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I almost called this thread "How far that little candle throws its beams!", but I've used up my Shakespearean plagiarism already.
This might be a first, I don't know. A few years back... a drunk driver sacrificed his car to the Superduty hitch gods, and Stinky has been sporting a newer rear bumper since that time.
I have the backup sensor grommets in the bumper, but no backup sensors. As you can see in the photo above, I have a backup camera - so I have no intention of installing the sensors. My old camera was a color/IR camera with excellent night vision, but I sacrificed the IR feature to get what I wanted in the new license plate camera. While the camera does OK at night, I figure "Why not make use of those sensor grommets? I'll install LED backup lights in there."
Now I can search the web just as easily as anybody else, but surfing for LED lights that fit perfectly is a daunting task - TMI. While facing this, I also thought "Why should I hog all the fun? Maybe somebody else out there likes the idea, and the forum could collectively partake in the festivities."
So... if any of you are really bored, curious, feel like helping a brother out, are interested in this mod, or have already done it - this is the collection point for the information.
The grommet inner diameter will fit a 7/8" cylinder, and it is 1 1/2" deep - so the light housing would ideally be 7/8" diameter by 2" long, preferably threaded the whole length. It could also have a larger flange on the face with threads in the back. OR some combination of hardware and light housing could make it work.
Once again the title of your thread had me scratching my head as far as >>>What the...........is he talking about. So you sucked me in to read it. Now I had these on my wish list for another project but might work for what you want to do.
Excellent first hit! I had been searching and the web vomits on my lap when I use LED as a key word, leaving me to sift through the chunks. Your link "led" me to this: [LINK]
It is closer to the diameter I'm looking for, and it looks like it will self-lock. I'm still searching for like lights, but I'm closer to the goal than before - thanks to the early help.
Important note: One has to make sure it's waterproof like the units linked above.
Having some LED lights myself, I would argue that putting single LED's in each one of those slots is not going to give you much improvement. Especially if you have a tinted rear window. I run a set of "Back-up Buddy" (ball mount slide on version) lights and while the light output is good from the side view mirror standpoint, the rear view, in conjunction with the tint, is not that good. Having good light output out the back needs a good 900 lumen or more to be effective and I just don't think you would be satisfied with a few small led lights back there.
Try this,or something from this website, looks to be on the right path. Tri-Cluster LED Fixture
That specific light has a 1/4" pipe thread, it will be too small. That's not to say the link won't lead me to the size I need - every hit gives me another track to take in search of these buggers.
Originally Posted by SARDiverDan
Having some LED lights myself, I would argue that putting single LED's in each one of those slots is not going to give you much improvement. Especially if you have a tinted rear window... ...Having good light output out the back needs a good 900 lumen or more to be effective...
I can see fine back there, it's just to give the backup camera a bump. Naturally, I'll be looking for the brightest lights I can find - but the primary goal is to fill those holes and I thought "What better than lights?" For those with sensors and a backup camera, this may or may not be a viable mod.
...I agree with SarDan on output. Although my night vision on camera works great....
If you look at the outer edges of your camera lens, those are IR LEDs to light up the scene when backing. It doesn't take a lot of extra light to augment the image when you are close to something behind you - driving lights are not needed back there.
Tugly why don't you just make what you're looking for? I know you like computers but it's not unheard of to know how to use a computer and fabricate things.
Find a light or multiple lights and run with the idea
I almost called this thread "How far that little candle throws its beams!", but I've used up my Shakespearean plagiarism already.
Any ideas out there?
A couple...
"But soft, what light thru yonder bumper breaks?"
"Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile."
I have a row of 50 white LED's under my tailgate that come on in reverse. The entire row of them put together isn't enough to illuminate a grinning toddler's teeth playing behind my bumper. Reverse lamps are best with large reflectors and fluted lenses that spread the light energy into a broad flood pattern with a short through. Small reflector lights with clear lenses tend to have a narrow beam pattern and a longer throw, which isn't helpful in reverse.
Another thing to think about: When backing up the trucker's way using mirrors only.... assuming your camera goes on the blink, freezes over with icicles, gets a distorting water droplet inside, or covered in caked on road dirt... the direction of illumination in reverse needs to be at the outer edges of the truck, where your side mirrors can see, not just directly behind the truck, which is blocked by your tailgate and camper shell (or 5th wheel if you still plan on getting one of those).
I ended up mounting rear reverse lights pointed 90 degrees to the side and down (curb alert), 45 degrees out to the corners, and directly back. I find that the 45 and 90 degree facing lights are more useful for identifying obstructions and "picking my line" to back up along than the directly facing rear lights.
I left the LED lights on there because the mounting holes were already drilled to keep the light bar straight. But they don't illuminate much.
Another idea for those holes in your new to you reverse sensor bumper. Weapon's grade lasers... to triangulate and burn holes in the front tires of drunk tailgaters who follow so closely, they make you have to go through all this bumper changing in the first place. Now THAT would be a mod.
(Music plays) "Go SpeedRacer, Go SpeedRacer, Go SpeedRacer go-oh!"
(While not quite dating back to Shakespearian times, ... SpeedRacer is reference to a cartoon from the 1960's, for you yunguns. SpeedRacer's car was equipped with all kinds of devices for tailgaters... from tear gas to thumbtacks to oil slick dispensers... quite a set up.)
Another idea for those holes in your new to you reverse sensor bumper. Weapon's grade lasers... to triangulate and burn holes in the front tires of drunk tailgaters who follow so closely, they make you have to go through all this bumper changing in the first place. Now THAT would be a mod.
