Ok, I put a 50 watt bulb in to replace the stock 21 watt brake light on the passenger side. I also put in a new 21 watt bulb on the driver's side brake light. I pushed the brake pedal down and braced it in position so the brake lights stayed on. Then I watched the temps, back and forth, every 15 seconds, looking for the hottest temp spot on each side. I aborted the test after 4 minutes as the temps were still climbing and I did not want to hurt anything. I have no idea how high of a temp the lens can sustain without damage. I suspect that it could take quite a bit. 50 watt brake light lens after 4 minutes, 190 degrees 21 watt brake light lens after 4 minutes, 135 degrees non-lit area of tail lenses, 65 degrees Putting a 50 watt bulb in for the tail light also makes no sense to me since it is important for following drivers to be able to tell the difference when I step on the brakes. Doing so might cause a melting problem given enough time on a hot summer night. Otherwise perhaps not. I ordered two 35 watt bulbs and my plan is to use them for the brake lights. Here are the rear lighting upgrades as I plan to do them. stock 5 watt tails will become 10 watt stock 21 watt brakes will become 35 watt stock 21 turn signals will become 50 watt I will report any problems as I become aware of them. I have spare tail light assemblies so should any damage occur it will not be a major concern. Mark
mark drillock wrote: > ....................... > I installed one 50 watt bulb in the passenger side turn signal and a > stock brand new 21 watt bulb in the driver's side turn signal. I turned > on the 4 way flashers and waited to see what happened. The 50 watt bulb > was noticeably brighter, naturally. I own a digital infrared temp gun so > I used that to monitor the temps of the lenses in the area lit by the > turn signal bulbs. > > After 10 minutes I started checking the lenses to see what the temps > were. The 50 watt side was hotter, of course. It kept climbing for a > while and after 15 minutes of flashing these are the temps I saw. > > 50 watt side, 165 degrees F. > 21 watt side, 115 degrees F. > > The areas not lit by the bulbs read about 70 degrees and the air temp > was in the 50s. > > I may try the experiment again with the brake lights and then I will > prop the brake pedal such that the brake lights stay on constantly. > > Mark > |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.