Use caution when using LED bulbs from China
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Use caution when using LED bulbs from China
Looks like the LED bulbs I got from China via Flea-Bay have a fatal flaw... The bases on the bulbs I received are not made of very rigid metal, so if you put it into the socket and twist too hard, OR if the base gets pulled out along with the metal clasp, this is what can happen:
Notice the compressed base on the blue LED, and the posts that pushed in on the white LED. Not nearly as solid as the original bulb's base on the right, not by a long shot.
Best bet if you have these is to twist slowly, and only a few degrees until you feel the post seat under the metal tab.
If someone has a State-side source for LEDs that have a more solid base like the original bulbs, or know of a way to transplant the old bases to the new LEDs, I'd love a pointer...
Notice the compressed base on the blue LED, and the posts that pushed in on the white LED. Not nearly as solid as the original bulb's base on the right, not by a long shot.
Best bet if you have these is to twist slowly, and only a few degrees until you feel the post seat under the metal tab.
If someone has a State-side source for LEDs that have a more solid base like the original bulbs, or know of a way to transplant the old bases to the new LEDs, I'd love a pointer...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Thanks ddawson, I've ordered a sample set from them to see if I have better luck. If they turn out to be better constructed and roughly the same illumination as the ones I already have that "survived" installation, I'll probably order another batch to replace the rest of them due to reliability concerns. Don't want to tear the left side dash apart again any time soon. I could probably stand replacing the centers again later when I do the radio swap.
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