78 Eldo taillight bulbs

[Jakes]

I bought a pair of GE 1157 "nighthawk" taillight bulbs that tout a 20% brighter illumination (presumably higher candlepower).  The bulbs that are in now seem fine, but not having that 3rd brake light, I figure you want all the illumination you can get from the fender taillights.  But am I asking for trouble?  Will these bulbs cause the circuit to exceed the fuse rating?  Will they produce more heat that would damage the socket or the lens?  Advice appreciated... thanks.

Paul Jacobs
Huntington NY

[bcroe]

You could look up or measure the relative current drain.  If they are Halogen,
the drain could be unchanged.  I have had lots of trouble with bulbs melting
things in the instrument panel; not so much in running lights.  Another problem
has been the bottom buttons not making reliable contact, because the socket
spring looses tension.  Building up a rather high solder button on the bottom
of the bulb can solve that problem.  Bruce Roe