7443 type Clear bulbs

[jsdragonsoul333]

I searched forums, couldn't find any info to my particular question. Which is..... I am looking for a 7443 automotive miniature bulb that is 8/27 watt. OEM is 5/21, GE and Eiko offer a 5/25. Some aftermarket companies like PIAA and HALO offer "coated" bulbs with wattages of 8/27-28. I want the later wattage but just a clear bulb. I have been searching the internet for days with no luck. Anybody have any ideas. I have a "The brighter the Better" fetish when it comes to brake/tail lights and turn signals. My last vehicle had 3157 bulbs which I was able to change to 3457. The 3457 type were much brighter in the tails with brake applied. Looking for a similar outcome with the 7443 type bulbs. :twothumbs I heard somewhere that Honda spec 7443 bulbs are of higher wattage. Any truth to that? Also I know 7444NA is 8/28 watts but those are REALLY hard to find and I think they only come in natural amber.

 

[jsdragonsoul333]

I am confused lol. I know all the bulbs I listed are the same type of bulb. I'm trying to find a brand that carries a 7443 bulb that is 27/8watt. GE and Philips are 25/5watt. Is a Honda 7443 bulb 27/8watt? Or Stanley or Narva? I will be searching these brands now. I want the few higher watts for a little better lumen output, that's the bottom line I'm trying to reach.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

Darn, was just about to say the same thing (about the wattage "difference").

And, yes, also avoid the Sylvania stuff, and definitely forget about that blue-tinted or "chrome-plated" looking madness out there.

 

[kingofwylietx]

I agree with avoiding the Sylvania's. I just replaced all my vehicles exterior light bulbs with new Sylvania long life bulbs. The new bulbs are actually DIMMER than my 4 year old factory bulbs!!!! Amazing!

The reason I replaced them all is that a headlight went out, so I decided to change them all (they've all been used about the same amount). Ha, what a surprise to find my old ones were brighter.....and yes, I replaced them with the same style/part number.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

I agree with avoiding the Sylvania's. I just replaced all my vehicles exterior light bulbs with new Sylvania long life bulbs. The new bulbs are actually DIMMER than my 4 year old factory bulbs!!!! Amazing!

The reason I replaced them all is that a headlight went out, so I decided to change them all (they've all been used about the same amount). Ha, what a surprise to find my old ones were brighter.....and yes, I replaced them with the same style/part number.

They *are* 'long life' bulbs; it's to be expected. For less-easily accessible bulbs, they might be preferable if you just can't be bothered to do the work all the time.

Strange, though, that a brand new one would be dimmer than one ostensibly darkened by having been used such a long time... For halogen bulbs, that could be a sign that the filaments just aren't heating up enough.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Well, I definitely don't doubt your bulb prowess. I've read threads and I can tell your very knowledgeable. You lost me though, I am confused lol. I know all the bulbs I listed are the same type of bulb. I'm trying to find a brand that carries a 7443 bulb that is 27/8watt. GE and Philips are 25/5watt. Is a Honda 7443 bulb 27/8watt? Or Stanley or Narva? I will be searching these brands now. I want the few higher watts for a little better lumen output, that's the bottom line I'm trying to reach.

The 27/8 watt bulb is the same as the 25/5 watt bulb, just run at a higher voltage because a different regulatory body requires the bulb to be tested at said higher voltage. Likewise, that same 27/8 watt bulb would be a 25/5 watt bulb when tested at the lower voltage. So, if you have a 25/5 watt bulb, you already have the higher wattage bulb too.........and beyond, because your car's running system voltage will be even higher.

 

[jsdragonsoul333]

The 27/8 watt bulb is the same as the 25/5 watt bulb, just run at a higher voltage because a different regulatory body requires the bulb to be tested at said higher voltage. Likewise, that same 27/8 watt bulb would be a 25/5 watt bulb when tested at the lower voltage. So, if you have a 25/5 watt bulb, you already have the higher wattage bulb too.........and beyond, because your car's running system voltage will be even higher.

That makes more sense to a somewhat bulb noob... :rolleyes: So basically a Philips or quality 25/5watt 7443 will offer a small increase in lumens over a 21/5w.... I believe I read somewhere that Philips 7443 25/5w offers 440lumens with brake applied. While the rest where closer to 400. Not much of a difference I know.

 

[jsdragonsoul333]

I am a led fan. I am also thinking about these. My friend has them in his Evolution and they are bright. Surprisingly, the difference between high and low on these is very prevalent. Usually most of these types of LED bulbs it's sometimes hard to tell between the high and low elements.

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Brake-Light-LED/Red-LED/2-RED-7443-V-LEDS-7W-p6634406-1-2.html

 

[Alaric Darconville]

I am also thinking about these. hxxp://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Brake-Light-LED/Red-LED/2-RED-7443-V-LEDS-7W-p6634406-1-2.html

No, don't use those. They do not, and cannot ever, result in a regulatorily compliant light when used in a fixture designed for a filament bulb.

It may be your subjective opinion that the major and minor brightness levels are distinctly different enough, or that the emitted light is sufficient, or that it "lights up the lens" properly, or otherwise "meets or exceeds" the performance standards, but they do not. Taillights have to conform to very specific photometric testing. Your eyes cannot perform that testing.

 

[-Virgil-]

That makes more sense to a somewhat bulb noob... :rolleyes: So basically a Philips or quality 25/5watt 7443 will offer a small increase in lumens over a 21/5w

No. There is no 25/5w bulb. According to the latest versions of ECE R37 and SAE J573, There is a bulb designated W21/5W (in R37) rated 21/5w at 12.0v and a bulb designated 7443 (in J573, with a note that its ECE designation is W21/5W) rated 25/6w at 13.5v, and they are the same bulb -- the same filament with the same illumination characteristics -- regardless of which rating(s) the particular bulb you're looking at happens to have. Buy a good brand (Philips or Stanley).

In ECE Regulation 37, the objective luminous flux from the major filament of a W21/5W bulb is 440 lumens (±15%) at 13.5v. In SAE J573, the rated flux from the major filament of a 7443 bulb is 440 lumens (±15%) at 13.5v. They are the same bulb.

In the release notes for the latest version of J573, it is stated that the earlier listings of 7440 and 7443 as 12.8v-27/8w were erroneous.

 

[jsdragonsoul333]

Ok, I understand. So basically complete Design and output wise. A 7443 is a 7443 is a 7443. Just go for quality brands. Thanks for the responses.