GaryJames
Veteran Member
While searching the internet and the usual Honda Parts suppliers I have found a few who can supply a suitable LED Head Light bulb.
But at a price, usually in the USD $25 to 29 range. (some supply two for that cost)
Aliexpress ( yes I know, Chinese manufacturing and I try not to buy " made in China" ) has a multitude of LED bulbs at extremely reasonable prices. You can get the small BA9s that fit in the instrument cluster for under a $1 for two. 15mm headlight LED's that have a main and High beam can be had for only few dollars more.
The big problem is trying to identify the correct base.
Here is a picture of the standard Honda Incandescent Bulb:
I might be wrong here but I see this as a BA15D ( or P15D ) base, ie, with two soldered pad connectors for main and high beam.
The "15 " part being the diameter in mm of the base.
The fitment is H4 which is the thin metal disc thingy going around the base with three sticky out bits.
Searching on Aliexpress I find these:
The correct base is the one on the right t but the correct fitment is the one in the middle with the disc and three sticky out bits.
However the base is an H4 so to fit in our old Honda's you will need an H4 socket and have to wire it into the loom.
Looking closely at the Incandescent bulb it seemed to me that the disc should be easily removable as it seemed to be held on with some dimples in the metal. Sure enough by wiggling it it came loose and I was able to slide it down and off.
The disc prongs are not equal distances around so that when inserting and turning the solder pads line up with same in the socket. I marked the base and disc before removing.
Incandescent Bulb with mounting disc removed .
Now the LED choices have the same 15mm base. So I went ahead and bought a couple ( the right hand one in the picture ) of them from Aliexpress. at NZD$7.90 ( USD about $4.8 ) plus shipping i can afford to experiment.
When they arrived I removed the incorrect circular based on the LED and slid on the one I removed from the incandescent bulb.
Orientating it in regard to the double soldered connection pads at the bottom, and pushing it on to the dimple marks.
Inserted in the head lamp and turned it on but I had the orientation out so had to turn the disc around to next indent mark and it worked fine on L and H.
The thing with the LED bulb I bought is it has a focused round top that operates on H and projects a beam. Some just have a few LED's with no focus and they just spray the light forward and around.
I will re visit the H beam when it is dark one night to see what shape it is at a distance......
Also have to take a pic of the modified LED bulb which I will post presently.
It was relatively simple to do and saved me having to modify the Honda standard base for a wired in H4 type.
Cheers
Gary
Auckland
But at a price, usually in the USD $25 to 29 range. (some supply two for that cost)
Aliexpress ( yes I know, Chinese manufacturing and I try not to buy " made in China" ) has a multitude of LED bulbs at extremely reasonable prices. You can get the small BA9s that fit in the instrument cluster for under a $1 for two. 15mm headlight LED's that have a main and High beam can be had for only few dollars more.
The big problem is trying to identify the correct base.
Here is a picture of the standard Honda Incandescent Bulb:
I might be wrong here but I see this as a BA15D ( or P15D ) base, ie, with two soldered pad connectors for main and high beam.
The "15 " part being the diameter in mm of the base.
The fitment is H4 which is the thin metal disc thingy going around the base with three sticky out bits.
Searching on Aliexpress I find these:
The correct base is the one on the right t but the correct fitment is the one in the middle with the disc and three sticky out bits.
However the base is an H4 so to fit in our old Honda's you will need an H4 socket and have to wire it into the loom.
Looking closely at the Incandescent bulb it seemed to me that the disc should be easily removable as it seemed to be held on with some dimples in the metal. Sure enough by wiggling it it came loose and I was able to slide it down and off.
The disc prongs are not equal distances around so that when inserting and turning the solder pads line up with same in the socket. I marked the base and disc before removing.
Incandescent Bulb with mounting disc removed .
Now the LED choices have the same 15mm base. So I went ahead and bought a couple ( the right hand one in the picture ) of them from Aliexpress. at NZD$7.90 ( USD about $4.8 ) plus shipping i can afford to experiment.
When they arrived I removed the incorrect circular based on the LED and slid on the one I removed from the incandescent bulb.
Orientating it in regard to the double soldered connection pads at the bottom, and pushing it on to the dimple marks.
Inserted in the head lamp and turned it on but I had the orientation out so had to turn the disc around to next indent mark and it worked fine on L and H.
The thing with the LED bulb I bought is it has a focused round top that operates on H and projects a beam. Some just have a few LED's with no focus and they just spray the light forward and around.
I will re visit the H beam when it is dark one night to see what shape it is at a distance......
Also have to take a pic of the modified LED bulb which I will post presently.
It was relatively simple to do and saved me having to modify the Honda standard base for a wired in H4 type.
Cheers
Gary
Auckland