Hello all. Just a quick comparison between the SuperSkoda Mega Power led boot lights and some no name AliExpress ones, for all those interested. 

34.99 €  + Shipping                   : http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-III/Octavia-III-MEGA-POWER-LED-cargo-trunk-light-KI-R

US $12.46:  + Free shipping     https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HOT-2x-LED-Car-Door-Courtesy-Laser-Logo-Projector-Light-Footwell-Luggage-Lamp-For-AUDI-VW/32791071534.html

 

First, both work, fit very easily, and require no coding. You can actually see in the boot! The SuperSkoda unit was harder to pull apart because the pcb is almost an interference fit with the metal backing plate. The AliExpress unit is trimmed to fit in more easily. AliExpress also include a pigtail for use with older model cars but this pigtail fits the SuperSkoda unit also. To Australia, AliExpress shipping was faster and free. 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, they aren't actually the same, just similar. Same number of SMD LED's although they are different shapes, however I am not familiar enough with them to know part numbers.

 

 

DISCLAIMER: I know very little about electronics, just high school stuff. Any experts please chime in.

Designed to suit LaNbo's the AliExpress unit has a few more SMD components including a choke/inductor, schottky diode and LED driver. A few extra capacitors are present too.

 

 

The SuperSkoda unit makes do with 2 transistors rather than the LED driver, and that's about it. MB6P bridge rectifier rather than MB6S on the Ali unit, not sure of the difference. There't a touch more solder on the slightly larger connectors and the LEDs themselves are neater and flatter. Interestingly, that V-030901 model number leads to several also cheap units on AliExpress. Wonder if they're the same....

 

 

The plastic casings are also slightly different with the SuperSkoda one being slightly hazier and with smaller holes.

 

 

On to testing. I had the lights on in the boot for a while, and on removal the AliExpress unit was significantly hotter than the SuperSkoda one. I don't have an IR thermometer to prove this, but it was noticeable in hand. I tested the lights several times in the boot with a free app on a galaxy s7 (scientific, right?  ) I repeated the test 3 times on each light by placing the complete unit up against the light sensor in the phone. These are the maximum numbers for each.

 

After this I cut up a box to use as a tester for each light, without the casing. This kept each light an equal distance from the phones light sensor (further away than the previous test so the values are lower)

 

 

The average numbers aren't accurate because I was screwing around with the phone each time resetting and re-calibrating the app, but it's pretty clear the the SuperSkoda light is brighter! Is this worth the significantly higher price? As I'm unsure which will last longer (the heat of the AliExpress unit would perhaps lead to earlier failure) I guess it's up to the buyer. It's still daytime here but I will see tonight if either is noticeably brighter.

 

It may be worth finding the V-030901 part on AliExpress and just purchasing that!

 

These can be purchased through AliBaBa:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Hot-sell-LED-interior-Light_60771278284.html?spm=a2700.9099375.35.11.1b5a57b17YhFdP