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Replaced Turn Signals, Fog Lights, High Beams, Parking Lights & Rear License Plate Bulbs

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by stream, Jun 13, 2009.

  1. donkitchen

    donkitchen Junior Member

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    LED Fogs would be pretty slick. Like to see that info if you come across it.


     
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I found LED bulbs for our fog lamps many months ago and posted about them. I dont have the link sorry. But my concerns are evident in this post in this forum: LED H11 Fog Light Bulbs... - Drive Accord Honda Forums

    The LED's in the fog lamps are simply not bright enough. They are for looks more than anything. The ones I found were $25 a bulb and consisted of one either 1W or 3W luxeon LED. They would look reallyh sweet against the LED's on a Prius V and the LED parking light conversion some of us have done, but in the way or practical lighting they just wouldn't do much.
     
  3. mayfair1572

    mayfair1572 New Member

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    Rick,

    I've recently purchased a 2010 Prius IV. I've been following the posts regarding people swapping stock bulbs with whiter and brighter one's. Since I'm no expert I just want to be sure that it's safe to replace the stock bulbs as follows: front and rear turn signals with Phillips Silver Vision, parking lights and rear license plate with Phillips Blue Vision and the high beams with PIAA Intense White.

    Thanks.
     
  4. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Is it to DOT code, probably not since the silver stars and blue visions are not sold in the US, but they will not cause any problems. Myself and others have been using them on our 2010's since May/June as well as used them on previous vehicles for years without any problems.
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Blue vision isn't that much brighter so I'm sure it's DOT compliant (I have the blue visions as my maplights and the stock lamp as the personal light and there's a difference but not as much as you think).

    Silverstars aren't that much brighter either lol. THey're just whiter, giving an illusion that it's a lot brighter than it really is. This is the standard Sylvania Silverstar (not the Silverstar Ultra or the Osram Silverstar).
     
  6. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Yeah, the blue visions do give off a brighter whiter light compared to stock when used inside the car like in the map lights and doors but once its done it's not a wow look at that change like LED's would be. The fact the bulb is blue, if used on external applications, may make it illegal but not sure since it can only be used for parking lights etc not headlights. For the silver stars, I was thinking he meant the silver ones me and stream did with the silver coating on them so you don't see the yellow in the reflector. But I already forget the name of them, silver something right? lol, too late last night and too early this morning :cool:
     
  7. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    While I am not Rick :p , I'll answer your question anyway.

    If you look at the first post of this thread, the bulbs you list above are the ones I used to upgrade my Prius (plus I upgraded the fogs). That was 6 months ago and no issues. I've also used these bulbs on several other cars, with no issues. I had them in my last car for 4.5 years with no issues.

    All these bulbs are from high quality manufacturers. Where you could run into trouble is with some off brand bulb that draws more wattage than the stock bulbs (which is the cheaper alternative to achieving whiter/brighter light), and then you could have an electrical issue, or heat issue (that could melt the housings or lenses).
     
  8. jsharpe

    jsharpe Member

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    I just completed the next round of LED conversion. This time it was the map lights. The images below show the various parts I cobbled together including a couple of incredibly bright Cree XPG R5 bin LED's (from cutter), a pair of inexpensive constant current drivers (from Sure Electronics), and a couple wedge base adapters stolen from some other LED replacement "bulbs". One of the pictures below shows them only partially installed (I still need to pick up some thick double sticky foam for the driver board) but it's close enough to get an idea of the size of the components.

    The end result is amazingly white and bright with a broad uniform spread. The camera doesn't show how different the color temperature actually is. In reality the stock bulbs look like dim orange candlelight in comparison. I was wondering if the single XPG's would end up being bright enough and had contemplated using a 3way light engine on each side. After seeing these installed, I'm glad I didn't. These ended up on the high end of how bright I would want them. Much brighter and I think they might cause sunburn. :)

    I'm pretty floored by how much light these little guys put out without even driving them very hard. I'm driving them at only 700ma but they are rated at 345 lumens at 1A. (Heck with those millicandela specs, these things rate like regular light bulbs!)

    Now to do a similar install for the dome and cargo areas.

    [​IMG]

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  9. mgb4tim

    mgb4tim Noob

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    I like it. The map lights are a bit dim. So, when you ordered our LED's from cutter, did you order it mounted to the XPG10SRO base (I'm guessing from the part #, it's a 10mm round base)?
     
  10. jsharpe

    jsharpe Member

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    Yes these are the 10mm round light engines. I also ordered some 10mm square ones at the same time for a different application since available optics to form a narrower beam are designed to work with the square bases. For Prius replacements I just left them bare since the wide and even beam pattern is perfect without any optics.

    I'm still amazed at the massive amount of light that comes out of such a small single dot. You definitely won't think these are too dim. They do run a bit warm but that would be easy to fix with a small heat sink. I didn't bother since they typically aren't on very long.

    For the dome and cargo lights a bayonet adapter would be useful, although I ended up just tucking the power leads between the metal parts and the plastic frame. The spring pressure was plenty to hold them securely.
     
  11. HI MPG

    HI MPG Active Member

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    When you are referencing the map lights, are you referring to the vanity lights above the visors or the light in the overhead console? If you are referring to the vanity lights above the visor, the lights are oriented horizontally. The overhead map lights have the bulb facing vertically downward. At least that's the way they are on my IV.
    And I'm not sure if that round flat SMD wedge will fit in the vanity light space....
     
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  12. jsharpe

    jsharpe Member

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    That is correct. I have some pictures of the map light area back on post #128 in this thread.
     
  13. hlkc

    hlkc New Member

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  14. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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  15. stream

    stream Senior Member

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  16. hlkc

    hlkc New Member

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    Thanks and yeah they don't look quite the same but want to confirm.

    Yes, I found them but they don't have the W5W for rear lisc and parking lights not to mention Powerbulbs throw in a set free when order.

    Btw, how long for you to get it after you ordered? Thanks.
     
  17. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Yes--powerbulbs.com had better pricing. It only took a few business days to receive them, even though they are located in the UK.
     
  18. SDM44

    SDM44 SeƱor Member

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    I bought some Phillips Silver Vision bulbs from Aftermarket Bulbs Shop. I just did a search on Google looking for the bulbs, and I saw that they carried them and had them in stock, and they're located in the US. From the time I ordered them and received them in LA, it only took 3 business days to get them. Fast service and no problems with them.

    I might be selling them if the 27-SMD amber LEDs I have on order look better/brighter, but I'll see how those turn out and take some pics of them. In the meantime, here are some pics of the Silver Vision bulbs in my car that I just put in tonight.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  19. hlkc

    hlkc New Member

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    It looks very nice. Can't wait to put them in my car. Too bad it is out of stock... Thanks for the info.
     
  20. RaiderRed

    RaiderRed New Member

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    I did this over the weekend. I can tell the difference in the headlights. And the turn signals look cleaner now (IMO). Thanks for posting Stream.