jaiyenyen 660 Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 I'd like to brighten the reversing lights on my truck, maybe the headlights too. Is it just a case of changing the bulbs to led, or is there more to it? It's a 2019 MG Extender. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE1 2676 Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 When I upgraded my headlights , the shop that did it added something else , like a little box , something to do with the strength of the new lights. Sorry I can't be of any more help , it was a long time ago. I will try and take a photo of it all tomorrow. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PJPom 2258 Posted July 1 Popular Post Share Posted July 1 (edited) It was probably a relay , one question I have, is your windscreen heavily tinted ? I removed my windscreen tint and it was amazing how much my lights brightened. Seriously I think if you can't see the occupants from the outside how the heck can they see out at night ?. a band of tint across the top is an asset and I have also halved the tint on the drivers side window to see the door mirror at night. Regarding the reverse lights, an extra light added to the drivers rear never goes amiss when combined with the removed tint Edited July 1 by PJPom extra 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaiyenyen 660 Posted July 1 Author Share Posted July 1 The tint is only 40% front and back, so I don't think that's an issue. I thought about adding an extra light at the back but thought it would be simpler to upgrade the bulbs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prism 206 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 I would go to a shop for the headlights and have them install the proper bulb(s) and aim them so you won't be blinding oncoming drivers on the road. You should be able to just change the bulb for an LED one for the backup light. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMuhammad 2502 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 11 hours ago, NE1 said: When I upgraded my headlights , the shop that did it added something else , like a little box , something to do with the strength of the new lights. Sorry I can't be of any more help , it was a long time ago. I will try and take a photo of it all tomorrow. I’m guessing they installed a relay with a direct feed to the lights from the battery, switched by the standard headlight switch and loom. It makes quite the difference giving the bulbs a ‘clean’ power feed 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkok Barry 13837 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 11 hours ago, PJPom said: I think if you can't see the occupants from the outside how the heck can they see out at night ? The heavy tint is illegal. But well, you know......... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP 5853 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 1 hour ago, MadMuhammad said: I’m guessing they installed a relay with a direct feed to the lights from the battery, switched by the standard headlight switch and loom. It makes quite the difference giving the bulbs a ‘clean’ power feed Isn't 12 volts 12 volts wherever it comes from? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomchaiDIY 106 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 40 minutes ago, KannikaP said: Isn't 12 volts 12 volts wherever it comes from? 12 volt yes but modern car have some new electronic trick on circuit I not know about mg truck lights but many car has electronic control of light circuit Some car have lamp fail detect this can have problem if change to led Some car have pulse control to front light this can have problem when change to led Always best check system before purchase new lamp or take to auto shop 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jorgendk 109 Posted July 2 Popular Post Share Posted July 2 43 minutes ago, KannikaP said: Isn't 12 volts 12 volts wherever it comes from? Well.. Yes 12 Volt is 12 Volt. But going a long,thin vier to the svitsh and back, the vire will have a lot of resisten, and it might only be 10 volt at your light. A Relay will make the el to the light only have to go thrue a short thik wier, and give the light all the valt it want. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunLA 7160 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 I simply fly my drone ahead of me ... scouting the way forward. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP 5853 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 16 minutes ago, Jorgendk said: Well.. Yes 12 Volt is 12 Volt. But going a long,thin vier to the svitsh and back, the vire will have a lot of resisten, and it might only be 10 volt at your light. A Relay will make the el to the light only have to go thrue a short thik wier, and give the light all the valt it want. Sorry but I do not think that a couple of metres of wire will drop the feed from 12 to 10 volts. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJPom 2258 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 (edited) Just changing bulbs on a modern car is NOT a good idea !. It seems that every light has its allocated place in the control modules and if you interfere with anything it will have consequences. Auto Electricians in Australia are in big demand , simple repairs or replacements are now nearly impossible, planned obsolescence rules. My experience of repairing cars with only two fuses and no relays has taught me one thing, modern electronics are brilliant until they go wrong. Edited July 2 by PJPom Extra 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketDog 4190 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 53 minutes ago, KannikaP said: Sorry but I do not think that a couple of metres of wire will drop the feed from 12 to 10 volts. If it truly drops that much voltage then it's dissipating that as heat which would melt insulation, etc. I agree with you. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpool Lou 5720 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 14 hours ago, PJPom said: Seriously I think if you can't see the occupants from the outside how the heck can they see out at night ?. How? Easy. Tint is designed to allow occupants to see out while restricting vision and light/heat into the vehicle! 