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Ted - Any particular reason why you decided to go with Warm White (~3,000k) versus the White (~5,000k)? I think most guys want to change to a whiter color light. However, in my case I just wanted higher lumens (light output), but wanted to stay with the original light's warm color.
Ted - Any particular reason why you decided to go with Warm White (~3,000k) versus the White (~5,000k)? I think most guys want to change to a whiter color light. However, in my case I just wanted higher lumens (light output), but wanted to stay with the original light's warm color.
The white is 6000K I believe, which makes it bluish. 5000K is neutral white typically. The one thing I hate about all these online vendors is they don't publish CRI specs which is an index of how close to daylight the light is.
Just got around to installing the Diode Dynamics SMD12 Board in Warm White (~3,000°K Color @ 70CRI per specifications on 5050-size Epistar SMD chips). What a huge difference in light output compared to the 194 bulb!
The only 'issue' I had was the Diode Dynamics (included) socket adapter (to fit the OEM 194 bulb socket) did not make very good (continuous) contact and the SMD12 LED Board operated On & Off intermittently with a slight movement of the harness wiring. It took a few attempts to slightly move/bend the adapter's two bare wire contacts where the LED light stayed On without unexpectedly going out.
Nice little inexpensive mod that may come in really handy if searching through the trunk is needed on a dark night...
Just got around to installing the Diode Dynamics SMD12 Board in Warm White (~3,000°K Color @ 70CRI per specifications on 5050-size Epistar SMD chips). What a huge difference in light output compared to the 194 bulb!
The only 'issue' I had was the Diode Dynamics (included) socket adapter (to fit the OEM 194 bulb socket) did not make very good (continuous) contact and the SMD12 LED Board operated On & Off intermittently with a slight movement of the harness wiring. It took a few attempts to slightly move/bend the adapter's two bare wire contacts where the LED light stayed On without unexpectedly going out.
Nice little inexpensive mod that may come in really handy if searching through the trunk is needed on a dark night...
Would soldering the bare wire contacts together help (or is there enough room to do that?
Also, has anyone tried the Diode Dynamics SMD12 Board option on a 2015 GS?
Would soldering the bare wire contacts together help (or is there enough room to do that?
Also, has anyone tried the Diode Dynamics SMD12 Board option on a 2015 GS?
That's really not needed, and I probably shouldn't have even mentioned anything about the bare wire contacts. It was just a simple matter of spreading the little wire contacts with a small screwdriver so they made a snug contact. All GS 350's use the 194 bulb in the trunk, which is nowhere near enough light for a trunk. The Diode Dynamics SMD 12 Board is definitely the the way to go, and a huge (and much needed) improvement in light output. The 'Warm White' color I chose (~3,000°K) is perfect, I think.
That's really not needed, and I probably shouldn't have even mentioned anything about the bare wire contacts. It was just a simple matter of spreading the little wire contacts with a small screwdriver so they made a snug contact. All GS 350's use the 194 bulb in the trunk, which is nowhere near enough light for a trunk. The Diode Dynamics SMD 12 Board is definitely the the way to go, and a huge (and much needed) improvement in light output. The 'Warm White' color I chose (~3,000°K) is perfect, I think.
Thanks for the info! I probably bugging you with my next question, but I'm still a little hesitant to do anything to my new baby.
When you installed the bulb, the SMD 12 Board fit perfectly inside the light cover? Did you have to do any other modifications to make it work or was it simply pull out the old bulb, plug in the SMD 12 board and put the cover over it?
Thanks for the info! I probably bugging you with my next question, but I'm still a little hesitant to do anything to my new baby.
When you installed the bulb, the SMD 12 Board fit perfectly inside the light cover? Did you have to do any other modifications to make it work or was it simply pull out the old bulb, plug in the SMD 12 board and put the cover over it?
Sorry, I should have already explained the process. You are correct - just snap off the lens and unplug the 194 bulb. Then attach the supplied adapter lead to the 194 bulb socket and the other end of the adapter to the LED. Give it a wiggle to make sure the 194 socket to adapter is making good contact. The back side (actually upper side) of the LED board has double-face tape that adheres to the top of the OEM light housing. It fits perfectly without any modifications to the light fixture or the LED board. Snap the lens back on and it's finished. Takes only a few minutes. Well worth the money and time.
6000°K color is too blue (cool) for me. I like the 3000°K Color (warm white) myself. And I like the LED board of the Diode Dynamic unit. Knowing what I've done I would not change.
Personally I don't care for bright puddle lights myself. They mainly direct their light onto the side of the door. It's not really efficient in my opinion...and anything brighter just makes it looks even more inefficient.
Sorry, I should have already explained the process. You are correct - just snap off the lens and unplug the 194 bulb. Then attach the supplied adapter lead to the 194 bulb socket and the other end of the adapter to the LED. Give it a wiggle to make sure the 194 socket to adapter is making good contact. The back side (actually upper side) of the LED board has double-face tape that adheres to the top of the OEM light housing. It fits perfectly without any modifications to the light fixture or the LED board. Snap the lens back on and it's finished. Takes only a few minutes. Well worth the money and time.
You are awesome! Thanks so much for that info. Definitely took the butterflies out of my stomach about doing this. I'm going to go ahead and pull the trigger on the SMD 12 board (fingers crossed for me to get it sometime next week). I'll do before and after pics too for anyone else looking to do this. Thanks again!!
You are awesome! Thanks so much for that info. Definitely took the butterflies out of my stomach about doing this. I'm going to go ahead and pull the trigger on the SMD 12 board (fingers crossed for me to get it sometime next week). I'll do before and after pics too for anyone else looking to do this. Thanks again!!
Let us know what you think of the difference in the lumen light output after you convert from that 194 bulb to the Diode Dynamic SMD 12 LED board.
With the help of bclexus, I was able to get my SMD-12 board working. I actually blew a fuse either taking out the 194 bulb or plugging in the SMD-12 board initially (for the newbs, don't worry, changing a fuse is easy enough for a 5 year old to do).
The difference was tremendous! Here are the before and after pictures (pardon the mess, I still tend to use my trunk like a somewhat organized college kid):
11-23-14, 02:38 PM
