Brighter tail light bulbs? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Xndless · 04-01-2018, 07:39 PM

I tinted my back lights to match my car better (legal in my province) and the tint knocked the brightness down a bit, but they are still very visible. I'd say MORE visible than most stock bulbs on regular cars.

However, it has caused backlash on the internet and I'm looking to replace the stock bulbs with something a lot brighter so that my bulbs will go back to being stock brightness WITH the tint on it.

Camaro Dude · 04-02-2018, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xndless

I tinted my back lights to match my car better (legal in my province) and the tint knocked the brightness down a bit, but they are still very visible. I'd say MORE visible than most stock bulbs on regular cars.

However, it has caused backlash on the internet and I'm looking to replace the stock bulbs with something a lot brighter so that my bulbs will go back to being stock brightness WITH the tint on it.

You need a brighter direct fit LED bulb replacement like the XP80 from Diode Dynamics, or even ping SJM on this forum, and see what he brings to the table as well.

Xndless · 04-03-2018, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro Dude

You need a brighter direct fit LED bulb replacement like the XP80 from Diode Dynamics, or even ping SJM on this forum, and see what he brings to the table as well.

Do those not have hyper flashing?

camguynj · 04-03-2018, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xndless

Do those not have hyper flashing?

All LEDs cause hyperflash. Consider replacing the stock 3157 tailight bulbs with 3457 bulbs (which are 100 lumens brighter 400 vs 500)

Camaro Dude · 04-03-2018, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xndless

Do those not have hyper flashing?

The turn blinkers will hyper flash if you don’t add resistors.

The vendors of those LED kits I named to you in the post above, will provide the resistors and the red 3M adhesive, which makes total bulb installation time, an extra 5 min affair.

Hyper flashing should not scare you off.

Xndless · 04-05-2018, 04:03 PM

I bought some from Amazon, but they don't really change the brightness much over stock bulbs, even though the amazon reviews say they are insanely bright.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01EWJPQLW

Xndless · 04-05-2018, 04:32 PM

Here's a video I shot quickly to show what I mean. Left is stock, right is LED.

I want bulbs that are way brighter. 1.5-2x brighter than stock.

You can see the tail lights easy in the video, but in the direct sun it makes it dimmer.

https://streamable.com/cllgm

I read online someone saying how red LEDs are brighter than white in tail lights. Something to do with the red lens of the tail lights filtering out the white a bit because white is close to blue? Should I try some red LEDs?

camguynj · 04-05-2018, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xndless

Here's a video I shot quickly to show what I mean. Left is stock, right is LED.

I want bulbs that are way brighter. 1.5-2x brighter than stock.

You can see the tail lights easy in the video, but in the direct sun it makes it dimmer.

https://streamable.com/cllgm

I read online someone saying how red LEDs are brighter than white in tail lights. Something to do with the red lens of the tail lights filtering out the white a bit because white is close to blue? Should I try some red LEDs?

Yes, LED tailight bulbs have to be red. White light gets filtered out. Do you have load resistors on the LEDs ?

Xndless · 04-05-2018, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Yes, LED tailight bulbs have to be red. White light gets filtered out. Do you have load resistors on the LEDs ?

Yup, just learned this. Ordered https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

No resistors yet, they are coming in the mail. Both from Amazon.com (I am from Canada) so they'll take a while to get here.

camguynj · 04-06-2018, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xndless

Yup, just learned this. Ordered https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

No resistors yet, they are coming in the mail. Both from Amazon.com (I am from Canada) so they'll take a while to get here.

Seems like a good choice. Post back once you get them installed

Sheriff Justice · 04-07-2018, 01:59 PM

Yes always use red LED bulbs behind a red lense (amber behind amber, etc). This will produce a vivid bright result filling the entire lense. Spend the money on a decent bulb (at least 280+ lumens).

Xndless · 04-08-2018, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Seems like a good choice. Post back once you get them installed

Will do!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheriff Justice

Yes always use red LED bulbs behind a red lense (amber behind amber, etc). This will produce a vivid bright result filling the entire lense. Spend the money on a decent bulb (at least 280+ lumens).

I knew this, but then forgot it. Stumbled upon images like this https://d114hh0cykhyb0.cloudfront.ne...or-Tooltip.jpg and it reminded me everything I once knew.

I feel dumb for buying the white LEDs in the first place, but I'm pretty sure this experience will make me remember.

