6 volt LED or HID headlight bulbs

The thing about using LED's in Model A headlights with reflectors is they can not be properly focused like an original type incandescent bulb.
 
With HId a proper focus can be had for very good high beam----but no provision for low beam--on cars with stock HID there is usually a shutter that a solenoid pulls into the beam to cut off the light to make low beam, or there are 2 light systems , one for each beam---or you go the methods of the hokie aftermarket hid conversions, just putting a regular bulb next to the hid bulb---don't worry about filament,or hid bulb placement, just make a lot of bright light and not projecting it down the road because of improper focus

the factory systems with led have reflectors made for the light beam the leds make, sort of a rams horn shape, putting them in with a normal reflector just gives 2 blobs of light not focused in sort of a figure 8 shape, not in a form ther lens/reflector is made to work with
 
TomballMottershaw said:
anyone found a usable 6 Volt LED or HID headlight bulb for the Model A ?
Click to expand...

These won't help you because they are 12v but may help someone else.

I use Ron Francis "Brite Bulbs", 125/75 candle power compared to 50/32 cp for the bulbs the vendors sell. Along with Bratton's reflectors they put a lot of light in the right place.
 

Attachments

  • Ron Fransis Brite Bulbs copy.jpg
    Ron Fransis Brite Bulbs copy.jpg
    13 KB · Views: 53
Y-Blockhead said:
These won't help you because they are 12v but may help someone else.

I use Ron Francis "Brite Bulbs", 125/75 candle power compared to 50/32 cp for the bulbs the vendors sell. Along with Bratton's reflectors they put a lot of light in the right place.
Click to expand...

Bet they run hot as can be... says to use a jumper wire to keep the low beam on when you flip to the high beam...

How many amps do they draw?
 
Given that I do very little night driving I use standard bulbs and Brattons reflectors.
Quite honestly the lighting is much better than I ever expected. Now I don't drive all that fast (kinda the point) and if adjusted properly you'll be fine.
Aiming them just takes a few minute.
 
Last edited:
Many thanks to all for the help & info & commentary.
Generally the Stock setup, is not up to Muster in today's motoring world.
The Alternator & halogens, is workable, but while do like & strive for an stock setup in my car, I like being able to see and be seen, to stay alive is more important.
My compromise goes.. if I get LED headlights, I can go back to the meager/marginal output of a stock Ford Generator. ( AKA run for hours on the battery )


The LED bulbs that Ian mentions, from the UK web page listed above, hold promise of good results. http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/

I put in a inquiry to the company, if what the offer would fit a Model A setup.
Looks like they handle low/high beam too.

I'll update the post with my findings.
 
"Bet they run hot as can be..."

Do you have one of those 1,000,000 CP or, I think, even 10,000,000 CP hand held spot lights they sold before LEDs became popular? How hot does it run?
 
I run 35 watt quartz halogens on the generator only, never charge the battery except by driving---work good enough that I feel confident driving at night doing the speed limit--or more

I have tried seal beams, and used to use 50cp bulbs, to make the 50cp bulbs bright I would crank up the generator to 18 amps, with the cover band off to cool it more, for the last 15 years I have used the haogens, with 14 amp charge rate on a stock generator, it is the first generator I ever rebuilt over 45 years ago, havn't done anything but oil since ----been much more reliable than the alternator in my 74 chevy truck, that's been rebuilt 3 times in 35 years
 
updraught said:
"Bet they run hot as can be..."

Do you have one of those 1,000,000 CP or, I think, even 10,000,000 CP hand held spot lights they sold before LEDs became popular? How hot does it run?
Click to expand...

that is because it uses a single 35w fog light bulb in a properly designed and focused HUGE reflector.

The headlight bulb is running both filaments in the same bulb. I would be surprised if it lasted more than a year if you regularly use the high beams from the glass melting. (Dont ever buy those silver star headlights for your modern for the same reason - the 2 sets I used in 2 different cars melted the glass - not covered under their warranty)
 
My last somewhat modernish car had 7 inch lights with 130/90 halogens and upgraded wiring. The 90 watt low beam filament would regularly burn out. Never the high beam. I'm was told this was common due to the lower speed and stop starting on low.

My current 15 year old 4wd had poor lights, so it got upgraded wiring and various 50/80/100/120 plus H4's (that's 120% supposedly brighter than standard) due to the plastic lenses. With the wiring upgrade (relays etc.) there is very little difference between any of those globes and a cheapo one of the same wattage.

The moral of the story is to drive fast.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top