Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: Kern Dog]
#2258211
02/23/17 02:50 PM
02/23/17 02:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 381 Ottawa, Ontario
L.R Helbling
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 381
Ottawa, Ontario
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You could disassemble the housings and repaint the insides with silver paint. I used chrome spray paint on the tail light housings for my 1971 Roadrunner and the brightness was noticeable. I do not use LEDs they are the standard 1156 and 1157 incandescent bulbs. The results were quite satisfactory.
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: GTSDart340]
#2258272
02/23/17 06:35 PM
02/23/17 06:35 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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Thanks guys. I have always been worried about my brake lights. Getting rear ended sucks. But with all these new cars having 'panic stop assist' now, you don't need brake lights. The 'drivers' aren't looking past their own windshield anyway, and the radar sensing equipment uses radio waves, they won't care about brightness of bulbs.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#2258338
02/23/17 09:23 PM
02/23/17 09:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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there was a electrical schematic for a few resistors a potentiometer & a few odds & ends than you wired in in series & when you hit the brakes it made the brake filaments blink 4-7 times then hold steady like normal depending on the pot position. I tried it but it did not work. I think the diagram was fine just that I did something wrong on wiring it up. I still have it & I oughta get after it again (it was 25 yrs ago). Hopefully I've gotten a little bit smarter since then.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: abodyjoe]
#2258415
02/23/17 11:51 PM
02/23/17 11:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,444 Indiana
YO7_A66
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,444
Indiana
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Thanks for the info Abodyjoe! I had to stop by and pickup some other bulbs today so I picked up a set of the 3496 bulbs (cheaper brand) for the Challenger. They were a direct replacement as you mentioned and the brightness was just as you mentioned too. This was not a great test since there is light around the car but the 3496 bulbs were brighter (left side) than the 1157's in this condition. This picture does not do them justice but there was a clear difference in brightness (brakes applied, engine off) for an extra $2 more per pack.
Thanks again!
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: shawge]
#2258750
02/24/17 03:17 PM
02/24/17 03:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 381 Ottawa, Ontario
L.R Helbling
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 381
Ottawa, Ontario
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Philips 1156 P21W White X-tremeVision LED Exterior light (Pack of 2) These are $109 + $5 for shipping. I'll just try the regular 796 back up bulbs first to see how I like them. I don't know how expensive they are but if they are affordable, I'd rather try those first.
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: roadrunninMark]
#2259103
02/25/17 04:13 AM
02/25/17 04:13 AM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 623 Zombieland
Car Nut
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 623
Zombieland
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Good to know! Posting so I can find this again Same here.
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: GTSDart340]
#2259110
02/25/17 05:07 AM
02/25/17 05:07 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655 Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,655
Cut and Shoot, TX
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Few people know the best way to test a ground. Testing for continuity or resistance isn't accurate enough. Testing for voltage drop from the battery to the ground, often with a long test lead, while the circuit is activated, is the accurate way: "The only accurate way of confirming the integrity of a ground circuit is to conduct a voltage drop test. It is very simple, but the circuit needs to be activated for it to be performed. All that needs to be done is to connect the positive lead of the voltmeter to the ground being tested and the negative lead to a ground surface, such as the engine-block end of the battery negative cable (or better, the battery negative post). This test often requires you to make up an extension for the voltmeter leads and may call for another set of hands, too. Make sure you use a voltmeter scale that will read in 1/100th of a volt (0.00V). A good ground is less than 0.20 volt. If the reading is at this threshold or higher, you need to examine the ground (for paint, rust, etc)." Quote from Ray Bohacz https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mus/2015/11/Ask-Ray---letters-from-November-2015/3749137.html
If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: L.R Helbling]
#2259125
02/25/17 10:20 AM
02/25/17 10:20 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050 Texas
GoodysGotaCuda
5.7L Hemi, 6spd
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5.7L Hemi, 6spd
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
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Philips 1156 P21W White X-tremeVision LED Exterior light (Pack of 2) These are $109 + $5 for shipping. I'll just try the regular 796 back up bulbs first to see how I like them. I don't know how expensive they are but if they are affordable, I'd rather try those first. I'm pretty sure that's a pricing error on Amazon's site, given the 1157 are $35, $28 if you buy ones with a damaged box. The 1156's are also $35 on eBay.. Thanks for the post, I bought a set of the Philip's 1157 [damaged box] for my Warlock that I am daily driving.
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: 71birdJ68]
#2259226
02/25/17 01:13 PM
02/25/17 01:13 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 356 NE
moparpoolman
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 356
NE
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: L.R Helbling]
#2259361
02/25/17 05:59 PM
02/25/17 05:59 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,834 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,834
Kirkland, Washington
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I found a place locally that sells 796 bayonet style reverse lights. They are incandescent Halogen. You can get them through NAPA UAP. They are about $19 each. Nickel plated base. No wire or modules to buy. They are made as an upgrade to 1156 reverse lights. 62 candle power. They are about double the light of an 1156. Gotta be careful with halogens, they burn HOT. In tight housings they've been known to melt lenses.
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: GTSDart340]
#2259374
02/25/17 06:11 PM
02/25/17 06:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 381 Ottawa, Ontario
L.R Helbling
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 381
Ottawa, Ontario
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Yeah, I've heard stories about that. But here's a snippet from Abodyjoes post about the 796 reverse lights "The extra wattage is minor (35W vs. 28W, the wires and lenses will not notice or care) and the filament is in the right place. Neither of these compliments can be said of those 50W halogen backup bulbs you see in the parts stores! 50W is wayy too much current draw (100% overload!) for the stock wiring and switch, they produce way too much heat for safety near plastic lenses, and the filament's in the wrong place so the reflector doesn't work correctly with them. The P796s work great, and you finally get to see where you're going when backing at night." That's the part that sold me.
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Re: Best way to increase brake light brightness
[Re: roadrunninMark]
#2260018
02/26/17 07:08 PM
02/26/17 07:08 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,841 South Bend
John Brown
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,841
South Bend
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Is painting the inside of the tail lights chrome even better then white? You could disassemble the housings and repaint the insides with silver paint. Actually white paint works the best. I did it to mine and the results were amazing! Do a Google search on this... White is right, or in this case, white is bright. If you're a non-believer, just ask at your local paint store what colors they have to mix together to make silver paint. You'll be surprised.
July 19th should be "Drive Like Rockford Day". R.I.P. Jimmie.
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