bobn

Quite by accident the other day, I came across a solution to my light problem. I have vintage lights on my '72 Raleigh and have been trying to figure out how to upgrade them to halogen or led etc.
The problem is they have screw base bulb holders. I tried Radio Shack for better bulbs or a bulb holder for flanged bulbs. No success. Remember, if you try to convert care must be given because if you screw up the reflector you may as well toss the light and the internal clearances inside the lamp are tight.
I came across this bulb which screws right in and is a led bulb 2v to 9v capacity. It is the Terralux tle-1s. The "s" stands for screw base. They also make a tle-1f which stands for flange base.
I quickly ordered one, about $20 with shipping. Tried it out last night. The difference was unbelieveable. Night and day.
This bulb is discontinued but they are out there. Just Google the model number.
I hope this helps you guys using vintage lamps who have lighting problems and don't know what to do. This bad boy just screws right in to your vintage lamp.
I am indeed a happy camper!
Bob
PS I just thought I would share this info

daisy101

I just bought two 1978 Raleigh DL-1s. I am at the absolute beginning of my bike learning curve, but I do know that I would like lights on my bike; vintage, if I can manage finding a system that works.

Would you post some photos of your lights and perhaps some more details about them. Maybe they'll turn out to be what I am looking for and I will at least know what they are called so I can target my search!

Thank you!

tatfiend 

bobn;

I take it that you are using a battery light? If using a dynamo powered light you would need to add a bridge rectifier and probably a capacitor inside the headlight shell to convert the AC from the dynamo to DC.

folderfan550

I've used the TLE-1S in a couple of vintage lamps for my Raleighs and have found them to work well for my needs.

Are there "plain English" instructions somewhere on adding a bridge rectifier, etc. for use with a dynamo hub?

bobn

daisy101-Sorry but I don't have a camera and I wouldn't know how to post pictures anyway.
Yes, my light works off batteries.

tatfiend 

If you have some experience with electronics here are a bunch of circuits that can do the job, from dead simple to relatively complex. The 4 diodes in circuits 1 and 2 are the bridge rectifier but it can also be bought at an electronics store as a single module.


https://www.pilom.com/BicycleElectron...moCircuits.htm

bobn

For anyone interested.
One of these bulbs is on E bay right now.
Item--310271460731

DannoXYZ 

Also retail source for the TLE-1S: https://www.opticsplanet.net/terralux...50-lumens.html

bobn

I'm not trying to bump this thread, or resurrect it from the dead (page 2) but I have another alternative screw base bulb.
I already mentioned the Terralux tle-1s as being an upgrade led screw base bulb for vintage headlights.
There is also a bulb made by Tektite that has a screw base. The model LS407 is a 6v screw base bulb that can be used on vintage lights. There are other models that will handle 2,3 and 4 c-d cell lamps.
There is a difference between the 2 in their design.
Has anyone made a comparison between the two bulbs?