Can it be any brighter?
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Can it be any brighter?
YES it can!
For those of you guys who are unfamiliar with me, I started a DIY couple months ago for retrofitting bigger LEDs for the license plate lights. ( https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/diy-custom-retrofit-license-plate-lights-insanely-bright-898094/ )Some people started to install some pretty bright and custom LEDs too so I decided I had to step it up a notch.
I decided that the stock housing has just enough room for double the LEDs. I also wanted to use the clear covers like the ones jkopuffs got from ijdmtoy: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/ijdmtoy-license-plate-lights-908438/#post14953428
So I stopped by ijdmtoy and bought a set of license plate light housings and began work.
First step was to double the number of sockets. All wires are soldered and shrink tubed professionally for a clean and reliable install.
Here's the OEM cover vs the ijdmtoy ones for comparison:
Time to start cutting up my new housings:
At the end of all this, I realized the clear covers had a slightly curved surface which ended up distorting the light output and made it undesirable for me. I was looking for an OEM-like beam pattern. So I scrapped the clear covers idea and went back to the OEM covers.
All wires cleanly tucked for reliability and clean looking:
I just finished this install so I haven't taken any night pics but it should be noticeably brighter than my previous setup. Previous pics of my setup can be found in my previous thread as stated: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898094
Now, keep in mind this mod is NOT for everyone, some may find this unnecessary. I do lighting work as a side business so any custom and unique lighting really appeals to me. I had fun while doing this.
For those of you guys who are unfamiliar with me, I started a DIY couple months ago for retrofitting bigger LEDs for the license plate lights. ( https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/diy-custom-retrofit-license-plate-lights-insanely-bright-898094/ )Some people started to install some pretty bright and custom LEDs too so I decided I had to step it up a notch.
I decided that the stock housing has just enough room for double the LEDs. I also wanted to use the clear covers like the ones jkopuffs got from ijdmtoy: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/ijdmtoy-license-plate-lights-908438/#post14953428
So I stopped by ijdmtoy and bought a set of license plate light housings and began work.
First step was to double the number of sockets. All wires are soldered and shrink tubed professionally for a clean and reliable install.
Here's the OEM cover vs the ijdmtoy ones for comparison:
Time to start cutting up my new housings:
At the end of all this, I realized the clear covers had a slightly curved surface which ended up distorting the light output and made it undesirable for me. I was looking for an OEM-like beam pattern. So I scrapped the clear covers idea and went back to the OEM covers.
All wires cleanly tucked for reliability and clean looking:
I just finished this install so I haven't taken any night pics but it should be noticeably brighter than my previous setup. Previous pics of my setup can be found in my previous thread as stated: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898094
Now, keep in mind this mod is NOT for everyone, some may find this unnecessary. I do lighting work as a side business so any custom and unique lighting really appeals to me. I had fun while doing this.
#4
Land of 10,000 lakes
iTrader: (2)
Holy smokes! I just installed my ijdmtoy lights yesterday and they are much brighter than my cold cathode tubes! I believe I have three LEDS that went out already though, I'll have to inspect them on my way home. The one thing I didn't know about the ijdmtoy lights is that the harness is different so it's not plug-n-play.
Yours do look great though, I may have to look into what you did if anymore LEDS burn out after an hour of use.
Yours do look great though, I may have to look into what you did if anymore LEDS burn out after an hour of use.
#5
Team Owner
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Nice work, Paperboy!
#6
Race Director
iTrader: (8)
Holy smokes! I just installed my ijdmtoy lights yesterday and they are much brighter than my cold cathode tubes! I believe I have three LEDS that went out already though, I'll have to inspect them on my way home. The one thing I didn't know about the ijdmtoy lights is that the harness is different so it's not plug-n-play.
Yours do look great though, I may have to look into what you did if anymore LEDS burn out after an hour of use.
Yours do look great though, I may have to look into what you did if anymore LEDS burn out after an hour of use.
I just bought the same bulbs as paperboy and I was worried if they are brighter than my cold cathodes.
If your iJDMToy lights is brighter than cold cathodes, and these bulbs are brighter than the iJDMToy lights, I'm satisfied
#7
Racer
That looks really nice, although it's a bit bright for my tastes. I personally like an OEM look, which I was able to achieve with a pair of bulbs from VLEDs (link). Although when I ordered, it was only $4.99, but now that I think about it, it was probably on sale.
It's not the best picture, but you get the idea.
It's not the best picture, but you get the idea.
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#10
That isn't bright enough, I think you could do better. So when are you going to put HID's in there...?
#14
Racer
#16
Racer
It's not even that...I'm just thinking about when I lock/unlock the doors. All that flashing would make the bulbs go out prematurely. Reminds me of the other thread where the OP wanted to use HIDs for turn signals.
#17
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
The other thread was regarding the use of HIDs which are completely different. He even linked a mythbusters video in his thread where it showed LEDs were the only bulbs working after 6 weeks of on and off cycles
#21
Racer
you must be new to LEDs...but here's some info for you. these LEDs are no different than LEDs anywhere else. LEDs are made to handle repeated on and off usage. No worries here.
The other thread was regarding the use of HIDs which are completely different. He even linked a mythbusters video in his thread where it showed LEDs were the only bulbs working after 6 weeks of on and off cycles
The other thread was regarding the use of HIDs which are completely different. He even linked a mythbusters video in his thread where it showed LEDs were the only bulbs working after 6 weeks of on and off cycles
Last edited by bla8291; 04-24-2014 at 06:13 AM.
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