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Can you get brighter tail lights?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by CUtigerfan, Nov 11, 2009.

  1. Nov 11, 2009 at 3:10 PM
    #1
    CUtigerfan

    CUtigerfan [OP] Well-Known Member

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    This might be a very stupid question but I was wondering about this yesterday. I just ordered some lights that somebody tinted and know that brightness could be an issue. The tint looks pretty dark and I'm worried I might get pulled with the new lights. Is there such a thing as a brighter bulb you can use to kind of offset the tinting of the light? I'm not too worried about the brightness when braking its just the regular running light being too dim at night that I'm worried about.

    Like I said this is probably a dumb question but is there a bulb I could use that would be brighter?

    Here's a pic of the lights.
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Nov 11, 2009 at 3:18 PM
    #2
    JimBeam

    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    you can try an LED bulb...but i'd be more worried about the dumbasses on the road seeing you moreso than the cops

    a ticket hurts sure...but how about being rearended full speed
     
  3. Nov 11, 2009 at 5:20 PM
    #3
    Evil Monkey

    Evil Monkey There's an evil monkey in my truck

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    That's what I would worry about with this mod. Even if it was the other guy's fault, blame could be placed on me because the mod makes the lights dimmer.
     
  4. Nov 11, 2009 at 5:27 PM
    #4
    pikegi

    pikegi Well-Known Member

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    Looks good to me! Maybe get a led light bar for under the tailgate!
     
  5. Nov 11, 2009 at 5:42 PM
    #5
    CUtigerfan

    CUtigerfan [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Daystar 1.5" coil spacers, bedlined bumpers, clear corners, aftermarket stereo, 20% tint, half debadged
    I've thought about that and at first it convinced me to stay away from them but the more I thought about it the more I realized that for somebody to run up on you at night and rearend you they would see you in their headlights from a pretty good distance before they hit you. And with braking I'm not going to tint the light on the top of the cab so I should be good... in theory.

    Do they make and LED replacement bulb for the stock ones?
     
  6. Nov 11, 2009 at 6:44 PM
    #6
    JimBeam

    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    yeah they make one...its avail at most auto part stores

    youd be surprised though...say youre driving x mph because its pouring ass rain on the interstate...you havent braked to make them brighter

    driver b is running x+ mph and doesnt see you

    this is NOT an uncommon scenario

    im not saying dont do it...im just saying...know what you may be getting into
     
  7. Nov 11, 2009 at 6:52 PM
    #7
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO Well-Known Member

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    I never had any problems with mine.

    P25-08-09_1250_96c4009f155dddd534e4e866501c13414073be93.jpg
     
  8. Nov 11, 2009 at 7:44 PM
    #8
    Viet2100

    Viet2100 Well-Known Member

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    LED cluster or you'll have to hack it apart and put in an LED board.
     
  9. Nov 11, 2009 at 7:48 PM
    #9
    CUtigerfan

    CUtigerfan [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Daystar 1.5" coil spacers, bedlined bumpers, clear corners, aftermarket stereo, 20% tint, half debadged
    good point tigerfan00 that scenario didn't come to mind. I don't get on the interstate very much though but the rain thing is a legitimate concern.

    I read LEDs aren't as bright as conventional bulbs but that a bulb the same color as the lense would let more light through because the lenses wont block the wavelengths of red light as much as they would white light. Any truth to this?
     
  10. Nov 11, 2009 at 9:05 PM
    #10
    Viet2100

    Viet2100 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, but have you driven behind a car with incandescents versus one with LEDs?
     
  11. Nov 11, 2009 at 9:11 PM
    #11
    higherlux

    higherlux Well-Known Member

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    i havent had any probs yet

    but i didnt go to dark
    100_0663_8ff6a9f5c462ec2761b681ccee0d5c2111f5fe66.jpg
     
  12. Nov 12, 2009 at 9:11 AM
    #12
    Evil Monkey

    Evil Monkey There's an evil monkey in my truck

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    The problem isn't at night. It would be worse in the daytime as sunlight tends to wash out the bulb's light. Even incandescents aren't as noticable in the day as they are at night. Also, the dark taillight mod is not DOT approved so in court you might still be held partially liable even if you think the other driver should have been able to see them.

    I've been behind a truck with real dark taillight lenses and what I believe were LED bulbs. They were so dim I could barely tell he was hitting the brakes in daylight.

    Most LED bulbs are too dim, especially the pancake shaped ones. The biggest problem with them is their light is very directional and so they don't utilize the light assembly's reflector so unless the shape itself is large, it looks like two small dots. There are some out now that emulate an incandescent bulb by shinning light to the side so it hits the reflector. I found these on http://www.superbrightleds.com
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I've never tried them so I don't know how well they work or how bright they are (you would want dual filament for the tail lights).

    It's a common mod on my motorcycle because people are looking to save watts so they can run heated jackets, vests and extra driving lights. I did find one that was pretty bright. It was directional as well but it was large so it filled up most of the bike's tail light lens. I doubt you would be able to get it through the stock bulb hole.

    I've also heard that red shows better through the tail light lens than white does.
     
  13. Nov 12, 2009 at 9:19 AM
    #13
    Zombie Runner

    Zombie Runner Are these black helicopters for me?

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    oil change...
    grab one of those line of fire brake lights if its that big of a deal
     

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