Brighter brake/tail lights?
Discussion
I was out today with some other TVR's and part of the wy I was following another Chimaera.
I noticed just how dim the tail and brake lights are. The brake lights on the Chimaera are about as bright as most cars tail lights as they shine through the smoked perspex. This is a bit of a safety concern because I do want people behind me to know I'm braking especially as we are so low down with little rear end protection.
Has anybody fitted any LED's such as these?
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/380-Super-Bright-...
If you have, I'd really like to hear your thoughts. The reviews on this site do seem positive.
I noticed just how dim the tail and brake lights are. The brake lights on the Chimaera are about as bright as most cars tail lights as they shine through the smoked perspex. This is a bit of a safety concern because I do want people behind me to know I'm braking especially as we are so low down with little rear end protection.
Has anybody fitted any LED's such as these?
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/380-Super-Bright-...
If you have, I'd really like to hear your thoughts. The reviews on this site do seem positive.
Well after seeing this topic http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I purchased a pair of these red CREE LED lights. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370954040443?clk_rvr_id=...
Photos below are daytime and I will hopefully take some evening shots later today.
The left bulb is LED, the right bulb is regular
Tail light in sunlight
Brake lights in sunlight
I'm not sure how well the camera captures it but a definite improvement in intensity in my opinion.
PS - where the LED looks white in the centre of the light it is just a deficiency in the phone camera and it is clipping the highlights. To the human eye it appears red.
Photos below are daytime and I will hopefully take some evening shots later today.
The left bulb is LED, the right bulb is regular
Tail light in sunlight
Brake lights in sunlight
I'm not sure how well the camera captures it but a definite improvement in intensity in my opinion.
PS - where the LED looks white in the centre of the light it is just a deficiency in the phone camera and it is clipping the highlights. To the human eye it appears red.
Edited by A900ss on Wednesday 19th March 18:27
OK, the sun has dropped a little but now the difference between the highlights and shadows is just too much for the iPhone and its clipping the highlights making the bright red lights look even whiter.
Quick swap to the SLR...
This first photo shows tail lights on (LED on left again) but with the fog light on for comparison. The LED is much brighter than the standard light but not quite as bright as the standard fog light (which isn't as bright as a normal car fog light as its behind the smoked Perspex). This should reassure people that the tail light element of the LED is brighter than standard (which is good) but not too overpowering to annoy other road users.
This second photo shows the brake lights. Again the LED is much brighter and noticeably redder than standard. This really does show that the brake lights have come on and other road users should notice this.
This third photo shows how much brighter the brake LED is than the Fog light (which as expected is the same intensity as the standard brake light as they are both lighting the 21W filament)
Hopefully these photos show its a red rather than a white light. Also I hope you can see how much increased intensity these have over standard. They may be expensive lights at £35 but it they avoid a rear end shunt, they are well worth it.
Quick swap to the SLR...
This first photo shows tail lights on (LED on left again) but with the fog light on for comparison. The LED is much brighter than the standard light but not quite as bright as the standard fog light (which isn't as bright as a normal car fog light as its behind the smoked Perspex). This should reassure people that the tail light element of the LED is brighter than standard (which is good) but not too overpowering to annoy other road users.
This second photo shows the brake lights. Again the LED is much brighter and noticeably redder than standard. This really does show that the brake lights have come on and other road users should notice this.
This third photo shows how much brighter the brake LED is than the Fog light (which as expected is the same intensity as the standard brake light as they are both lighting the 21W filament)
Hopefully these photos show its a red rather than a white light. Also I hope you can see how much increased intensity these have over standard. They may be expensive lights at £35 but it they avoid a rear end shunt, they are well worth it.
Finally is a video to show in use difference between tail light and brake light. It's obvious when the brake pedal is pressed as the bulb goes much brighter. I know some people are concerned that the tail LED to brake LED may not be much of a change but it obviously is.
Also, it's obvious that the left LED brake light illuminates a fraction of a second before regular bulb on the left. You can clearly see the left lights up before the right. At 70MPH, that fraction of a second earlier illumination is most welcome in my book.
http://youtu.be/xrZAUPmUc8E
Notes about the video:
Excuse the rubbish quality but the intensity is plain to see
I didn't know that the brake lights only work with the engine running, not just ignition on hence me shouting to my older daughter to push or off as she can't hear me very well over the sound of the engine.
Likewise, I forgot to stop recording so ignore the last minute!!!
Also, it's obvious that the left LED brake light illuminates a fraction of a second before regular bulb on the left. You can clearly see the left lights up before the right. At 70MPH, that fraction of a second earlier illumination is most welcome in my book.
http://youtu.be/xrZAUPmUc8E
Notes about the video:
Excuse the rubbish quality but the intensity is plain to see
I didn't know that the brake lights only work with the engine running, not just ignition on hence me shouting to my older daughter to push or off as she can't hear me very well over the sound of the engine.
Likewise, I forgot to stop recording so ignore the last minute!!!
Edited by A900ss on Wednesday 19th March 18:55
Yep. Took me 1 minute to change over.
I totally recommend this. I had a big moment in the fog on the A417 a week ago and decided there and then I need to improve my rear end visibility. Thankfully the moment was in my BMW so I'm sure I'd have been safe. In the Tiv, not so sure. I don't want to dwell on safety, it's a TVR after all but I do want the best active safety possible as the passive safety isn't in abundance.
I totally recommend this. I had a big moment in the fog on the A417 a week ago and decided there and then I need to improve my rear end visibility. Thankfully the moment was in my BMW so I'm sure I'd have been safe. In the Tiv, not so sure. I don't want to dwell on safety, it's a TVR after all but I do want the best active safety possible as the passive safety isn't in abundance.
Edited by A900ss on Wednesday 19th March 21:40
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