Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-18-2019, 03:05 PM   #1
Del in NE Ohio
Senior Member
 
Del in NE Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Columbiana,OH
Posts: 461
Default Drum Tail light brightness

I am helping a friend with his ‘28 Tudor for touring . He’d really like to keep the single drum style lamp. What can we do to make it brighter?
Del in NE Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 03:26 PM   #2
Jw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 110
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

make sure the ground is good, run a wire from the "grounded" portion of the bulb directly to the grounded portion of the battery terminal, or are there "lower voltage" bulbs?
Jw is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 04-18-2019, 04:02 PM   #3
Jim/GA
Senior Member
 
Jim/GA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Young Harris, GA
Posts: 1,800
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

Yes, make sure you have a good ground.

You can buy an LED light insert that works with the drum style tail light. They are really bright!
__________________
Jim Cannon
Former MAFCA Technical Director
"Have a Model A day!"
Jim/GA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 04:06 PM   #4
Brian SATX
Senior Member
 
Brian SATX's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 819
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

Also, Snyder's sells bulb that are about twice as bright as the standard bulps for 6V
__________________
Brian SATX
Brian SATX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 04:23 PM   #5
Del in NE Ohio
Senior Member
 
Del in NE Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Columbiana,OH
Posts: 461
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

Jim, who sells the Drum tail lamp compatible LED plate?

Last edited by Del in NE Ohio; 04-18-2019 at 04:24 PM. Reason: Spelling
Del in NE Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 05:26 PM   #6
Jim/GA
Senior Member
 
Jim/GA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Young Harris, GA
Posts: 1,800
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Del in NE Ohio View Post
Jim, who sells the Drum tail lamp compatible LED plate?
Bratton's:

https://www.brattons.com/6-vt-driver...ail-light.html

To get the green card with the LEDs to sit up close to the lens and shine out the best, wad up a small piece of bubble wrap (the type with the really small bubbles -- about 1/4" bubbles) and stuff it behind the green card before putting drum back on.

Pretty easy to install.

Be sure to order either 6 V pos. gnd. (above link) or 12 V neg. grd., whatever your car is.
__________________
Jim Cannon
Former MAFCA Technical Director
"Have a Model A day!"
Jim/GA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 06:07 PM   #7
jlambert
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

I have installed led's from Bratton's in my drum tail light and my tea cup tail light. The tea cup tail light was very simple to install. The drum tail light led is a little tougher to install. I had to glue the green card to the dividing plate to get it to stay in place. I then put some foam rubber behind it. Both are very bright and safer. You will not be disappointed in the results.


Good luck


28 phaeton
30 coupe
jlambert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 07:12 PM   #8
mhsprecher
Senior Member
 
mhsprecher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,809
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

LEDs are good. You can also paint the inside of the tail light housing white. That helps a lot, too.
mhsprecher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2019, 07:28 AM   #9
BILL WILLIAMSON
Senior Member
 
BILL WILLIAMSON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRESNO, CA
Posts: 12,560
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

Use APPLIANCE WHITE.
Bill W.
__________________
"THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"
BILL WILLIAMSON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2019, 01:47 AM   #10
M2M
Senior Member
 
M2M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Australia/USA/EU/Soviet Russia
Posts: 1,105
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim/TX/GA View Post

There's one thing I don't get, how are these LED inserts MORE expensive than complete LED stainless steel tail light assembles, see:

https://www.brattons.com/6vt-red-amb...mbly-left.html
__________________

M2M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2019, 06:53 AM   #11
chap52
Senior Member
 
chap52's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Marana Arizona
Posts: 1,768
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

I know that the purest will cringe, but. People are not accustomed to looking down to see tail lights anymore, just cell phones. I installed an led third brake light from Berts in the rear window of my Tudor. Has a low profile and when it comes on, it's an attention getter. I just hooked it up as a brake light even though it will also work as a turn indicator. Chap
chap52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2019, 08:49 AM   #12
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

A link to what I use, explore the site, a lot of good info. If you email/call them you will get what you need. I believe both are BA15d. Can not find my paperwork, would give you the part #s if I could find the paperwork/receipts. Just plug and play.


I f I remember correctly they have been discussed on her before, Do a search on Dynamo regulator for more info.


Here is the link


http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2019, 11:01 AM   #13
MNFATS
Senior Member
 
MNFATS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: St. Cloud MN
Posts: 835
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

I have had good results using aluminum foil formed inside the reflector as a quick fix on all my old cars.
MNFATS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2019, 09:04 PM   #14
Pete
Senior Member
 
Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wa.
Posts: 5,360
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

It has been a long time but I think we used a 32 by 50 headlight bulb in the tail lights.
As I recall, it just plugged in.
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2019, 09:17 PM   #15
jimalabam
Senior Member
 
jimalabam's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lee County Alabama
Posts: 828
Default Re: Drum Tail light brightness

Hey CHAP 32 - Nothing wrong with being a Purist AND adapting a SAFETY ITEM...
jimalabam is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:22 AM.