the thread on it is half useless with broken links... anyone wanna help the LEDS i have are so dim i can barely see my plate at night

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...=605201&page=6 ?

 

pimpin-tl had the best install DIY guide.

I just noticed his site is offline, though.

You should PM him about it!

 

Which LEDs do you have? Chances are you probably bought the 360-style LED bulbs.

For rear license plate applications, you should get the "Angled Flank-Style" bulbs for the best light output... I have a picture comparison let me find it for you.

5-LED 360 STYLE BULBS Purchased from V-LEDs - http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED-B...22412-1-2.html


6-LED ANGLED FLANK STYLE BULBS Also purchased from V-LEDs - http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED-B...64848-1-2.html


THANK YOU GP16 <3

 

i really like the cathode look better =[

 

I have CCFLs ill post up pic for u tomorrow

 

Yeah I suppose it's preference... Cold Cathodes do look clean when cleanly installed. I've seen countless people who have walked into autozone and purchased the ccfl and installed it with the cathode tube clearly hanging above the license plate. Looks so half-assed and cheap. Not to mention the quality of the ccfl that they bought lights up purple/blue instead of clean white.

I've seen people here on azine who have installed it correctly and it looks nice with the actual tube hidden.

In my opinion tho, cold cathode is a bit overkill. My angled flank style bulbs are bright as fuck and are simply plug and play. Cold cathodes are bright as fuck also, but requires too much work in my opinion compared to just simply swapping a bulb.

It's all preference I guess.... It's similar to HID reverse lights or CREE or 8W LED Reverse lights... they are both bright, albeit the HIDs are insanely bright but requires running wires and mounting ballasts compared to simply just swapping bulbs.

 

I met up with shtewps who has cold cathodes and I have LEDs and we determined that the cold cathodes weren't WAY brighter but they were noticeably brighter and whiter.

I would do cold cathodes.

The only downside is that cold cathodes takes longer to get bright.

LEDs are instantly bright.

That's not to say I don't like LEDs. Hell, I love my LEDs, but if they burn out I'll be getting cold cathodes.

 

CCFL FTW...have had no problems over the last two years after installing my cold cathodes. Love the look, and the install wasnt bad at all.
If i ever have to change them it would be a breeze anyhow because i keep my trunk gutted as part of the "diet Thread" that innacurate has.

Either way you will be happy though. GL

 

Just retrofit LED boards for a custom install. Just did mine over the weekend. BRIGHTER then anything out there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6625828979/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6625827211/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6625850591/

 

That looks awsome!!!!!! I think Ima try and do something like that.... Maybe also try and retro some into the reverse lights

 

Damn that's bright man.

Got any pictures further away?

 

I will take some tomorrow night

 

I wouldnt bother with cold cathodes. I tried them once on a previous TL and they lasted like a month (and this is not an exxaggeration). One of them turned pruple then died the next day. They have so many higher quality LED's available now that its just not worth it to do some crazy custom cold cathode install. Right now I have pure white LED bulbs in my plates and the color is 100% identical to OEM cars like Lexus. They were simple plug and play install and work flawlessly.
The bulbs I use are part number WLED-WHP (pure white) from superbrightleds.com Have been using them for years they are awesome. That same bulb works very nicely for the interior as well.

James

 

Hey James, you got any pictures?

 

I'm not too crazy about cold cathodes, I don't see what the point is of letting everyone two blocks away be able to clearly read your license plate numbers at night. That being said I do love a nice clean white light for the license plate, so I used these LEDS http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED-B...-p7114849.html. They are plenty bright for me I'd say between OEM and cold cathode tubes and have a nice clean white color. Also if you would like more output they have the same setup with 4 LEDS which I assume would be crazy bright http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED-B...-p8761053.html. Best of all both are simple plug and play.

 

Well unfortunately I dont have a great picture that shows the true color and output. Not only that but I have a special IL plate that is all black (to match my NBP TLS:-) which also makes it hard to tell. I will say that as far as brightness and color they are as close as your gonna get to OEM LED plate lighting thats found on newer cars. superbrightleds.com WLED-WHP

Again, not a great picture to show plate lights, but its something.

 

Dammit cant find these pics... Ill keep searching and ill post up

 

http://people.cs.tamu.edu/mlw8723/CC/cathodeTLhowto.htm

 

That's the ticket.

Thanks.

 

No prob

 

THANK U SOO MUCH! something I've been looking forward to doing. I saw a red TL-S Yesterday with them and it just has a nicer look to it.