one, and see if we can tell the difference.

Sounds like fun . I'm going to try and have these before next Friday's departure for Charlotte...

Matt

[traytodd]

We tried some of the first 1156/7 replacement lamps with about 7 LEDs mounted on a standard base several years ago. They were significantly dimmer than the standard bulb. I wondered how they could market them at the time.

Terry

[oldopelguy]

I just ordered an assortment of the ones that'll fit in my Opels, the square arrays and the 2-wing lights, and we can play with them at Charlotte. I figure worst case they end-up marker lights off to the side in the Kadett light housings and I leave a regular bulb as well.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by traytodd We tried some of the first 1156/7 replacement lamps with about 7 LEDs mounted on a standard base several years ago. They were significantly dimmer than the standard bulb. I wondered how they could market them at the time. Terry

I ordered two of the 48 LED ($28.00 ea.) bulbs to be used as brake lights. It'll be interesting to see how much an almost 7x increase in the number of LEDs affects brightness.

Matt

[newman27]

So far so good - the LEDs shipped same day and I received an email in advance with installation info and tips.

Originally Posted by oldopelguy ...I figure worst case they end-up marker lights off to the side in the Kadett light housings and I leave a regular bulb as well.

I'm not familiar with the Kadett lights, but one of the tips for installation of the LEDs says not to install them next to heat generating incandescent bulbs.

Matt

[DESTEC]

I have developed Rev D of this design. Each element covers 120° versus the 15° of Rev C. Designed specifically for the GT red and yellow lenses. The illumination pattern is spectacular. These units will be voltage regulated and they should have constant brightness down to a battery voltage so low it would not start your car (so why are you using your tail lights--ha).

The LEDs are so new (everybody say, 'how new are they') I only have samples to build one yellow and one red.

They will probably be too expensive to be salable--in fact the LEDs are outrageously priced: but if there is enough interest and pricing comes down; maybe the tween can meet.

[jmbinjax]

I purchased some of the lights mentioned in post #10 about six months ago. I purchased ones for the both the red and orange lenses. I wasn't completely satisfied with the illumination for the price paid though. Unfortunately, I didn't take photos and I ended up returning them. I would be interested interest in the DESTEC designed ones though. They appear to have a better pattern for complete coverage and designed specifically for the Opel light housing.

[Lindsay]

Installed "Wink Before Blink" Destec red LED and amber LED set. Really like them on my GT.

[opelenvy]

Originally Posted by DESTEC I have developed Rev D of this design. Each element covers 120° versus the 15° of Rev C. Designed specifically for the GT red and yellow lenses. The illumination pattern is spectacular. These units will be voltage regulated and they should have constant brightness down to a battery voltage so low it would not start your car (so why are you using your tail lights--ha). The LEDs are so new (everybody say, 'how new are they') I only have samples to build one yellow and one red. They will probably be too expensive to be salable--in fact the LEDs are outrageously priced: but if there is enough interest and pricing comes down; maybe the tween can meet.

JJ, I'm sure these will be nice. I ended up taking out the ones I bought off you and going back to bulbs. Not sure what the problem was, but my bulbs are brighter.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by DESTEC I have developed Rev D of this design. Each element covers 120° versus the 15° of Rev C. Designed specifically for the GT red and yellow lenses. The illumination pattern is spectacular. These units will be voltage regulated and they should have constant brightness down to a battery voltage so low it would not start your car (so why are you using your tail lights--ha). The LEDs are so new (everybody say, 'how new are they') I only have samples to build one yellow and one red. They will probably be too expensive to be salable--in fact the LEDs are outrageously priced: but if there is enough interest and pricing comes down; maybe the tween can meet.

I have your LEDs as my third brake light in the vents and in fact that is what led me to look into LEDs for the other brake lights. My wife was following behind me the other day and commented on how much brighter the LED brake light was than the bulbs. I looked in the ads section but didn't see anything listed so I decided to try the Spiderlites.

Originally Posted by jmbinjax I purchased some of the lights mentioned in post #10 about six months ago. I purchased ones for the both the red and orange lenses. I wasn't completely satisfied with the illumination for the price paid though. Unfortunately, I didn't take photos and I ended up returning them. I would be interested interest in the DESTEC designed ones though. They appear to have a better pattern for complete coverage and designed specifically for the Opel light housing.

That doesn't bode well - do you recall which version you bought (number of LEDs)?

Matt

[jmbinjax]

That doesn't bode well - do you recall which version you bought (number of LEDs)?

Matt[/QUOTE]

I got the ones that spread open when you install them in the housing. I contacted them b4 I purchased them to find out which color would be best for the colored lenses. They advised the colored LEDs should be used with the respective colored lenses, ie. red with red. I'm not saying they didn't work, I just didn't think they were enough of a difference to spend $28 each for them. Also, be sure to only open the package you want to try as they will charge you a restocking fee for items you return that are opened. They were very helpful and cooperative but that's their policy.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by jmbinjax ... Also, be sure to only open the package you want to try as they will charge you a restocking fee for items you return that are opened. They were very helpful and cooperative but that's their policy.

Thanks for the tip!

Matt

[newman27]

The LEDs arrived today - very impressive looking. I installed one and took a photo (see attached). I wasn't too impressed by the output but thought "let's wait until dark and see what happens." Went back out to the car, started her up, and all my instruments were dead. As you might imagine being just hours before needing to leave for Charlotte, panic set in. I took a deep breath and started trouble shooting by first removing the LED and installing the old bulb - no luck! Then I checked the fuse panel and sure enough, the number two fuse (second over from the driver door side) had blown! I replaced the fuse and all was well. I suspect in my testing of the LED, I started the car with the Parking Light switch on or the headlights up which the website clearly states not to do. However, there is just no way I'm taking a chance on having to remember that every time so they are going back. I didn't bother to do a nighttime check.

Matt

P.S. The LED is in the left brake light...

[71opeldad]

To bad you sent them back before the night test, now we may never know. I would say you did the best thing though, I guesed wrong. Can anybody remember how many times Mr. Edison made it wrong? I think he was quoted saying something like, "I discovered 10,000 ways not to make a lightbulb."??? We will have to try them one at a time. I hope they come up with more than one a year. I love your Fireglow Orange. Thanks for the photos.