Honestly the reason I forgot was because the original bulb is incandescent and amber, and my mind ignored that LEDs and incandescent light is completely different.

I've ordered the red LEDs that I posted in a comment above.

Camaro Dude · 04-08-2018, 02:31 AM

Dude, i should of been more specific in my post above, and why I pushed those 2 vendors. Heck, I should of mentioned extremebrightleds.com too while I was at it, lol.

You see, I have tried ALL of these bulbs at best. Pushing light through a tinted lens, you will imho need at least a 50W LED with Creed chips. For me it’s Creed or go home generally speaking, and I don’t see that in your shopping cart lol.

I got Ofers Custom rear afterburner tails, and they are quite tinted. 80W, or is it 85W LED (I forget the fine details now) is the way to go for my application, and it seems that Diode Dynamics, last i checked about a year ago, were the only ones in the 80W level with Creed 5W chips all around and the top of the bulb. Yes, Ofers default bulb was under powered for braking, so I had to remedy that ; ).

Others were at 50W+,(albeit not slathered with as many Creed 5W bulbs around and at the top loll as the 80W offering), which is still good, but if you needed crazy bright...

Depending on your level of tint, and housing design, you might do just as well with the less powerful LEDs.

Anything less, for me is a waste of time, $$, and a joke! Almost rice looking even.

camguynj · 04-08-2018, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheriff Justice

Yes always use red LED bulbs behind a red lense (amber behind amber, etc). This will produce a vivid bright result filling the entire lense. Spend the money on a decent bulb (at least 280+ lumens).

What LEDs do you have?

04-01-2018, 07:39 PM	#1
Xndless Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 37	Brighter tail light bulbs? I tinted my back lights to match my car better (legal in my province) and the tint knocked the brightness down a bit, but they are still very visible. I'd say MORE visible than most stock bulbs on regular cars. However, it has caused backlash on the internet and I'm looking to replace the stock bulbs with something a lot brighter so that my bulbs will go back to being stock brightness WITH the tint on it.

04-07-2018, 01:59 PM	#11
Sheriff Justice If your not 1st your last Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS / RS Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 248	Yes always use red LED bulbs behind a red lense (amber behind amber, etc). This will produce a vivid bright result filling the entire lense. Spend the money on a decent bulb (at least 280+ lumens). __________________ 2014 Camaro 2SS / RS ~ Blue Ray Metallic w/ Silver Rally Stripes ~ V8 6.2L ~ Blue & Black 2-tone leather interior accent trim package ~ Custom decals from Emblem Pros

04-05-2018, 04:03 PM	#6
Xndless Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 37	I bought some from Amazon, but they don't really change the brightness much over stock bulbs, even though the amazon reviews say they are insanely bright. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01EWJPQLW

04-05-2018, 04:32 PM	#7
Xndless Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 37	Here's a video I shot quickly to show what I mean. Left is stock, right is LED. I want bulbs that are way brighter. 1.5-2x brighter than stock. You can see the tail lights easy in the video, but in the direct sun it makes it dimmer. https://streamable.com/cllgm I read online someone saying how red LEDs are brighter than white in tail lights. Something to do with the red lens of the tail lights filtering out the white a bit because white is close to blue? Should I try some red LEDs?

04-08-2018, 02:31 AM	#13
Camaro Dude Drives: ‘13 1LE Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Earth Posts: 3,904	Dude, i should of been more specific in my post above, and why I pushed those 2 vendors. Heck, I should of mentioned extremebrightleds.com too while I was at it, lol. You see, I have tried ALL of these bulbs at best. Pushing light through a tinted lens, you will imho need at least a 50W LED with Creed chips. For me it’s Creed or go home generally speaking, and I don’t see that in your shopping cart lol. I got Ofers Custom rear afterburner tails, and they are quite tinted. 80W, or is it 85W LED (I forget the fine details now) is the way to go for my application, and it seems that Diode Dynamics, last i checked about a year ago, were the only ones in the 80W level with Creed 5W chips all around and the top of the bulb. Yes, Ofers default bulb was under powered for braking, so I had to remedy that ; ). Others were at 50W+,(albeit not slathered with as many Creed 5W bulbs around and at the top loll as the 80W offering), which is still good, but if you needed crazy bright... Depending on your level of tint, and housing design, you might do just as well with the less powerful LEDs. Anything less, for me is a waste of time, $$, and a joke! Almost rice looking even.