Adding backup light, your recommendation please

[70coupyel]

[geo_tonz]

Finally put the cheapy LEDs in too. Amazing difference! No need for an auxilary light back there now! And a solid 2 minutes of work to install!
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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

[dhaavers]

^^^ x2

Night and day difference...LITERALLY...
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Jake de Villiers]

[kirsplat]

I've had one of these mounted to the tire carrier on my Syncro for the past few months and I'm pretty happy with it.

Super bright 60 degree LED flood, and cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Genssi-Light-Waterproof-6000...work+light
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86 Syncro|EJ253|Carat

[geo_tonz]

[JED THE SPREAD]

I think we might have gone one better than the ones from China in the ebay link.

I finally fitted these ones we do and they work really well, http://campervanculture.com/shop/reverse-bulb-upgrade-20w-cree-led/

My mate Alan has had them on for ages and it has made a massive difference and ours are even brighter than the ones in the other link at 20w rather than 7w and 20 cre rather than 5 with 550lm rather than 500lm as far as I can work out. A great add on when ordering other stuff and because they are LED lights they don't get hot.

Like has been said already, really easy to fit,




Link

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[shizzon]

[shizzon]

just wanted to bump this and prod jed for more info on the lumens output of the campervanculture bulb. From what i can tell, it's not any different than the ebay version...
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1989 Bostig Syncro Westy

[v-lux]

Hi, I think Jed's got some of the info for the bulbs a bit muddled up.

Let me clarify...

Our LED reverse bulbs are 20W Cree LED units.
They have 4x Cree chips in them giving almost 360º output.
The light output statistics we have been quoted for these bulbs is 550 Lumen.

Somebody somewhere would appear to be telling porkie pies about the light output of their bulbs. That said, i can only quote the info we have been supplied.

All i know is the difference from standard bulbs to these is literally like night and day.
I have had them in my van for a good few months now testing them to make sure they are up to scratch and i felt they were well worth it, hence us deciding they were worth supplying to people.

Anyway, I hope that helps to clear up some of the specs on the bulbs.

Alan
_________________
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[shizzon]

I wonder if it's an issue of directionality...

The ones that I bought off ebay, like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1156-BA15S-CREE-Q5-7-WATT-...036442914?

are pretty directional (you can see the pics in the ebay link)

From a quick google, it looks like a lumen is the total energy given off, summed over all directions. So the 500 lumen directional bulb should be "brighter" than a 360 bulb within it's narrow cone of light. (although the overall useable light of the 360 beam might be better!)

Like you said though, i wouldn't be surprised if some numbers got fudged somewhere.
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1989 Bostig Syncro Westy

[syncrodoka]

If you really want to go crazy, search on ebay for "cree 1156" and there are offerings up to 80 watts at 1000lm.
Way more than enough lighting to back up out of a parking spot.

[nocreditnodebt]

I have a little experience in the Cree 1156 bulbs, but in a non VW application.

I bought these:
http://www.amazon.com/TOMTOP-BA15S-White-Reverse-1...+white+LED

I knew they would not use the reflector, just fire into the while lens.

The light had a bluish tinge just from heatsink.

While bright, in the daytime, from anb angle, like in a diagonal parking spot, they were not noticeable. It was not obvious to other drivers when I was in reverse.

I wrote one of the 2 reviews for that link so no need to repeat it all here.

I wound up installing 3497 incandescent bulbs which are about 25% brighter than 1156.

I also have some fog lights under the bumper facing backwards, so having all one color of light is beneficial to visibility in a mirror. I was hoping the Cree's would light up things above bumper level, but despite really wanting them to be an improvement, the mirror did not lie, I could not see as well as an incandescent 1156, and the 3497 were an improvement over both.

I tried to retask these bulbs as interior task lights. They start flashing on and off after about 3 minutes on, though I have some other t-20 base LEDs that do not flash as they heat up.

The actual consumption of the bulbs seem to be well less than 50% of what they claim. Not sure if they are claiming them to be that wattage for a pair, or the lumen equivalent of an incandescent bulb.

I've got a Cree flashlight that is impressive. Cree chips can be so intense. getting that light where desired is the issue.

I'd be interested in those units with 4 Crees stuffed into one 1156 bulb. That thing must get so freaking hot. My T-20 base Cree LED gets to 136f and draws .12 amps at 12.6 volts, or about 1.5 watts.

[shizzon]

So as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I bought a pair of 7W bulbs earlier this year, like these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1156-BA15S-CREE-Q5-7-WAT...036442914?

They were a big upgrade in terms of light output, but they were directional. After seeing these "50W" ones (not sure i really believe it) that are more omnidirectional, I decided to give them a try

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310669106402?item=31066910...mp;vxp=mtr

The picture below shows the old LED light on the right, and the new LED light on the left. The original stock lights were much dimmer than either of these, but the 50W ones are absolutely incredible. I think these are very similar to what campervanculture sells.

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1989 Bostig Syncro Westy

[alikatcraig]

Go to the sourc for your LED's. I've had no problems with all of my orders, but expect to wait a few weeks.
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=115...1123170443
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1967 Ghia
1971 Deluxe Microbus
1974 Convertible Bug
1973 Standard Bug
1998 Mexican Bug

[Royb]

Has anyone tried any of the other options suggested at superbrightleds.com? The suggested replacement LEDs are remarkable different. It looks like Gowesty uses the 3x1.3 watt version in the reverse lights. But there's one with 26(!) LEDs! I like the idea of bright LEDs in the stock location- easy replacement and reduced draw.
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1991 Westy