Improve the reversing light?

Hi...I find the reversing light on my Corinium fairly woeful...unfortunately due to the can-bus system; it’s not easy to fit a brighter bulb and in truth it wouldn’t be bright enough for me...I want to have a good spread of light...(legally of course) although in the main...it’s for reversing out of the drive!...

I’m considering running a separate supply from the vehicle starter battery to a reversing lamp mounted somewhere at the back...
Anyone else completed this type of mod....??

Ray

Agreed - there's no point in trying brighter bulbs, because generally the lamp fitting is too high up and directs very little of its light downwards where you need it. We tried it on our Yaris to no useful effect. I think these days the emphasis is more on warning other road users that you are reversing than helping you see where you're going.

I'm fairly sure that you would get good results from one or two extra lamps mounted at bumper/lower apron level, wired from the engine battery via a relay to the existing reversing light. It's very unlikely that the extra load of the relay coil on the existing light will upset the filament failure monitoring (please note: it's nothing to do with CANbus!).

Although I've never tried this actual product, I would think that something like this would be about right, and could be mounted pretty discretely under the rear apron of a van:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10W-Car-Van-COB-LED-DRL-Daytime-Running-Light-Fog-Drive-Reversing-Lamp-12V-2PCS/282949902745?hash=item41e120e199:g:g1EAAOSwVJFdnE4n

If I remember right this was covered once before. 
The consensus of opinion being that reversing lights or light, are intended to warn those behind of your intension, not to give you a clear view when reversing.
If it's mainly for reversing out of your drive, either a fixed mains or solar PIR floodlight is a much better bet.
There are some really good solar floods on the market now, I have one fitted either side of the drive for just the same reason.
Al.

I think if it were me, I'd fit one of the newer 12v hi power LED floodlights, only around 10cm & 10w, throw a fantastic light. forget the agro of the canbus system, just wire it straight into one of the batterys, such low wattage, no need for a relay either.

Thanks Al....I did say that it’s mainly for reversing out of the drive; however, there have been other instances where the lack of rear illumination has been potentially hazardous...
So yes I agree flood lights at home are more more practical for reversing out of the drive but of course little else..
I’m looking at installing one!

Ray

Thanks for the link Roopert..you have a good Handel on my ideas..

Ray

Cheers Modelman, I need to research the options on suitable leds...nothing too gross!!

Ray

On the Merc chassis AS order the canbus lamp warning system is specified deleted, so that they can fit what lights they wish. Is this also done for the Boxer chassis base?

I wouldn’t know about that Peter, although...when I had mine built...I expected to have the front fog lights fitted...indeed I requested them and was told by Autosleeper that only so many options were available to me....and to fit these lights separately would involve modifications to the can-bus system...so they had to be requested pre..chassis build!!

Figure that out!!  

Ray

You could try your VIN into this , it may have your van's build spec in it.

https://carinfo.kiev.ua/cars/vin/peugeot/vin_check

just a hgv driver tip we say to put your rear fogs on this then lights up items in red making things stand out more making it better when  reversing and the fogs have a reflector so are brighter .also some trailer light don't have reverse lights still .I have off rod fog lights on my truck for loading but find the rear fogs best to reverse

Thanks Peter..I did that som time ago, it gives a lot of info but not necessarily the info you need!
However you have reminded me that I have a copy of it on my iPad, I looked at it hoping to see details about my alternator ..I was hoping that it might tell me if it’s smart or not....

Ray

I’ll try that Glyne....ta

Ray