I realise the wattage is governed by rules.  But the actual light output isn't quoted in the regs to the best of my understanding.

 

So is there a simple one for one swap that allows an LED bulb to be fitted without upsetting CANBUS?

Is the reverse light covered by the Bulb Failure System? Might be worth checking.

You could try a 21 Watt halogen type.  Same current drain, same heat but roughly 40% more light.

47 minutes ago, Austin 7 said:

You could try a 21 Watt halogen type.  Same current drain, same heat but roughly 40% more light.

 

Does one of those have the same fitting ?

What wattage are the standard reverse bulbs?
A quick Google search shows they are 21w, so that won't work.

I would suggest taking one out, seeing if the Bulb Failure comes on, and if it doesn't fit some LED ones.

The reversing lights are part of the bulb failure alert system.

 

I've had LED reversing lights on all three Yetis (transferred them from one to the next). TIBET III very occasionally indicates a 'check left reversing light' but it is always working. The bulbs were bought through Superskoda and they don't sell them anymore by the looks of it.

 

Interestingly, on start up, each reversing light flashes 5 times which is presumably the bulb failure system sending a small number of volts through each reversing light in turn and whilst the low power isn't enough to illuminate a standard bulb, it does these LED bulbs. That's my theory anyway as to why they strobe when the ignition is switched on!   

 

PS The light from the LED reversing bulbs is fantastic compared to standard and it's never been flagged up on MOTs as them being too bright.

Edited 7 November, 20205 yr by aerofurb

15 hours ago, oldstan said:

I realise the wattage is governed by rules.  But the actual light output isn't quoted in the regs to the best of my understanding

 

If I remember correctly, the 1989 UK regs state "The total wattage of any one reversing lamp shall not exceed 24 watts".

 

However, your car will actually be covered by the ECE regs rather than the UK ones. In this case, it's R23 that covers reversing lights and it's got much more complex requirements. Just for example, 6.1.3 states:

Quote

The intensity of the light emitted in all directions in which the light can be observed shall not exceed:
    300 candelas in directions in or above the horizontal plane;
and, in directions below the horizontal plane:
    600 candelas between h-h and 5° D and
    8,000 candelas below 5° D.

 

That being said, there are no brightness checks/requirements for the UK MOT

I suggest as i did in the other similar threads where someone wants brighter reversing lights to see where they go in reverse, that the fit rear 'Work Lights', that they can switch on if they need to light the area behind the car and not just bright reversing lights that will always come on when reversing.

That's hardly ideal for someone who just wants a bit more more light as they reverse into their driveway - how many people are gonna want to (a) find a lamp that doesn't look awful stuck on the back of their car,(b) drill holes, (c) fit mounting brackets and (d) instal a decent wiring circuit (assuming the CANBUS allows them to)?

.... and I forgot to mention, find an appropriate switch for the dash and then rip the dasg apart in order to fit it .....

not to mention ... I imagine if such a work light was installed, I'd have top prepare some sort of explanation to offer to the copper whe decided to stop me to check there was a warning light fitted to the the dash to indicate the reversing light was on.

A rear work lamp is a perfectly valid solution even if you don't like it

 

As would fitting some motion triggered lights to your driveway

 

If you do fit an LED, my only suggestion would be to buy a decent quality branded LED rather than generic Chinese stuff. If it causes a bulb out warning, have the car coded to suit (ODIS-e or VCP only, VCDS can't do this on a Yeti) or fit load resistors. If you do use load resistors, remember they will get warm so attach them to the metal bodywork to help with heat dissipation.

 

I'm not sure what bulb the Yeti uses but these tend to be well liked: https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-x-tremeultinon-led-gen2-p21w-6000k-twin

@oldstan

You just need a switch with a warning light for additional lights as you do with front fog or spot lights.  (pity there is no such warning when Yeti Front fogs come on automatically when reverse is selected if that is enabled with the car.)

?

