Boogie_with_Stu wrote on 09/30/15 at 06:27:40:Dave, not to belabor the point...but a 27 watt 1156 bulb in a cheap Chinese plastichrome housing is no less effective than if it is in a cast metal housing.
I have no problem discussing this at length....I believe it is important that folks are safe, and are getting lights that help to keep them safe.
Buying an aftermarket light that is similar in design and uses an 1157 bulb (or 1156 for single element) is most likely going to be a good light and visible in the daytime. I think it is important that the bulb is oriented with the end facing the traffic - and that is has a good reflector to focus the light.
My first attempt at a smaller turn signal looked like the photo below. It was bought from Lockhart Phillips and it has an 18W bulb that is mounted sideways, and there is no reflector. It was very dim in daylight....you could see it blinking if you were looking at it.
So my next attempt was to spend $ 35 each and buy an LED turn signal that was reported to be bright. It was purchased from Lockhart Phillips....and was nowhere nearly bright enough for daylight use. Yes....you could see it flashing if you were looking at it - but it was not as visible as the stock turn signal if you were looking past the light or off to the side a bit (like drivers in cars will be doing). So I sent them back.
I finally resolved my turn signal issue by taking the lights in the first photo, and installing a pair of 1.5 Watt LED's in each turn signal housing.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-wired-bolts/plm-series-wired-one...This is the stock turn signal socket and light. (Notice the orientation of the bulb and the lack of a reflector....the light just isn't directed to where the light will be effective).
This is the stock housing with a stainless metal mounting plate I cut, along with 2 of the LED lights.
This is the light housing with the LED's mounted and wired.
I really believe it is important that bikers understand that their lives depend on the brightness and visibility of their brake lights and turn signals.