using sidelight bulbs as indicators- now with pic!

[SeventyNine]

like ive got a broken bulb.

id assume id need to add a resistor in the circuit to make it think its a bigger bulb right?

if so, anyone know what size resistor?

if not, what?

[BenzBoy]

I'm a bit confused on this one... wouldn't it be easier just to replace the bulb / holder? Or am I missing something?

[SeventyNine]

replace the bulb holder with what?

[SeventyNine]

probably should make myself a bit clearer.

I'm putting the sidelights where the indicators are

and indicators where the sidelights are (like the beetle)

cept when i do, they flash fast, like ive broken the bulb.

i assume this is because the indicator bulb is a lot bigger than the sidelight bulb, therefore it thinks its broken and flashes like it would if it was broken

[Mr K]

Arnt your side lights in your headlamps?

or are we talking side repeaters here?

[SeventyNine]

my sidelights are in my headlights yes.

which will now be my indicators.

ive checked it out, they are pretty bright, and noticable from a distance even with high beams on.

my sidelights will now be where my indicators are. ill have clear lenses by the weekend.

now, back to the original question ;D

[daverapid]

Sidelight bulbs are 5W and indicater bulbs are 21W, so yeah, that's why it's flashing too fast.

[SeventyNine]

good stuff.

what do i go into maplins and ask for then? a 16w resistor?

or do you ask for it in ohms? in which case id need a 9ish ohm resistor (a level physics does come in handy ;D )

[daverapid]

What car have you got mate? Just wondered if a 21W bulb could be fitted instead of messing around with resistors. Indicators in headlamps aren't always a good idea, as when the headlamps are on the indicators aren't so visible as when they are seperate.

[SeventyNine]

its a mk2 escort.

but has mk1 golf headlights.

[SeventyNine]

bulbholders and bulbs look like this (minus the chavvy blue lights)

[Deleted]

You can get the 20W bulbs in the same size. I have them on the front of my Vespa. One is a 5W at the mo and it blinks like an old perv with a twitch though.

[SeventyNine]

ok mate, know anywhere in particular?

[SeventyNine]

have photoshopped the hieght, and added a bit more sparkle to the sidelights, but apart from that you get the idea.

the indicators look really cool now

[Pillock]

cool! nicely different.... i know the golf boys have been doing such things for a while but it's not widely seen. was thinking of doing such a thing (before you mentioned it, honest!) on a mk3 polo, or have both sidelights and indicators in the (clear) indicator units.

oh, and beetle owners were doing it in the 60's

[tonycocacola]

lathamescortmk2 said:

ok mate, know anywhere in particular?

halfrauds
any motor factors
borrow some from the local scrappy
the forklifts at work
don't cost a lot either

[SeventyNine]

lol, you cannot get the same sized 21w sidelight bulbs, i looked everywhere.

what you can get is bulb '435' which is basically the same as a sidelight sized bulb, cept one of the pins is in the wrong place. cut the second pin off, and if fits nicely in the sidelight holder you then have to use some tailight repair tape on the bulb to make it orange

plus its a lot brighter (obviously) than the 5/4w bulbs and makes the whole headlight glow up orange, as can be seen in the pic

oh, i got the idea after seeing it done on a beetle. eventually ill cut the indicator sections out the bumper, cut up a spare bumper length to replace them, lead fill and rechrome the bumper.

[Grahamini]

I keep thinking about doing something similar to the Mini - using Landrover stop / tail lights instead of the front indicator. It`s the same lense so could have orange or clear lense or paint the bulb ...
Hmmm, one day ...

[AsconaDaz]

Hmm, I'm not convinced. Smacks of the LaxFlower lot to me

[SeventyNine]

also, using capri tacho and speedo in the escort dash, with them fangled LED bulbs look like this: