Help on trimming 7440 stealth bulbs
06-29-2004, 12:24 AM
#1
Sho'Nuff
Thread Starter
Help on trimming 7440 stealth bulbs
So I ordered four stealth bulbs from autolumination and like many, they're not a perfect fit. Can someone explain to me how to trim the plastic so that they fit properly? Pics would be greatly appreciated.
06-29-2004, 01:05 AM
#3
email himm. and see if he would send you new ones. You really shouldnt be shaving them. the bulbs arent like the best quality, but their freaking cheap.
mine fit fine, with a little force of course.
mine fit fine, with a little force of course.
06-29-2004, 02:42 AM
#4
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My 7440s were loose. I had to bend the contacts out to make them not slip loose when they got jostled. It was a real pain in the *** for a few weeks until I decided to do that. Then it was all better. I just stuck a small flat head screw driver under the contact on the bulb and bent it around it so it came away from the housing a little. If that makes any sense...
As far as them being too big... I didn't have that problem.
As far as them being too big... I didn't have that problem.
08-10-2004, 03:15 PM
#5
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I had to trim bulbs I bought off ebay. They look great now, but I had to take them down with a grinder/etching tool. All I did was take the OEM bulb and look at it closely next to the aftermarket bulb, then shaved off what I needed to until it looked almost identical to the thickness of the OEM. They fit good after that. Have fun installing the front turning bulbs if that is what your replacing, I had to be PlasticMan for a 1/2 hour to get those in and out!
08-10-2004, 09:18 PM
#11
Recovered Modaholic
I took a single edged razor blade and sliced off the notch that was preventing them from going into the socket. If you compare to OEM it is easy to see what is different. Afterwards they went right in with little effort and are quite secure.
08-11-2004, 10:07 AM
#13
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Originally Posted by downshift
That sounds like a lot of work but you get what you paid for, I guess. Are these 7440 stealth bulbs bright enough and have good solid colors (amber specifically) to be worth the effort?
As far as shaving the lamp goes, it has these little ears at the bottom that you can see from the sides that need to come off. Real simple, you could use a razor knife or a bit of sand paper to do this with.
As far as the load resistors go, there is absolutely no cutting of the wire what so ever, these have a clamp style connector that just bites into the existing wire puncturing a small hole. If ever you want to go back to stock, all you have to do is unclip this connector and there is just a small hole to tape over which you probably don't really even need to do this to.
These may be inexpensive lamps but, IMO, are worth it. I have never had any failure with any of the lamps I have bought from autoilumination. I have a number of them installed on my RX-8. They offer fast delivery and decent quality. Those who charge $40 for a pair of 7740 LEDs are definitely gouging the consumer.
08-11-2004, 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Tamas
Amen to that. Especially considering that those are not even LED lamps but incandescents.
I would have to disagree with that based on the safety issues associated with some of those LEDs bulbs, especially as a turn signal.
The reason? They have almost no visibility from an angle compared to incandescent bulbs. So when someone doesn't see your signal and decides to move into your lane or make a turn in front of you....ack.
08-11-2004, 07:01 PM
#16
Originally Posted by ChuckRX8
I would have to disagree with that based on the safety issues associated with some of those LEDs bulbs, especially as a turn signal.
The reason? They have almost no visibility from an angle compared to incandescent bulbs. So when someone doesn't see your signal and decides to move into your lane or make a turn in front of you....ack.
The reason? They have almost no visibility from an angle compared to incandescent bulbs. So when someone doesn't see your signal and decides to move into your lane or make a turn in front of you....ack.
Last edited by Tamas; 08-11-2004 at 07:04 PM.
08-11-2004, 07:41 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by ChuckRX8
I would have to disagree with that based on the safety issues associated with some of those LEDs bulbs, especially as a turn signal.
The reason? They have almost no visibility from an angle compared to incandescent bulbs. So when someone doesn't see your signal and decides to move into your lane or make a turn in front of you....ack.
