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Exterior LED lights visible during the day!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by svitale75, May 19, 2011.

  1. svitale75

    svitale75 Prius Addict

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    I went thru a number of exterior LED lights for my Prius but none of them was visible and safe to be used during daylight until I found these vendor and model. I am very happy safely running full LED exterior except for the headlights. To have the proper blinking frequency on your turn signal lights, you will have to upgrade to an electronic flasher (see below).

    The interior has never been a problem and I've upgraded that several months ago.

    Here are the details and purchase information for both internal and external items that I've purchased:

    Dome Light

    Back up light


    Front sidemarker

    Front/rear turn signal

    License plate

    Map light

    Parking light

    Step/courtesy light

    Tail light

    Trunk/cargo area

    LED Flasher



    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-80E_sVIuro"]Day Video[/ame]
     
  2. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Would be nicer to show daytime video.
     
  3. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    I doubt your reverse light is day time visible. It's LED and the color temperature is the same as day light. I have the same problem. My reverse light is not direct sunlight visible. Now, if the car's hood is facing toward the sun, then yeah they're visible but not nearly as visible as the stock incandescent bulbs.
     
  4. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

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    Well, a reverse light needs to be illumination during dark times (say, after the rapture :tinfoil3:) but only needs to be signal lighting during the day. Certainly, I would like to have brighter light in both cases, even the stock incandescents are not bright enough in my opinion. What color temperature (of whitish light) is most visible in the daytime? Would it perhaps help to have two sources, a colored light for illumination, and a white for signalling?
     
  5. jeffsf

    jeffsf New Member

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    White signal would be blinding! But a red LED turn signal would be sick IMO. Like a bimmer. Maybe white turn signals for the front?
     
  6. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

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    Apparently I was unclear, the reverse lights function during the day is to signal our intention to back up to those around us; not to illuminate the area (like headlights). Thus, the reverse lights only need to be as bright (during the day) as other signal lights (blinkers, flashers, etc.)

    The colors are important to be linked to the function, in order to quickly and accurately communicate our intentions to others. Changing them to 'look cool' at the expense of safety is a horrible idea in my opinion.
     
  7. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    day light color temperature is around 5200k. most led lights are around 6000k. stock incandescent bulb is around 3500k. at direct sunlight, the stock bulb will give an orangeish white color and is more visible than the pure white led. there's a new led bulb on ebay that uses a 5watt cree led. it is really bright. I haven't tried it out because it's expensive but looking at the demo video it's pretty bright. red turn signal lights suck! they remind me of cheap american junk from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
     
  8. svitale75

    svitale75 Prius Addict

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    I've updated the original post.
     
  9. svitale75

    svitale75 Prius Addict

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    I've bought a 7500K AKA cold white, they are pretty visible, maybe not as much as the incandescent bulbs.

    You might be referring to 3200-5000K LED, in that case yes, they are useless...
    Both 3200K and 7500K bright a dark (at night) road pretty well and my camera is happy with it :)

    Follow the link in the original post to read the lumens and color temperature details of the LED I've used.
     
  10. svitale75

    svitale75 Prius Addict

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    Very true. Have you tried anything around 7500K?
    I had the same concern until I brought a set with enough Watts.
     
  11. svitale75

    svitale75 Prius Addict

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    In some state "running" blue and white light bulbs installed on the back of the cars are illegal! They are exclusively to be used law enforcement and road work vehicles...I think... :mod: