The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Lucas, Ignition, Charging, Electrical => Topic started by: tlmark on 27.10. 2021 12:15
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More infomation than anything else
I wanted to upgrade the headlight to a LED not really for night riding my Bezza will probably never be out in the dark.
but for a DLR mainly because well I live in the south east of England and its full of bloody SUV's/4x4's
and they tend to drive with 2 wheels over the centre line most of time and a bright headlight does get their attention. *smile*
I'm still running 6V positive earth but as its a BFP fitting I hadn't found anything that fitted.
but when I put the bike on the bike lift and a news paper under it soak up drips ;)
I saw an ad for LED bulb replacements. so here it is.
Its a projector type so dosent use the head light bowl in the same way it's 6V and 12V also Positive or negative earth
I can't judge it's performance yet sadly as when I fitted it I found the cowling cracked in loads of places so I got to fix that first.
but you can see how little it draws from the battery with out the engine running.
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That interests me. Please will give me feedback after you are able to try it?
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I bought a cheap 6v to 12v inverter from China (£5 delivered). Wired it inbetween the headlamp switch and the dipswitch. 12v gives a bigger choice of leds. Rest of bike remains 6v.
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I bought a cheap 6v to 12v inverter from China (£5 delivered). Wired it inbetween the headlamp switch and the dipswitch. 12v gives a bigger choice of leds. Rest of bike remains 6v.
Did you put it in a waterproof enclosure or was it already 'potted'?
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They're already potted. Been using it for over 3 years. I tried one of those leds with a lense, but didn't think much of it for night riding in rural area. Probably fine for a daylight riding light though. I converted to a reflector for H4 bulb as there is a wide choice of good leds.
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Hi TLMark,
Now that is interesting. Could you post details of the ad - ie source with part number?
Col
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Here you are Col:-
https://www.rexs-speedshop.com/product/led-british-bpf-p36d-headlamp-bulb/
Also here:-
https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/headlight-led-bulbs/products/bpf-p36d-437-368-370-414-led-headlight-upgrade-6-12-and-24-volt-negative-or-positive-earth-great-beam-strength-and-pattern?variant=39564853379181
Rog.
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Thanks Roger. Looks as it may be the answer.
Col
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Yup that’s the one
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Sure this is the same thing £10 cheaper
https://www.classicbikepartscheshire.com/electrical-c3/bulbs-6v-12v-c24/classic-motorcycle-led-headlight-bulb-6v-12v-applications-bpf-connection-p4656/s4724?cid=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3tH13_Xy8wIVVeDtCh0mlQYGEAQYAiABEgLazvD_BwE
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Had an interesting failure on the Enfield Bullet. Total electrical failure on the way to town for a dental appointment. Discovered just now that it was caused by an internal short in the LED stop/tail bulb. Never had a bike stop because of a failed bulb before.
Still, all my bikes have LED stop/tails and having just put a new £30 headlight bulb in the Velo am amazed at the brightness and proper beam pattern. So much better than the earlier LED headlight bulbs.
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... just put a new £30 headlight bulb in the Velo am amazed at the brightness and proper beam pattern. So much better than the earlier LED headlight bulbs.
To clarify; is that one of those LED with a built-in lens?
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Discovered just now that it was caused by an internal short in the LED stop/tail bulb. Never had a bike stop because of a failed bulb before.
Oh No! *eek* Not another thing to worry about.
LEDs can cause strange things to happen. When I fitted my GP Manx I fitted all LEDs except Quartz Halogen headlight bulb (so bike, sidecar and flashers. When I pressed the footbrake to test the stop lights the pilot light came on *conf*. Took me ages to work out how to sort it - moved an earth lead for the sidecar lights that was connected to the frame earth bolt under the dual seat and reconnected it direct to battery earth terminal - and it was magically cured.
Rog.
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Yes, one of these ones with a built-in lens. The earlier ones I tried were a complete waste of money.
