BULB USAGE

Our intention is to use easy to find components in all of our products and, in that way, simplifying maintenance in the field. The bulbs used are standard automotive bulbs; no odd-ball, hard-to-find items. Any gas station, auto supply or large retail outlet (K-Mart, Wal-Mart, PEP Boys...etc) will stock these light bulbs.

Most RUN-N-LITES turn signal conversion kits utilize #1157 bulbs. This is the standard, dual element, American automobile tail light bulb. This bulb contains both a low intensity element and a high intensity element. The low intensity element is the running or marker light, which is ON all the time. The high intensity element is the flashing, turn signal element, which is ON intermittently. The stock BMW single element turn signal bulb and socket are replaced with the #1157 bulb which handles both running (marker) and turn signal functions.

The exception to this is the TYPE-3 & TYPE-14 RUN-N-LITES Kit (K-100/1100 RS & K-1200 RS respectively). These kits use a #168 single element, low intensity light bulb. This bulb is used in side marker light applications on GM & Ford automobiles. In our application the bulb is mounted inside the front turn signal housing adjacent to the stock, single element, turn signal bulb. The #168 bulb handles the running (marker) light duties only, while the original turn signal bulb continues to handle the turn signal duties.

Another product, K-TAIL-2 Tail Light Enhancement, uses a pair of #921 single element, high intensity light bulbs. These bulbs are standard brake light bulbs in "third eye" brake lights on GM and Ford automobiles. In the K-TAIL-2 installations they are additional brake light bulbs on K-Bikes (except K-1200 RS).

BULB SPECIFICATIONS

The table that follows is arranged by bulb trade number. Manufacturer's specifications for; power consumption, light output and life expectancy are listed. Note that the dual element bulbs have two rows of data, one for the High Intensity element and another for the Low Intensity element.

Under the heading of "POWER CONSUMPTION " there are three columns of data; Voltage, Amps, and Watts. Do not confuse this wattage with light output, this wattage is power consumption and is not an indication of bulb brightness.

Under the heading of "LIGHT OUTPUT" there are two columns of data; Candela and Lumens. Candela is also known as, "mean spherical candlepower". Candela and Lumen are directly related to each other, multiply Candela by 12.57 (4pi) to get Lumen. Both denote bulb brightness and can be used to make comparisons between various bulb options.

Under the heading "LIFE" is the laboratory life expectancy, in hours, for the bulb element at 100% duty cycle. Notice that bright bulbs have short life expectancies, #2357 vs #1157. Also note that P25-2, high element, has the shortest life expectancy while being only slightly brighter then #1157.

DUAL ELEMENT TAIL & BRAKE LIGHT BULBS
Used in RUN-N-LITES (except TYPE-3 & -14), R-TAIL and K-TAIL-2
Bulb # 1157 is standard bulb supplied with kits.
Others are compatible bulbs, shown for comparison.

SINGLE ELEMENT BRAKE LIGHT BULB
Used in K-TAIL-2 ENHANCEMENT

SINGLE ELEMENT MARKER BULB
Used in TYPE-3 & -14 RUN-N-LITES