The reason? They have almost no visibility from an angle compared to incandescent bulbs. So when someone doesn't see your signal and decides to move into your lane or make a turn in front of you....ack.
08-12-2004, 07:16 PM
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To be able to use the mirrored surface that is created for signal bulbs, you have to get enough light on them.
The "Matrix bulb" :
With only 6 out of 24 LEDs facing in the correct direction to even use the mirrored surface, safetywise I'll take my chances with an incandescent bulb that emits light in every direction with the same intensity.
The "Matrix bulb" :
With only 6 out of 24 LEDs facing in the correct direction to even use the mirrored surface, safetywise I'll take my chances with an incandescent bulb that emits light in every direction with the same intensity.
08-12-2004, 07:43 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by ChuckRX8
To be able to use the mirrored surface that is created for signal bulbs, you have to get enough light on them.
The "Matrix bulb" :
With only 6 out of 24 LEDs facing in the correct direction to even use the mirrored surface, safetywise I'll take my chances with an incandescent bulb that emits light in every direction with the same intensity.
The "Matrix bulb" :
With only 6 out of 24 LEDs facing in the correct direction to even use the mirrored surface, safetywise I'll take my chances with an incandescent bulb that emits light in every direction with the same intensity.
08-13-2004, 01:47 PM
#21
Moderator with a mycocardium
Daytime or night time shot? From the side, right? What angle? DOT regulations say that the side view must be able to be seen at by at least 45 degrees off center or something to that effect.
I will have to get the shots. I, however, do not have the amber lamps in yet as they are on order and being shipped today. I have one that I can install for the pic though it will have to go in the reverse to show since the reverse is not blinking and without the load capacitors or resistors, they blink like crazy as if there is a burnt out lamp in the system. I could try taking a picture of it and hope that one of the many in a series would catch it as it's blinking.
If you really want to see a light defficient lamp, check out any of the silvered lamps such as the stealth or silver vision lamps. I have these and they are really only effective at night or from straight on back.
I will have to get the shots. I, however, do not have the amber lamps in yet as they are on order and being shipped today. I have one that I can install for the pic though it will have to go in the reverse to show since the reverse is not blinking and without the load capacitors or resistors, they blink like crazy as if there is a burnt out lamp in the system. I could try taking a picture of it and hope that one of the many in a series would catch it as it's blinking.
If you really want to see a light defficient lamp, check out any of the silvered lamps such as the stealth or silver vision lamps. I have these and they are really only effective at night or from straight on back.
08-13-2004, 01:52 PM
#22
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one last shot before I take some this weekend of the white reverse lamp vs. the silver vision reverse lamp. The difference is very clear. Here is the photo of the matrix LED tail lights and the reverse lamp on the left, the silver vision lamp on the right. https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=24494
Go to the acutal thread to see some close ups of them in action.
Go to the acutal thread to see some close ups of them in action.
08-16-2004, 02:12 AM
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That is certainly a noticeable difference. Do you have any that are regular orange flashing?
Are those the cheapy silver bulbs from autoillumination.com? I didn't think Philips makes a Silvervision bulb in the 7440 size. Are they the stealthauto bulbs?
I think I am going to get some but I certainly don't want those....
Are those the cheapy silver bulbs from autoillumination.com? I didn't think Philips makes a Silvervision bulb in the 7440 size. Are they the stealthauto bulbs?
I think I am going to get some but I certainly don't want those....
08-16-2004, 07:10 AM
#24
Moderator with a mycocardium
The lamps that autoilumination sells are the Phillips Silvervision bulbs taht are purchased in bulk by them. That silvervision lamp is the one from there. I haven't had the chance to take any pics of the car with the amber lamps as of yet since I have been very busy making strakes and designing oil cooler screens and front strakes. I will be getting the lamps from them that I ordered today, most likely so I should be able to get a photo of yellow blinkers soon.