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Alex, I noticed that only one of the 3 websites said that they come in two versions - a 4300K white colour and a 3000K yellowish version claimed to be just as illuminating but suitably yellowish to suit the era of our bikes. I have a white LED now and I don't particularly like the bluish/whiteness. I'm tempted to go for the yellow version, but unfortunately that website is also the most expensive at 30 pounds. *cry*
Col
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Well spotted colsbeeza. I hadn’t thought of that. I too dislike blue/white leds for any application. I work mainly as a haas cnc machinist but also do a fair bit of turning on a Colchester lathe. At work the gaffer thought he’d save a few quid and put led lights up everywhere, blue/white colour. When the lathe chuck was spinning it looked like it strobed and was horrible. Dug my heels in and got every single one changed to warm white. Happy days now
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How much is your eyesight worth?
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alex kettle the girlfriend and myself had a different opinion with the old verses new strip lights in the kitchen so stuck with the old ones, she won again! but was correct after i did a bit of swapping and looking, as for the colchester my dad sold 30 odd years ago when he couldn't stand up to work on it anymore i found out it had gone to the scrap yard *sad*
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Berger that’s such a pitty. We have a Colchester Master 2500 and triumph 2000 built late 70s/80s and there built proof. Thing don’t stop turning 5 days a week. We did have the bed and slideways reground on the 2000 a few years back. Like a brand new machine.
Still run a halogen bulb spot light regardless of all the led lights above
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Hi Gents
An update on the LED headlight bulb
The beam from the bulb I originally spoke of is very good.
However the purpose in changing to an LED was not just for the performance, in fact it’s performance at night
Will most likely never be used. It was to make the bike more obvious to sleepy car drivers.
And as you can see from the photos the first bulb doesn’t use the BSA’s headlight bowl at all to project the light out and from the front all you see is a small bright spot in the middle of the headlight.
This was not what I wanted so I bought a simpler LED bulb that replicates a standard type bulb
And as you can see the it uses the bowl of the light and gives a more noticeable headlight.
The first bulb gives a better night time light in fact it is very good. But visibility was what I need.
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I'm finding this thread somewhat confusing! All sorts of stuff I don't understand/want to know about!
(Surely I can't be the only one who just simply wants a replacement - in LED form, for the standard ol' P22d socket hi/low beam headlight globe/bulb).
Can anyone recommend an LED H/L globe that fits the standard P22d type socket. -In/from Australia?
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Paul Goff, here in the UK a d will export, has a great range, bought a full set for about £50.00, offers 6 or 12v, only use for daytime awareness, but certainly are very, very bright and use very little power. Direct replacement and so far stood up to the vibes of my BSA
.
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That's over A$100, then add postage to Oz... *countdown*
I could get one on the 'bay for about two an' six! Just need to know what'll work.
I can get an original P22d 50/40 globe/bulb for $16. (Sixteen dollars - not well over a hundred).
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That's for a full set, headlight, pilot, speedo and rear light/brake.
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The new Double Dipper that use 4 x 3 V high intensityCree chips is probably the best you will get
Problem s the tungsten element on a standard globe is a point source of light so can be at the focal point of the reflector and use ALL of it.
All the available LED's emitt the light from a chip that is about 2mm square to 5 mm square and is flat so it can only use 1/2 the reflector because it only emitts light from the top\
Add to that no LED emitts ligth with a 180 deg beam spread , the best ones get to a reported 120 deg but 100 would be more truthful so the low beam uses 1/3 of the reflector at the top ( sothe light goes down ) and on full beam, 120 deg on the bottom of the reflector.
They say the new 12V double dipper has the chips at a slight tils left right to increase the beam spread but I have not had one in my hands yet
In the oimage posted above. note that theTOP 1/2 of the reflector is bright and the bottom is dull .
I hope to get my hands on one soon the break it apart & fit it indo a BA15 bade to suit the pre WWII manual fosus reflectors but on the pre-focus, you are stuck with where the maker decided was the best spot for the light to emitt from.