replacement G4U bulb problem

[Parksy]

I feel a bit silly asking this but I'm trying to replace two G4U 12v radiant type light bulbs from the caravan overhead lighting with two flat disk type G4U led's but I'm obviously missing something. :huh:
I easily slid the old bulbs with the two thin 'spikes' out of the fitting but the replacement led spikes just won't go into the little holes to connect.
There doesn't appear to be anything to press, twist or unscrew and as far as I can remember the last set that I replaced on a different fitting just slid back into the two little holes.
These spikes just won't go in and I'm a bit stumped.

 

[Sproket]

When you put one bulb over the other do the pins look the same length & spacing ?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Steve,

I have noticed that some of these 'replacement' bi-pin bulbs come with different diameters of wire or the spacing is not quite right. .I suspect the G4U specification hasn't always been followed correctly usually by some of the far eastern manufacturers.

I suggest that if you still have the original bulbs, to compare the pin spacing and pin diameters. If the diameters are ok, then with car you may be able to adjust the spacing by carefully reforming the wires with a pair of pliers. be careful to bend the wire and don't stress the solder joint at the pcb.

If the pin diameters are too big, there's not much you can do, I would suggest returning the new leds to the shop for a refund or exchange.

On one pair of bulbs I had the pin wires were too smaller diameter, I had to solder larger ones to the bulb.

 

[Parksy]

Thanks for the replies gents.
The pin spacing appears to be the same and there's no noticeable difference in pin diameters.
Something isn't quite right because the original that I took out won't go back in either.
Low cloud here has caused poor ambient light in the caravan so I'll have another look in the morning. 🙂

 

[Damian]

Quote " Low cloud here has caused poor ambient light in the caravan "
Oh my God, Steve, are you on the top of a mountain or is it just failing eyesight?????????? 😛

The business of getting small things into small holes is an age thing I am afraid !! 😱hmy:

 

[Parksy]

I have to confess that you're spot on Damian 🙂
My excuse is that I've been using my old glasses because the kosher pair are in the car and the site has wet grass clippings that stick to the crocs and get into the caravan.
It has nothing to do with the fact that I keep forgetting to get them from the glove compartment every time I use the car, honestly :silly:

 

[Woodentop]

I have to confess that you're spot on Damian 🙂
My excuse is that I've been using my old glasses because the kosher pair are in the car and the site has wet grass clippings that stick to the crocs and get into the caravan.
It has nothing to do with the fact that I keep forgetting to get them from the glove compartment every time I use the car, honestly :silly:

Simple answer: if you don't have a difficult prescription then get a pair of ready mades - Matalan do Foster-Grants for a fiver or so; if your prescription is a little more complex then order some on line. I've used www.glasses4eyes.co.uk in the past (although their prices have gone up a bit) and more recently www.directsight.co.uk. Both at the time cost me around £35-£40 including anti-reflective coating and postage and they arrived inside about five working days (G4E were only three calendar days!)

 

[Parksy]

I have to confess that you're spot on Damian 🙂
My excuse is that I've been using my old glasses because the kosher pair are in the car and the site has wet grass clippings that stick to the crocs and get into the caravan.
It has nothing to do with the fact that I keep forgetting to get them from the glove compartment every time I use the car, honestly :silly:

Simple answer: if you don't have a difficult prescription then get a pair of ready mades - Matalan do Foster-Grants for a fiver or so; if your prescription is a little more complex then order some on line. I've used www.glasses4eyes.co.uk in the past (although their prices have gone up a bit) and more recently www.directsight.co.uk. Both at the time cost me around £35-£40 including anti-reflective coating and postage and they arrived inside about five working days (G4E were only three calendar days!)

Thanks Woodentop.
An even simpler answer would have been to step out of the caravan and walk the few paces to the car but it had been raining all day long and I was fed up of getting soaked. 😉
My internet connection here is very hit and miss otherwise I'd have let everyone know that I've fitted the LED's now. The light fittings for the prongs were a bit distorted and had no chamfered edges which made inserting the LED prongs difficult but some brute force and ignorance finally won and because we're off ehu at a music festival now we are very pleased with the LED's

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Oh Parksy! Are you sure this shouldn't have been moved to the newby section?