Reverse light upgrade........

[wolfie308]

Just wondering if anyone has changed to LED in their reverse lamps? As I have to reverse down a narrow unlit lane to park outside
my house, more illumination wouldn't go amiss.

I've noticed how almost blinding the reverse lights are on one of my neighbours new Merc estate which are of course LED.

One problem is the 944 reverse lenses are heavily facetted and were designed for filament lamps and I'm not sure how well LED's
would work with these lenses.

 

[ALZ 1933]

I've not tried this as yet, its on my to do list on my 968 but I'm also doubting how effective it'll be with the type of lens/cluster that's fitted.

 

[scam75]

My cab has LED rear lights though only the rear light, brake light and fog lights. For some reason the PO left standard bulbs in for indicators and reverse lights. The LED lights are brighter and do shine through the lenses fine but it isn't a remarkable difference.

However, at the front there has been a full HID conversion on the dipped/main beam, side lights and front fogs. Despite the rather ugly conversion some may remember by replacing the standard front fog lights with 3 round lamps the light is absolutely extraordinary! Lights up the road for miles, fogs project way into the night and full beam almost lights up my entire village! I plan to cover the 3 lamp conversions with either original lenses or maybe modify some original lens protectors to get back the OEM look. The light provided however is simply breathtaking for an old 944!

Stuart

 

[Waylander]

if you are going to do LED upgrades stay away from the "normal" SMD type only go for CREE type. the reason the indicators were not done is because the LED's do not provide enough current draw and your flashers will be very fast, so fast they become outside of the law.

you need to fit resistors to slow them back down again.

1 5W CREE is brighter than 24 SMD leds

 

[tref]

ORIGINAL: scam75

However, at the front there has been a full HID conversion on the dipped/main beam, side lights and front fogs. Despite the rather ugly conversion some may remember by replacing the standard front fog lights with 3 round lamps the light is absolutely extraordinary! Lights up the road for miles, fogs project way into the night and full beam almost lights up my entire village! I plan to cover the 3 lamp conversions with either original lenses or maybe modify some original lens protectors to get back the OEM look. The light provided however is simply breathtaking for an old 944!

Stuart

I would be interested to know more about this - is there a thread on here somewhere you can point me at?

 

[scam75]

Unfortunately not Tref. Was all done by the PO. It's been done properly at the front. Got 2 Bosch HID boxes neatly bolted in, one for each side, and all wiring is fairly neat and tidy with new wires/connectors and all is wired up correctly it would seem. The rear is quite simply just LED bulbs with the bulb holders slightly modified to take them.

Indicators left standard because of reasons above from Waylander it would seem. No idea why reverse light left standard. Can you get white LED bulbs? Dunno.

I can get u some pictures once the current storm has passed if you like but I feel it won't be much help.

Stuart

 

[wolfie308]

Wasn't familiar with the CREE LED, but might be worth trying when I'm feeling a bit more flush. Seem a bit pricey at £20/pair -
I guess these are the type you were referring to Martin?...

http://www.xenonbulbs.co.uk/LED-SMD-CREE-CAR/Bayonet-Bulbs-1157-1156-ba9s-h6w-p21w/LED-BULBS-%20Bayonet-Bulbs-1156-382-p21w/LED-BULBS-Bayonet-Bulbs-1156-382-CREE

 

[Waylander]

You could possibly get them cheaper on the bay of e but that is the correct type, your reverse lights will be as bright as your head lights with those

 

[John Sims]

Based on conventional lighting it would seem LED technology has advanced in recent years about as fast as anything.

Considering that reversing lights don't have the flashing issues as noted above I don't think I would hesitate to give them a go.

However, and I am only speculating here, would their lower current draw make them more susceptible to less than perfect wiring?

 

[tref]

Thanks Stuart - I would still be interested to see it.

John, correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't a lower current draw of the LEDs be less effected by aged wiring? Thinking the lower the current draw, the smaller the wire that typically needs to be used, so deficiencies have less of an effect.

With regards to the indicators, didn't there used to be electronic flasher relays available, as I recall primarily to allow for the extra indicators when towing and such like?
Not sure how that works now, as my flashers work fine when towing... and presumably extra bulbs lower the resistance and so should flash faster?

 

[Waylander]

More bulbs more resistance more load

 

[bmnelsc]

ORIGINAL: Waylander

More bulbs more resistance more load

Yes - so you need to consider the "draw" of the new bulbs you wish to use and try to stay at or below the OEM requirement to avoid the need for upgraded wiring/relays, etc.

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: Waylander

if you are going to do LED upgrades stay away from the "normal" SMD type only go for CREE type. the reason the indicators were not done is because the LED's do not provide enough current draw and your flashers will be very fast, so fast they become outside of the law.

you need to fit resistors to slow them back down again.

1 5W CREE is brighter than 24 SMD leds

Cree is a manufacturer, not a type of LED. They make the emitter itself, although products commonly feature their name as though they were the manufacturer as they have a strong reputation.

 

[Waylander]

Same difference but the point went over

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Waylander

More bulbs more resistance more load

Well wouldn't that rather depend on if they were in series or in parallel.Being a car (with, in effect, a negative bus) the probability is the lamps would be in parallel. [8|]

I see your point in respect of thinner wires Treff but was wondering if the lower draw would make it more difficult to punch across coroded contacts? But then it would need less contact surface, so perhaps not?

 

[944Scott]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-Q5-382-1156-REVERSE-BULB-BA15S-5W-380-LUMENS-WHITE-6000K-FANTASTIC-COLOUR-/291350089498?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3APorsche%7CModel%3A944&hash=item43d5d18f1a

 

[ALZ 1933]

As an update to this post, I purchased a pair of Cree replacement led bulbs for my reverse lights to suit my 968. They fitted with no problems, however due to the angle they fit in the 968 (45° to the lens) the light wasn't as bright as I'd hoped. I'm sure fitted to a 944 where the bulb points straight backwards towards the lens they'd work much better as the lens on the new Cree one is very focused in one direction. The original filament bulb gave an all round light that was better suited to the 968, perhaps if an alternative could be found with the Cree chips fitted around the edges as well it would give the required light pattern.

 

[Waylander]

there are many different types and designs to choose from, you could use those in your rear fogs.

 

[944Scott]

Just spotted these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191453318637?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[Waylander]

they look good, but seems to have the same projection problems.