Brighter reverse lights?
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 82
Likes: 4
From: Boynton Beach FL
Brighter reverse lights?
Has anyone upgraded the stock reverse light bulbs to a higher wattage / brighter bulb? My hatch glass is tinted at 10% and although I love the look and the heat rejection, man it's hard to see at night with just the wimpy stock reverse lights! What is the max wattage bulb the reverse light wiring harness can safely handle?
Has anyone gone to a multiple-LED bulb as a replacement for the stock reverse light bulbs?
Thanks!
Has anyone gone to a multiple-LED bulb as a replacement for the stock reverse light bulbs?
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 3
From: Honolulu HI
Originally Posted by Vader_1
Has anyone upgraded the stock reverse light bulbs to a higher wattage / brighter bulb? My hatch glass is tinted at 10% and although I love the look and the heat rejection, man it's hard to see at night with just the wimpy stock reverse lights! What is the max wattage bulb the reverse light wiring harness can safely handle?
Has anyone gone to a multiple-LED bulb as a replacement for the stock reverse light bulbs?
Thanks!
Has anyone gone to a multiple-LED bulb as a replacement for the stock reverse light bulbs?
Thanks!
LED's are not brighter (lighting up an area)....
i compared diving flashlights (UK Q40's and UK C4 & C8)... LED's have a nicer dispersement of light (close area) incandescent bulbs shine farther....
i looked around for higher wattage 3157 type bulbs (reverse lights)... could not find any....
drop a post if you ever find any....
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 5
From: Nevada
I had a Ford 4x4 that I wanted to beef up the backup lights on, so I installed a real clean pair of 55W driving lights (it looked like it could have been OEM) in the rear and wired them so that they would work in tandem with the backup lights in the normal switch position.
I thought I would be able to see really well backing up, but the improvement was only marginal, no matter how I adjusted them. They did help a little better for hooking up a trailer at night.
I know it doesn't answer your question directly, but I was disappointed in the results I got from my effort - I was looking for some real light to see where I was going. From my limited experience, I would guess that it is probably harder than you might think to get real light back there, if that is what you are looking for, just by changing bulbs.
I thought I would be able to see really well backing up, but the improvement was only marginal, no matter how I adjusted them. They did help a little better for hooking up a trailer at night.
I know it doesn't answer your question directly, but I was disappointed in the results I got from my effort - I was looking for some real light to see where I was going. From my limited experience, I would guess that it is probably harder than you might think to get real light back there, if that is what you are looking for, just by changing bulbs.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,982
Likes: 2,691
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by Zymurgy
Good questions. I have 10% tint also and find it hard to see when backing up at night.
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: Poway CA
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
Well, I have NO tint and find it hard to see when backing up at night!
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert AZ
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
Well, I have NO tint and find it hard to see when backing up at night!
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
Well, I have NO tint and find it hard to see when backing up at night!
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
Well, I have NO tint and find it hard to see when backing up at night!
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Wish someone would sell a backup camera that displays on the Nav screen like my neighbor's 5 year old Infinity.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,877
Likes: 4,327
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Originally Posted by Curtis A. Franz
I have, indeed, seen such a camera. Sold more for not backing up over a child. Perhaps in an airplane catalog since I have been flying so much.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 46
Likes: 5
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/reverse-back-up/3156-3157-led/v3-kit-w-3157.html
Found these guys, claimed 600 lumen output and they're a bit pricey. Don't know if anyone has tried anything like this, it's like a mini hid kit but with LED's.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 628
Likes: 54
From: Adams Center, NY
How do you even change the bulbs out ? I bought some LED's but not sure how to get the housing out to get at the bulbs to switch them out... 
I put an Alpine touch screen with back up camera and it's decent visually, but I still use the side mirrors. I thought of putting tinted covers over the reverse lights and figured the LED's would be a good addition.
I put an Alpine touch screen with back up camera and it's decent visually, but I still use the side mirrors. I thought of putting tinted covers over the reverse lights and figured the LED's would be a good addition.
Last edited by tri08sbc; Apr 2, 2016 at 08:09 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton Florida
Has anyone upgraded the stock reverse light bulbs to a higher wattage / brighter bulb? My hatch glass is tinted at 10% and although I love the look and the heat rejection, man it's hard to see at night with just the wimpy stock reverse lights! What is the max wattage bulb the reverse light wiring harness can safely handle?
Has anyone gone to a multiple-LED bulb as a replacement for the stock reverse light bulbs?
Thanks!
Has anyone gone to a multiple-LED bulb as a replacement for the stock reverse light bulbs?
Thanks!