Light bulb identification for engine bay light

[Mikes Z car]

How do I identify a replacement lig ht bulb for the engine bay trouble light? The bulb in the one I have says Toshiba A12V8W on it meaning 8 watts but when I got a spare at the auto pa rts store the new one wasn't as bright. I compared current draw and the original 8W bulb is showing just over .5A while the new one is at .12A.

Both pictures are of the original light bulb:

The "posts" that stick out the sides are in line with each other. I have seen bulbs where the posts are offset but not on this bulb.

Edited December 18, 2013 by Mikes Z car
clarification

[EuroDat]

I changed mine and the new one is just as bright as the old one or so little difference I have not noticed it.

Im now using a R10W - BA15s 10 watts. Thats what is on the docket.

Chas

[SteveJ]

You could get an LED light like this. It's a little pricey, but it'll probably be the last time you buy a bulb. They put out pretty good light, and if you forget to turn it off, it will take a long time before it runs down your battery.

[Mikes Z car]

I will look at the R10W - BA15s, another number for them is 1156, thought that was a larger bulb. Will need to go back to the au to parts store and get unconfused.

LEDs are good, not sure which one might fit inside the lens for the trouble light.

Edited December 19, 2013 by Mikes Z car

[EuroDat]

I googled the number and found this site List of automotive light bulb types - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

I think the my docket is wrong, so I checked mine in the car. Its a BA9s 12V 8W which is the miniture bayonet.

Found this site for the LED's: BA9s LED Bulb - 4 LED | BA9s and BA7s LED Bulbs | LED Car Bulbs | Super Bright LEDs

The BA9S-W4-90-12V looks like it might come close to what you want and they only cost $3.

Chas

[Mikes Z car]

Chas,

Thanks for the info! That website lists an old designation for the BA9 as T4/8 which seems to suggest they used to make it in an 8 watt rating, now it looks like the BA9 is available only as a 4 watt. That LED version only draws .23 mA but is listed as a replacement for the 4 watt BA9 if I am reading that right. I wonder if the original bulb rated for 8 watts got a little too hot for the miniature bayonet socket with that much wattage in such a small package. No problem for LEDs though. Thanks for providing clarification. I found some light bulbs with a BA9 base (miniature bayonet) on eBay, #1895 Lamp, 3.78 watt. Should work okay.

Mike.

Edited December 19, 2013 by Mikes Z car

[SteveJ]

I'll take a look in the next day or so about which LED bulb I installed in my inspection light.

[EuroDat]

I wonder how mush light the LEDs produced. Its hard to compare them to a normal bulb because they are more directional. The 32* would give a powerful narrow beam forward where the 90* has a wide angle and the light would be more dispersed and less powerfull.

I made some lenses for the inspection light, but shipping makes it so expensive to send and its 3mm to high fall under a letter. Im now playing with a 3mm shorter version, but that might run into trouble with the larger bulbs.

I might order a couple LEDs (32 & 90) and see how they work.

Chas

[EuroDat]

Found these on ebay 5LED White Car bulb 1156 BA9S SMD FREE SHIPPING | eBay

They are multi LED, using 5 SMD's, so they should give a better light spread. Ill order a set and see how they turn out.

Chas

[Mikes Z car]

SteveJ of no more leaky brakes fame, let us know what LED light you have if you look at it.

One of the LED lights I saw on e Bay rated the light output in lumens which is fine except it makes it hard to compare to a 4 watt bulb adding to the directionality issue.

Eurodat, the title of that e Bay listing says 1156 but I think they must have that there as a snag for searches (or it is a typo) as I think the 1156 is the standard bayonet and the trouble light uses the miniature bayonet socket I gather. They do say it is compatible with BA9 in their description indicating the light will work in the trouble light if it will physically fit inside the lens. If you test one let us know how well it works.

Edited December 19, 2013 by Mikes Z car

[EuroDat]

I searched for LED BA9s and found a couple here in the UK with the same lamp and dimmensions. The BA9s has a 9mm body. The locating pin is straight and measures 11mm across. Total length is 29mm which is a little longer then the one Im using now. Its 26mm.

I ordered one set and Ill see how it goes. Should be here between christmas and new year.

Chas

Edited December 19, 2013 by EuroDat

[SteveJ]

SteveJ of no more leaky brakes fame, let us know what LED light you have if you look at it.

One of the LED lights I saw on e Bay rated the light output in lumens which is fine except it makes it hard to compare to a 4 watt bulb adding to the directionality issue.

Eurodat, the title of that e Bay listing says 1156 but I think they must have that there as a snag for searches (or it is a typo) as I think the 1156 is the standard bayonet and the trouble light uses the miniature bayonet socket I gather. They do say it is compatible with BA9 in their description indicating the light will work in the trouble light if it will physically fit inside the lens. If you test one let us know how well it works.

Okay, I looked at mine. It's a BA9 base. I have a 9 LED bulb. I believe it is this one: BA9s LED Bulb - 9 LED Tower | BA15 Bayonet Base Bulbs | Boat/RV/Other LED Replacement Bulbs | Boat, RV, and Other Lighting | Super Bright LEDs.

IMHO it does a good job of lighting up. Pictures never seem to do a light justice. The attached picture was taken with no other lights on in the garage.