Brighter reversing lights

[vRS G60]

I reverse down a narrow unlit back street when I park up behind my house. I never bothered in my Fabia but with the Yeti being a bit wider I'd like a better view. Is there an option out there of brighter reversing light bulbs P21W I believe. That won't through up an error if used?

[Dark_Hero]

I've just fitted some Cree led reverse lights to my Fabia and I'd recommend them

[mannyo]

The purpose of the reverse light is so that others know you are reversing, I have never known them be effective to see where you are going as there is no light pattern and the light mearly scatters out the cluster in all directions. For my house, I have a security light that trips on as I approach which allows perfect vision whilst reversing up the side of the house.

[Llanigraham]

Just for information, but the legal limit for reversing lights is 21w.

[vRS G60]

21 Watt 50% brighter Philips Vision Plus

I've always found it strange that legislation quotes power usage and not the actual brightness of a bulb. 

I guess because the actual light output of a light is very difficult to accurately measure.

[Llanigraham]

Exactly! It is easy to look at a bulb and read it's wattage, but to measure the number of lumens is quite difficult and needs specialist equipment.

 

Those bulbs look quite good, plus won't give the problem of LED and the bulb failure system. I see an Amazon order approaching

[aerofurb]

These work very well apparently, no error codes (just an interesting quick 5 flashes of each bulb as the Yeti goes through test mode when the ignition is switched on)....

 

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/YETI/Yeti-MEGA-POWER-LED-reverse-bulb-system-KI-R

 

 

[Splooter]

21 Watt 50% brighter Philips Vision Plus

I've always found it strange that legislation quotes power usage and not the actual brightness of a bulb. 

I guess because the actual light output of a light is very difficult to accurately measure.

 

Worth a punt at £4 - just ordered some 

[vRS G60]

Worth a punt at £4 - just ordered some 

 

Me too. I've had varied result with LEDs so like you say at £4 these have got to be worth a go.

[Llanigraham]

No contest to me.

LED's nearly 40€,

Bulbs £4.

Bulbs have it!! 

 

That gives me 36€ to spend on wine later!!

[weasley]

The purpose of the reverse light is so that others know you are reversing, I have never known them be effective to see where you are going as there is no light pattern and the light mearly scatters out the cluster in all directions. For my house, I have a security light that trips on as I approach which allows perfect vision whilst reversing up the side of the house.

Disagree. My house is on a road with poor lighting and I always reverse into the drive from the road. There is a wall at the edge of my drive which the reversing lights illuminate beautifully so I can avoid it. Nobody is there watching so nobody is informed that I am reversing. Also, the Yeti reversing lights are a million times more effective at illuminating this entrance than my other car, an Audi A1, which is always 'interesting' to reverse onto the drive in the dark.

[Ryeman]

Exactly! It is easy to look at a bulb and read it's wattage, but to measure the number of lumens is quite difficult and needs specialist equipment.

 

Those bulbs look quite good, plus won't give the problem of LED and the bulb failure system. I see an Amazon order approaching

Could the same uprate be used for the DRLs to avoid canbus issues?

[silver1011]

Disagree.

Mannyo is right, reverse lights are to be seen, not to see.

 

Try turning on the rear fogs, the hazards help too...

[Llanigraham]

Could the same uprate be used for the DRLs to avoid canbus issues?

 

Don't know what bulbs are used on the FL, but certainly not on the "bugeye".

 

And sorry Weasley, but others are correct, the reversing lights are only supposed to be there so that others can see you are going backwards, not for you to see. That's why we used to fit illegal front fog lights to the back of our rally cars in years gone by.

[aerofurb]

I can accept that the primary intention may be to signal to others that the vehicle is reversing (otherwise why have them illuminated during the day time) but I think it's fair to say that in a fairly close secondary role, they are (also) designed to illuminate what's behind.

[weasley]

Mannyo is right, reverse lights are to be seen, not to see.

Try turning on the rear fogs, the hazards help too...

Perhaps you (and Llanigraham) missed the bit where I mentioned that the reversing lights actually do help me to see my way onto my drive? And that nobody sees me do it?

For that matter, hazards and rear foglights are exclusively to be seen, not to see.

