LED Tail Light Lens

[bdtutton]

I have the standard T-6956-R (Snyders) tail lights on my touring car. I am using 12v LED bulbs in the tail lights and they are not as bright as I would like them to be. Are there any LED lens upgrades to this type of light? I have LED lens upgraded lights A-13405-SR6(Snyders) in my Model A and they are bright during the day and incredibly bright at night. I would like to find something like this for my Model T.
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My second thought would be to try putting a 2 inch 1157 Socket LED Turn signal lights inside of those lights. Has anyone tried this?
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Thank you...

[Moxie26]

LogoLites has led bulbs for headlights and tail lights and brake lights that WORK great on 6 volts ..... Why not give them a try after you get a good 6 volt battery to save your 6-volt starter and flywheel. www.logolites.com

[bdtutton]

Thank you for your feedback. I use Logolights turn signals on my Model A and I am aware of their products. The problem is that I am running best 12v LED tail light bulbs in my 1914 Model T and they are not as bright as I would like them to be. Is anyone aware of some type of LED lens replacements that fit into the T-6956 style tail lights like they offer for Model A's??

[Moxie26]

How often do you recharge your 12 volt battery source?

[TXGOAT2]

As far as I know, there is no LED specific lens for use on bulb-type lights. Some lenses can darken with age, or become yellow, but that will affect any type of bulb you use, not just LED bulbs.

[Moxie26]

bdtutton .... Maybe, are you referring to a inside reflector that goes behind the bulb for brighter light?

[WayneJ]

Not all 12v led bulbs are created equal, some have more lumens.

[TRDxB2]

Bulb part numbers identify functionality not and socket configuration although they default: 1156 is a single-filament, single-intensity bulb (used for reverse/turn signals) w single contact; 1157 is 12V a dual-filament, dual-intensity bulb (used for tail/brake lights) with two bottom contacts. Its 6V version is an 1154.
Socket configurations BA14 (horizontal Pins, single contact); BA15D (horizontal pins. double contact) & BAY15D (off-set pins, double contact).

1157 12v (1154 6v) tail/brake light bulbs normally come with a BAY15D base (off-set pins). 1188 12v (1158 6v) tail/brake light bulb with BA15D Base (horizontal pins).

Light brightness is measured in Lumens or CP (candle power). Light Color (warm 3500k to daylight (6000k) is measured in Kelvin.
For the stock dark red lens a 3500k bulb may appear brighter than a 6000k bulb even for the same amount of Lumens
Wattage is what causes the ammeter to show the amount of load on your electrical system. That's why LED's (1 -2 watts) are preferred over filament bulb (5 watts).

BUT the simple solution is to replace the lens with one that isn't so dark to start with
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/prod ... &cat=41888
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[Allan]

We had a specialist light guru address our club meeting recently. I found this disclosure very interesting. A white LED will transmit just a small percentage of its output through a red lens, that part of the light spectrum which is red. Remember ROY G BIV from school days. Only the red portion of the spectrum is transmitted by a red lens. You need red LED led lamps is you want maximum output from your tail lights. All the output from a red LED is transmitted through a red lens. It makes sense to me, but what do I know? His demonstration certainly showed same to be real.

Allan from down under.

[TRDxB2]

After reading these articles I'm thinking of doing a test. The lens in the repro taillight is a bit of a dark red color so...?

good article about Red or White LED bulbs https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/blog/ ... -red-lens/
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Another one of theirs Amber vs White LED Bulbs https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/blog/ ... ith-video/
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[TXGOAT2]

LED lights generally attract very few insects due to emitting a narrower bandwidth of light that most other light sources. If they emit less red and orange frequencies, it would probably affect how much of their light would pass a red lens.

[Mike Silbert]

This is really great information here but missing one other detail, Viewing Angle.

Incandescent bulbs are like a lantern throwing light in all directions and LED elements (the individual parts making the light) are like a flashlight.
Every LED bulb maker has to decide how many of which parts are placed in various places creating a pattern of light output with bright and dark areas.
The alignment of the bulb in the socket in the fixture makes a huge difference in how bright it looks to other vehicles.

When the makers of the LED insert panels design their parts they can optimize everything making more usable light with less light from the source LED's.
Highly transparent lenses (Not much need for filtering when the light is already the correct color) and perfect viewing angle orientation go a long way to making a very bright light.
If LED insert panels are available and made to look exactly like the originals I feel that it is a great option for driver cars increasing safety on the road while not looking wrong.
But not all sizes and shapes are available.
I do know of several instances where something close has been carefully sanded down to fit and or RTV glued into place.
There is a spacer gap between the edge of the insert and the components and traces that matter. Unfortunately the seller will not tell you how much gap there is so it is a risk it yourself modification.

When we choose LED bulbs to retrofit our lamps we have to deal with a lot of limitations and compromises making choosing the correct bulbs.
I have a box full of LED bulbs that I bought thinking they would work but did not work out.
LED bulbs are not a one size fits all universal solution, unfortunately.

Mike

[TXGOAT2]

I have a 2018 motorcycle that has an LED headlight and auxiliary lights, but the tail light, brake lights, and turn signals are all regular filament bulbs with colored lenses.

[TXGOAT2]

A colored lens is a narrow pass filter. A clear lens passes a wide range of frequencies.

[Allan]

Pat, I think that is what I was reporting. The red lens filters out much of the white light spectrum allowing only the red end to pass. That is why a red bulb is needed. Most of its light will pass through a red lens.

Allan from down under.