'04 Hippo Sidelamps

[Zejmjien]

Tried a search but turned nothing.

I'm having problems with the sidelamps. I've had the hippo for almost 9 months now and changed almost a set of sidelamp bulb every month, various brands etc BUT always led. Now I am starting to suspect something is wrong from my end. Any help please? maybe someone has encountered this?
Should i switch to normal lamps?

 

[Singvogel]

I doubt it - I also go through a set every couple of months.

Nice and bright with 20 LEDs - but the damn things start falling to bits - the base material starts to fail - possibly with the heat from the dipped beam bulb which is very close.

Thank god they are also cheap as chips.

I'm not going back to the dim yellow OE types.

 

[Nodge68]

I've had so many LED lamps fail I went back to standard bulbs. The LED bulbs don't like being fed 14 volts. They appear to be designed to work with 12 volts and so have a load resistor suitable for that voltage. My Freelander normally supplies 13.9 volts so effectively over driving the LED by 1.9 volts which shortens it's life to a few hours at most.

 

[Zejmjien]

I doubt it - I also go through a set every couple of months.

Nice and bright with 20 LEDs - but the damn things start falling to bits - the base material starts to fail - possibly with the heat from the dipped beam bulb which is very close.

Thank god they are also cheap as chips.

I'm not going back to the dim yellow OE types.

Yeah I hate the yellow ones myself that's why I switch to LED. Which are the ones you use?

My Freelander normally supplies 13.9 volts so effectively over driving the LED by 1.9 volts which shortens it's life to a few hours at most.

I thought I was being daft when I thought about checking the voltage. I'll check it and might fit an a resistor in-line if it's the case

It's not the cost that is bothering me since we have cheap ones here (though not very bright) but the law as you'll be fined if you're driving under a tunnel with just them 'on' and they're blown

Thanks Guys

 

[teddywood1]

the law is here in the uk that driving on just side light is not allowed you must have dipped beam at least, I know I got pulled up and told about it ,but let off when I told them I though my dipped lights were on , I sometimes tell the truth as well. LOL

 

[Singvogel]

I just checked in my diary - the last set I put in was in January - so not too bad.

Here they are:

2 x T10 W5W 501 194 168 Car White 20 SMD LED Side Light Wedge Bulb Lamp DC 12V | eBay

 

[rhodie]

the ones i got have been in for 5 mounth now with no problems

 

[illy]

the law is here in the uk that driving on just side light is not allowed you must have dipped beam at least, I know I got pulled up and told about it ,but let off when I told them I though my dipped lights were on , I sometimes tell the truth as well. LOL

Is that day time, night time, or both.

illy

 

[Zejmjien]

Thanks SV! Darned shipping too high though:/

Having that shape i'd guess that they have a regulation circuit incorporated. will check at my local shop to see if they get anything better than the others

 

[sijwhite]

I've got these: 501 LED Extreme Power 1.5W 360 degree (white, blue, red or amber)

Been in since September - no problems at all so far

 

[Zejmjien]

thanks guys, just bought a set which are non-polarised, that way they are supposed to have circuitry included. if the problem persists i'll get back to my electronics background and fit a 7812 to the supply

 

[teddywood1]

Is that day time, night time, or both.

illy

It was night time when I got stopped ,but they did let me off when I said that I thought they were on (dipped ) but around Stoke on Trent they have been targeting those running of side and fog but no dipped beam ,also those in snow or heavy rain with no lights on ,and those with fog lights on when there is no fog or falling snow , and those with blue lights which are illegal those are a no no and they can have you for pretending to be a emergency vehicle. sorry so late getting back but I have been driving all day

 

[Zejmjien]

Soooo the problem has again occured. has anyone tried fitting a 7812 voltage regulator to the sidelamps? i think i will give it a try

 

[roshe25]

Hi
In the highway code you can drive on sidelights in a lit urban road of 30mph in good weather(Rule 113.)
The police are making up there own rules on lighting.

 

[Singvogel]

Hi
In the highway code you can drive on sidelights in a lit urban road of 30mph in good weather(Rule 113.)
The police are making up there own rules on lighting.

The police make up variations on lots of rules.

And if you know the law and point out the correct interpretation - you fail the 'attitude test' - and are branded a smart ass.

 

[illy]

The high way code and road traffic act don't always agree, as I remember there was something about continuous white lines that differ in law to the high way code,so what im trying to say is things are not always what they seem.

illy

PS after all it does say Code and not Law

 

[roshe25]

The high way code and road traffic act don't always agree, as I remember there was something about continuous white lines that differ in law to the high way code,so what im trying to say is things are not always what they seem.

illy

PS after all it does say Code and not Law

When a person is taking there driving test they must go by what it says in the Highway Code.

 

[illy]

didnt say they shouldn't obey the highway code did I, Just pointing out that the road traffic act that is law and the high way code are not always the same.

illy