LED bulbs cause melting of socket??
LED bulbs cause melting of socket??
Hi guys,
I recently changed the bulbs of the driving lights to SMD LEDs. Yesterday after removing the front I noticed that the sockets look burned/slightly melted. I always thought that LEDs don't emitt a lot of heat but now I'm worried that I destroy the sockets along with the gauge cluster where I changed the standard bulbs to LED as well.
Can anyone here tell me what might has caused the melting?
I recently changed the bulbs of the driving lights to SMD LEDs. Yesterday after removing the front I noticed that the sockets look burned/slightly melted. I always thought that LEDs don't emitt a lot of heat but now I'm worried that I destroy the sockets along with the gauge cluster where I changed the standard bulbs to LED as well.
Can anyone here tell me what might has caused the melting?
The front side of LEDs don't get hot but the backside can. That is the area where you see the discoloration on your sockets. Do a test: turn the driving lights on and wait 10 minutes. Then, inspect the bulbs and sockets to see if they are getting hot. If so, replace with LEDs that don't get hot.
The Retrofit Source has some really nice Morimoto LEDs that shouldn't get hot. I have them for a retrofit project I am working on for my 99 turn signal units and have run them for 20 minutes or so and they get warm, but not hot.
Hope this helps.
The Retrofit Source has some really nice Morimoto LEDs that shouldn't get hot. I have them for a retrofit project I am working on for my 99 turn signal units and have run them for 20 minutes or so and they get warm, but not hot.
Hope this helps.
I don't believe the led can cause that discoloring of the socket like that, I would assume it would melt the plastic white base first before the socket.
That browning looks like more to me the stock bulb caused it.
LEDs themselves do run cooler then stock bulbs (depending if you use the high power ones..) But remember there are resistors to limit current and those do generate heat.
I wonder if that bulb has "canbus" resistors installed on it, causing it to run hotter is another option. To me it doesn't look like one though.
That browning looks like more to me the stock bulb caused it.
LEDs themselves do run cooler then stock bulbs (depending if you use the high power ones..) But remember there are resistors to limit current and those do generate heat.
I wonder if that bulb has "canbus" resistors installed on it, causing it to run hotter is another option. To me it doesn't look like one though.
^ The easy way to test this is as I described. You are right, normally LEDs will not get hot but some do. The OP can simply leave the lights on for 10 minutes or so and then inspect.
Recovering Miataholic
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More than you wanted to know:
Light Source........Input Power (watts)...Output Brightness (Lumens)
Candle...........................1.0.............. ..................0.1
Incandescent..................1.0................. .............16
Fluorescent.....................1.0............... ...............70
LED...............................1.0............. ................300
(Does not include losses due to any drivers or other circuitry)
Light Source........Input Power (watts)...Output Brightness (Lumens)
Candle...........................1.0.............. ..................0.1
Incandescent..................1.0................. .............16
Fluorescent.....................1.0............... ...............70
LED...............................1.0............. ................300
(Does not include losses due to any drivers or other circuitry)
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