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| Rear Trunk Light plastic Lens Gets Hot (Page 1/2) |
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Romsk
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MAY 19, 05:18 PM
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Does anyone's Rear Trunk Lamp Lens plastic get hot when the lamp has been on for a while?
I am testing mine on the bench in open air about 72F and the plastic seems very hot to the touch. The front measured 285F after 1 hour, the side walls were hotter as my digital thermometer maxes out at 300F.
I never noticed this when it was installed in the Fiero, but then again, I don't recall ever needing to touch it unless the lamp burnt out.
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Paul Romsky
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Kitskaboodle
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MAY 19, 05:26 PM
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Yes, the bulb gets very hot and because of this I have seen a few trunk lights that yellowed due to the heat. Not only that, they are hard to get out. I upgraded mine to led a long time ago. You’d be amazed at the current/ amp draw on those bulbs.
Kit
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Romsk
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MAY 19, 05:48 PM
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Yes, the bulb gets very hot, and the plastic lens is hot as well. I designed a 9 white LED array for it and a switch to shut it off to prevent battery drain when the trunk is open for a long time.
I have the switch in my 3D printed part that I reversed engineered from my original with the broken tab. I improved the OEM design so it doesn't break as easily - with step by step instruction to install and remove it. I am testing it with the incandescent bulb first for reference before I wire in the LEDs
Its a 12 Watt bulb, so that is about 1A at 12V.
The 9 LED array will only draw about 60mA at 12V... and 90mA at 16V.
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Brian A
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MAY 19, 06:09 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Romsk:
… I designed a 9 white LED array . |
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I bought this instead:
https://a.co/d/9v6leKI
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Romsk
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MAY 19, 06:19 PM
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Brian, thanks, that's a lot cheaper than 9 discrete leds. Putting those leds an a buld form factor is a great idea. I am going to some. Thanks.
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cartercarbaficionado
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MAY 19, 06:52 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Romsk:
Does anyone's Rear Trunk Lamp Lens plastic get hot when the lamp has been on for a while?
I am testing mine on the bench in open air about 72F and the plastic seems very hot to the touch. The front measured 285F after 1 hour, the side walls were hotter as my digital thermometer maxes out at 300F.
I never noticed this when it was installed in the Fiero, but then again, I don't recall ever needing to touch it unless the lamp burnt out.
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none of mine have ever worked actually, but the one in my s10 melted overnight once when the courtesy lights got stuck on
ive since put a s10 rear light with switch into my gt since my stock wiring was kinda just garbage
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Romsk
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MAY 19, 07:22 PM
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Carter,
Good to know. Thanks.
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Vintage-Nut
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MAY 19, 07:25 PM
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If You Want the 'Best' - Consider the 48-LED 561 Bulb For "Superior Brightness and Unmatched Durability"
HO SERIES WHITE LED BULB 561
You can pick 5000K, 5500K or 6000K
https://www.vleds.com/shop-...1-led/561-48-ho.html
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Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles
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Romsk
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MAY 19, 07:31 PM
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Vintage-Nut,
Thanks, I am going with the $7.99 for 4. They are not a high quality as your suggestion, but the price is right. I'll have to see how long they last.
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css9450
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MAY 20, 09:37 AM
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I bypassed the hot bulb issue meany years ago by removing the bulb within a few days of buying my car. Haven't even thought about it since.
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