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpool Lou 5720 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said: The heavy tint is illegal. But well, you know......... No, it's not illegal. There are no laws in Thailand prohibiting any type of tint. There were going to be, a few years ago. but the plan was abandoned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpool Lou 5720 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 1 hour ago, SomchaiDIY said: 2 hours ago, KannikaP said: Isn't 12 volts 12 volts wherever it comes from? 12 volt yes but modern car have some new electronic trick on circuit I not know about mg truck lights but many car has electronic control of light circuit Many car has electronic control of [the 12 volt] light circuit! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpool Lou 5720 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 4 hours ago, MadMuhammad said: I’m guessing they installed a relay with a direct feed to the lights from the battery, switched by the standard headlight switch and loom. It makes quite the difference giving the bulbs a ‘clean’ power feed A relay is just a switch, it doesn't "clean" electrical power. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpool Lou 5720 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 1 hour ago, Jorgendk said: Yes 12 Volt is 12 Volt. But going a long,thin vier to the svitsh and back, the vire will have a lot of resisten, and it might only be 10 volt at your light. The length of the wire does not affect the voltage through it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP 5853 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said: The length of the wire does not affect the voltage through it! No, but it's resistance will affect the Current according to Mr Ohm! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbko 4475 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 When I was in the US and my older car had a bad headlight, I went to the local car part store and noticed just like lightbulbs for the house they come in different strengths. For the car if you're going to install the light yourself, make sure you don't touch the glass bulb as the oil on your fingers will cause it to burn out faster. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess 5111 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 1 hour ago, KannikaP said: Sorry but I do not think that a couple of metres of wire will drop the feed from 12 to 10 volts. especially with engine alternator running at near 14v 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess 5111 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 There are many easy fit add on LCD lights on lazada, front can be independently switched, rear just connect into reverse light wiring. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew 25877 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 5 hours ago, MadMuhammad said: 16 hours ago, NE1 said: When I upgraded my headlights , the shop that did it added something else , like a little box , something to do with the strength of the new lights. Sorry I can't be of any more help , it was a long time ago. I will try and take a photo of it all tomorrow. I’m guessing they installed a relay with a direct feed to the lights from the battery, switched by the standard headlight switch and loom. It makes quite the difference giving the bulbs a ‘clean’ power feed More likely a CANBUS adapter to dupe the cars electronics into detecting that some sort of globe is fitted. LED's have lower resistance than filament globes and some vehicle's electronics will see that as a short circuit and turn off the power to the socket. Similarly, if the filament blows, the vehicle electronics detects an open-circuit and may turn on a warning light on the dashboard. Most CANBUS adapters are simply high-wattage resistors in a special box. LED's are lower power (wattage) equivalent devices than regular filament globes so a relay for power isolation is generally not required. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE1 2676 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Just taken a photo of what was added when I upgraded.......One for each light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMuhammad 2502 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said: A relay is just a switch, it doesn't "clean" electrical power. Read what I said agin and get back to me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Theory 806 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 I installed a pair of lights under my truck rear bumper with a switch. I used the extra lights manually when I needed more lights. In rear. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew 25877 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Back to the OP's first question. Replacing the stock reversing globe with an LED should brighten up the rear view. I did that on my pickup that only had the one backup light on the drivers side with a high-intensity red on the passenger side for driving in heavy rain/road spray. Eventually I doubled up on each of them, adding 'Rigid' brand after market white LED on passenger side and a red LED on the drivers side. These were paralleled in with the existing wiring without need for relays but they would sometimes not light up. I ended up adding resistors in series with them so that the vehicle CANBUS saw a 'proper' resistive load (same impedance as a filament) and they work great. Knowing Ohms law is handy. If the OP can take a picture of one of his headlights and possible the connectors behind them under the bonnet, we can advise what's best for the headlights. Generally, if anything has a reflector as part of the assembly, an LED will make a brighter white light output but the beam scatter will probably annoy oncoming drivers, especially with cheaper LED's where no effort is made to make the LED match the 'point source' of a filament globe with partial shrouds. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lancashirelad 386 Posted July 2 Popular Post Share Posted July 2 Existing windscreen tint is 40% tint or 40% light transmission? (the correct way tint is measured). If the latter that's 60% tint, more than 30% is too dark for a windscreen. Seen people moaning about poor headlights on this forum many times, it's alway the tint that's the problem. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaiyenyen 660 Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 I really don't think the tint is an issue. The tint is hardly noticeable when you look at the front and rear screens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now