Watts... Traditional bulbs vs. LED?

[Manhattan]

As has been discussed, the backup lights on the 100s are no better than any other car or truck. I swapped the bulbs for the LEDs. They're better... but still pretty lame. In a perfect world, I'd have backup lights that matched the headlights.

I know I can't mount a row of 100 watt KC Daylighters on the roof rack and power them with the factory backup light wiring, because the wiring, fuses, etc. were intended for that draw (and it's not 1986). But, what would be reasonable in the LED world - how powerful of an LED could I run with that factory harness - assuming it's moved from the OEM backup lights to the new LEDs.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Currently your back up blubs are ~20 watts each. A 20 watt LED flood/spot should net 8 -10 times the output for the same wattage or about 100 lumens per LED watt. A 75 watt 120 flood light (like what is in your ceiling recessed cans at home) provides ~650 lumens.

 

[CappyKD]

I removed both of my factory backup bulbs to free up the load on the circuit and then I spliced in two LED lights mounted to the rear tire carrier. the LED's I used are 18w arrays one in spot pattern and one in flood. My reverse lights are brighter that my factory low beam headlights.

 

[hankinid]

I know I can't mount a row of 100 watt KC Daylighters on the roof rack and power them with the factory backup light wiring, because the wiring, fuses, etc. were intended for that draw (and it's not 1986). But, what would be reasonable in the LED world - how powerful of an LED could I run with that factory harness - assuming it's moved from the OEM backup lights to the new LEDs.

I'm currently running 2 generic 35W PAR36 bulbs in rubber housings (you'll see 'em at any parts store, tractor supply store, etc.) with no issues whatsoever, along with OEM reverse lights. Reverse light circuit runs through 20A "Gauge" fuse, but the fuse powers other stuff in addition to reverse lights.

I found a neat solution here... https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/reverse-lights-any-other-options.814421/ .

It's at the bottom of the page. Given it's cheap, my plan now is to remove the halogen bulbs and replace them with the stick-on LED's.

hth

Steve