Why not install lights in your driveway then?

Edited 8 November, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

Thanks for the further advice.

 

In the past (admittedly the distant past) I religiously fitted a fog light to the rear of Anglias / Cortina /Corsair etc - but that was when car wiring was a little easier to fiddle with and it was quite the done thing to accesorize your car with such things. It probably wasn't legal then, I honestly can't remember ... but I was never stopped and told off for it.

 

As it happens there are PIR lights installed but, on occasion, especially in the wet when there's rain on the mirrors and windows, I sometimes wish I had a bit more light immediately behind the car. I have cats that I fear might commit suicide there and I did, quite recently , run over a hedgehog on the driveway (but I admit a brighter reversing light wouldn't have helped there as the poor creature had decided to curl up in fron of a rear tyre and I pulled away without seeing it.)

 

But, in all honesty, we've deviated somewhat ... I just wondered if a simple change of bulb is a practical, easy and straightforward job.

10 minutes ago, oldstan said:

Thanks for the further advice.

 

10 minutes ago, oldstan said:

 

But, in all honesty, we've deviated somewhat ... I just wondered if a simple change of bulb is a practical, easy and straightforward job.

 

Yes, it is!

9 minutes ago, oldstan said:

 

 

But, in all honesty, we've deviated somewhat ... I just wondered if a simple change of bulb is a practical, easy and straightforward job.

 

There was a link earlier to the Powerbulbs website, and they certainly seem to be a reputable company, so I would be looking there.

Funnily enough I've got a similar "problem" with the Niro, but no-one seems to know how to get the light unit out of the rear bumper or whether the bulbs can even be changed!

Thank you, both.

The biggest threat of danger to the bulb change is to your finger nails as you pull the light units off (after removing the screws) but the difference in illumination brought about by LED reversing lights is well worth the risk!

 

It's all very well saying put up lights on your drive - what if it isn't your drive you're reversing into?!

 

Incidentally, the LED bulbs are probably 7+ years old and have survived 100k miles (not all in reverse...) only sometimes bring on the bulb failure warning light (and then it's only the left one). It seems to do it only it if I go into reverse straight after engine start and before the light system has done its self test. Ignition off/on resets the system again.   

^^^ 

Once you have driven with a reversing camera you will no longer desire brighter reversing lights, you would be happy without any at all.

 

I find the standard wattage more than sufficient to show up obstacles in the the rear view or door mirrors, if you are trying to see further up the drive/path to align the vehicle then a brighter light would be desirable but there is a very good reason that the illumination is limited by road traffic law, a reversing camera is far better for the long view even without reversing lights.

I agree about the value of reversing camera, you do get to rely on it as it makes reversing and seeing what’s behind you so much easier. I haven’t found a problem with the brightness of the reversing light but I guess it depends on where you are reversing and how much space you have.

I put LED's in my reversing lights. The bulb warning always came up, The light was just a white glare compared to the normal bulb colour and they didn't offer any extra help for reversing into my dark driveway.

TBH I have always thought reversing lights were actually an indication that the car was about to reverse, rather than lighting up the area behind the car ... unless you fit an additional rear light as has been suggested (I did have a "front" fog light fitted under the bumper of my Cortina in the '70 for that reason, but they were happy tinkering days. )

The alternative is use a PIR security light on your house/garage/fence to light your way if its needed.

 

Just a thought

Thanks for al the above replies.

 

Having seen the advice I've decided not to change the bulbs given that they might not have much effect, they might trigger unwanted warning lights on the dash (and I can probably spend £30 on something more useful) .  I won't fit a fog light on the back either - if it was a Land Rover Defender I might have done but not on a Yeti.

 

There are PIR lights in place, as was mentioned earlier, but I might review them to see if they can be improved on.

 

All sorted, thanks.

They no longer need to be spot lights like in the old days fitted at the rear.

Neat small led lights are all that are required, they can be very discreet.