Edited 23 March, 2014 by weasley

[silver1011]

But that appears to be more through luck than design.

 

Just because you don't think there is anyone there to benefit from the advance warning of your reverse lights doesn't rule out that someone or something could be hidden from view.

 

You mentioned rear visibility could be further improved. Any additional light output is bound to be beneficial regardless of colour. My own experience of reversing, especially in unfamiliar surroundings in rural areas led to me suggesting the use of rear fogs and hazards as they have worked for me in the past...

 

...just as long as you aren't confusing or misleading other road users or pedestrians.

[sads45]

According to "The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989"

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made

 

“Reversing lamp” A lamp used to illuminate the road to the rear of a vehicle for the purpose of reversing and to warn other road users that the vehicle is reversing or about to reverse.

[silver1011]

The 21W limit mentioned earlier was interesting.

 

I guess that this very much limits what the manufacturers are able to do to increase the light output.

[Llanigraham]

From one of my contacts at VOSA there does seem to be some discussion at the moment about the "limits", and not just on reverse lights. When everyone used filament bulbs it was easy, as the power of the filament could be easily fixed at a particular known wattage, so 21w for reverse lamps. The "problem" now is that manufacturers are pushing for more LED's to be used. If a 21w LED was used it would be extremely bright, but there is no limit to the number of lumens so a comparative wattage figure is difficult to calculate accurately.

 

There has been an attempt to fix a lumens limit for HID headlights but I understand that not only is it subjective at the moment, as there is not yet a fixed measuring system in the automotive world but an, agreement is still being sought worldwide. One comment I have heard is that HID's will probably be superseded by LED units anyway, as it will mean vehicle manufacturers will have greater design possibilities over how "headlights" are positioned within a design, not having to deal with a cumbersome lens as such, plus the greater use of LEDs reduces the power required of the generating system, which means that batteries and generators can get lighter, so reducing the carbon footprint. 

 

Interesting times ahead!

[postable]

I drove down a towpath at a harbour last night, for fun. However I had no choice but to reverse back up it. With a drop on either side down onto rocks, it felt perilous and took me ages as I just couldn't see behind me, or to the sides. I hadn't thought of turning on the rear fogs and hazards, though.

[StevesTruck]

On 24/03/2014 at 16:48, silver1011 said:

The 21W limit mentioned earlier was interesting.

 

I guess that this very much limits what the manufacturers are able to do to increase the light output.

 

I think it goes back to a time when it was cool to cover your mini/capri in rally lights. It wasn't unusual to bolt a reversing light on, especially as a lot of cars didn't have them as standard. I'd imagine the temptation to bolt a spot light with a 45W bulb in was pretty high, and not very helpful when you're blinding everyone else whilst reverse parking. 

[silver1011]

3 hours ago, postable said:

I drove down a towpath at a harbour last night, for fun. However I had no choice but to reverse back up it. With a drop on either side down onto rocks, it felt perilous and took me ages as I just couldn't see behind me, or to the sides. I hadn't thought of turning on the rear fogs and hazards, though.

 

It has certainly helped me in the past, in rural locations with zero rearview vission.

 

The fogs and hazards can help to illuminate trees, gate posts, fences, ditches etc. or in your case the edge of the harbour wall.

 

This thread dates back to 2014. There are now replacement LED bulbs, CANBUS-friendly (no failed bulb on-dash warnings) that are much, much brighter.

[Ootohere]

The 'Spot Light' on the rear of a Mini / Escort ect might well help reversing and might blind someone.

More importantly it was handy when someone was following you closely and their Spot Lights were on or Full beam and you could 'remind them'.

Or better still let them know you were off so tara.

[postable]

1 hour ago, silver1011 said:

 

It has certainly helped me in the past, in rural locations with zero rearview vission.

 

The fogs and hazards can help to illuminate trees, gate posts, fences, ditches etc. or in your case the edge of the harbour wall.

 

This thread dates back to 2014. There are now replacement LED bulbs, CANBUS-friendly (no failed bulb on-dash warnings) that are much, much brighter.

Any idea what, specifically, I should search for online to buy these, please?