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General Brighter Reversing Light

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General Brighter Reversing Light

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thornebt

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I find that the reversing light on my 100HP Panda isn't bright enough when I'm reversing between my black gateposts at night!

The standard bulb is 21W. Can I fit a higher wattage bulb or different type (LED?) that would be brighter? It would need to be legal - I don't know if there is a maximum brightness for reverse lights.

I'm not the sort of person who likes fitting the brightest ultra white Zenon bulbs etc as I find that other car's headlights are often ridiculously bright - but I could really do with seeing more when I'm reversing into my drive! I fitted reflectors on the gateposts but they don't seem to reflect!

Cheers. Bruce.
 
Alternatively put some reflectors or markers on the posts, 3M make reflective tape in various colours including black. Available in different widths. Even these small strips might work for you, subtle enough and cheap enough to try ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Scotc...-/131834610475?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

Plenty of led reverse bulbs you could try, some claiming 2000lumens. You could also look at swapping the number plate bulbs for led items, these often shine a lot more light onto the ground immediately behind the car
 
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Reflective strips on the gateway make a lot of sense. However, Panda reversing light is absolute rubbish. The fog helps but not enough to matter. Get caught on a back lane with a downed tree and you are in real trouble as I found out last year. The reversing light is so bad that even fitting a LHD rear cluster would help very little (not to mention the loss of fog light).

You could try a powerful LED bulb. They give far more light per watt than filament bulbs. Who knows if it would help.

I dont have a suggestion to make that wont spoil the look of the car. One of these would be handy for folk who use dark narrow lanes.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25260354...450787f4def61e6310c5|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
 
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As I said in my original post I did stick some reflectors on the posts but they don't help. My Panda is completely standard and I don't want to fit additional lights. However, I think I will identify the bulb type and then buy a bright LED version. That might well be the best solution.

Thanks for your ideas everyone. Cheers. Bruce.
 
I dont think changing bulbs will make a night and day difference :)

when reversing near street lights you can't tell there even working.

some Suzuki light the way for you. Yet Focus and Panda do little more than let others know your reversing.
 
I think changing the bulb for one of the 2000 lumens LEDs would be a good starting point. I'll try that first. Not much to lose! Does anyone know the bulb type please? Cheers. Bruce.
 
thornebt said:
I think changing the bulb for one of the 2000 lumens LEDs would be a good starting point. I'll try that first. Not much to lose! Does anyone know the bulb type please? Cheers. Bruce.
Click to expand...

there is a difference between the total output measured in lumens and the The throw measured in candela


some cars have a shapped narrow beam and manage Good rear throw with a single or twin 21W bulb


Or put it another way. I built a torch for climbing. It has the smallest whitest L.E.D available at the time which I over drive. It has a large lens in front of it and will light a tree the other side Bala lake which is about a mile away. It doesn't have many lumens a few hundred.


Most of the L.E.D are longer than a standard bulb. The focusing will be even worse. China and eBay adverts will lie about lumens Some of the adverts aren't even possible. A free hundred are often advertised in the thousands


If the bulb in there is a cheap pound shop one. Changing to a branded one might help. I have never tried but you can tell the difference with headlight bulbs. There are brighter standard bulbs. I can not comment as to whether they are worth trying as I have never tried for myself.
 
thornebt said:
It would need to be legal
Click to expand...

Reversing lights are now part of the MOT for cars first used after 1 September 2009. So depending on the age of your car, technically (and to comply with the construction & use regulations) that means using CE marked approved bulbs, which may rule out the LED option if you mant to keep strictly on the right side of the law.

I doubt a tester would flag it, but it's also possible fitting any out of specification bulb could throw a CANBUS error. Definitely an issue with a more modern car; not sure about the 100HP.

I like the suggestions of using the fog light & reflectors on the obstructions.
 
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jrkitching said:
Reversing lights are now part of the MOT for cars first used after 1 September 2009. So depending on the age of your car, technically (and to comply with the construction & use regulations) that means using CE marked approved bulbs, which may rule out the LED option if you mant to keep strictly on the right side of the law.

I doubt a tester would flag it, but it's also possible fitting any out of specification bulb could throw a CANBUS error. Definitely an issue with a more modern car; not sure about the 100HP.

I like the suggestions of using the fog light & reflectors on the obstructions.
Click to expand...

I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but no, the reversing light and it's bulb do NOT have to be an approved type or E marked under the UK Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations. It's the one exterior light you can legally put a LED into. It's still an offence to dazzlw other road users but not an issue on your drive.


Robert G8RPI.
 
I read it as there is no requirement to have any reversing light but if you do it has to be approved. Not anyone ever checks. There a limit on total Watts but not brightness. There is a difference between legal and MOT

or is that if its in a e marked holder as long as it under 24w its okay ?

SCHEDULE 14
requirements relating to optional reversing lamps
1. Number:
Not more than two

2. Position:
No requirement

3. Angles of visibility:
No requirement

4. Alignment:
To the rear

5. Markings–
(a) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:
An approval mark
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
No requirement

6. Size of illuminated area:
No requirement

7. Colour:
White

8. Wattage–
(a) A reversing lamp bearing an approval mark:

No requirement
(b) A reversing lamp not bearing an approval mark:
The total wattage of any one reversing lamp shall not exceed 24 watts​

9. Intensity:
No requirement

10. Electrical connections:
No requirement

11. Tell-tale–
(a) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st July 1954, provided that the electrical connections are such that the reversing lamp or lamps cannot be illuminated other than automatically by the selection of the reverse gear of the vehicle:
No requirement

(b) Any other motor vehicle first used on or after 1st July 1954:
A circuit-closed tell-tale shall be fitted

(c) A motor vehicle first used before 1st July 1954:
No requirement

(d) Any vehicle which is not a motor vehicle:
No requirement


https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/14/made
 
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thornebt said:
It's all more complicated than I imagined it could ever be! I've found this bulb on Ebay from a UK seller:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/19220831...471478&hash=item2cc082200d:g:ylcAAOSwcB5ZNUqz

It doesn't mention it fitting the 100HP but it does fit other 2009 Fiat Panda models. I would have thought the light clusters were the same! Does anyone know if this bulb is likely to fit please?

Cheers. Bruce.
Click to expand...

P21W is correct it will fit


unfortunately it look like 24 LEDs from the front of a dvd play each one scattering the light are around 170 degrees none backward to the reflector. I am over 50% sure that will be worse than a standard bulb for throwing the light towards the drive
 
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Thanks for the idea but I want to keep my car as standard as possible. Cheers. Bruce.
 
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jrkitching said:
it's also possible fitting any out of specification bulb could throw a CANBUS error. Definitely an issue with a more modern car; not sure about the 100HP.
Click to expand...

Luckily the Panda doesn't monitor the reverse bulb on the can bus bulb warning system.

Ideally needs to be a Cree LED chip and a magnified / projector end like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270915537300?hash=item3f13d30994:g:ZUcAAMXQUY1Q-EkV

This looks almost the same as the one I bought years ago and we had in Dads Panda, but they were extremely effective!
 
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