reversing light

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:19 pm

Having dented the rear corner of my Freda shortly after getting it I'm now a very careful parker. At night the rear mirror seems unhelpful - the built in reversing lights dont seem much help. I've done a forum search and theres some posts re using leds in the number plate spot I think but has anyone any advice on just buying a £7 reversing light from say Charlie Browns and fitting it - and if you've done that did it effect much improvement?

NeilT · Post by **NeilT** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:21 pm

we got reversing sensors of e-bay, easy to fit, and they work great

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:56 pm

Thanks Neil - I did wonder about sensors. How wide/solid does the sensed object need to be. Outside my house I have a council guard rail about 4ft high, round bars and a top rail, something that sensed that would be ideal. And what model/cost did you buy? Maybe this is the way to do it.
Ron

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:11 pm

Rear sensors and exta reverse lights are the way to go Ronhud...The problem at night is that the original reverse lights seem to throw light backwards, not downwards... you need some light to shine down to illuminate the floor immediately behind you to see in the parking mirror.

I have extra reverse/foglights in my rear bumper (angled down slightly) for excellent rear visibility in the dark.

The rear sensors are really good...sometimes a little too good,they will "see" a squashed tin can for example...

I had to jam on the brake in reverse once cos they had picked up on a painted line in the road!

Post by **Bob** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:32 pm

As always there is a fly in the ointment, I've a good idea it is illegal to fit more than 2 revesing lights. This wouldn't be a problem if you disconnect the originals, which you could then use a fog lights, then you wouldn't need your retro-fit fog light, which you could use as a reversing light. That does look like a nice neat job.

NeilT · Post by **NeilT** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:45 pm

I got my sensors for £300.00 from e-bay, they are wireless and are about £8.00 in Argos, they work a treat, keep an eye on e-bay for a bargain

There are plenty on e-bay right now
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search. ... ng+sensors

with buy now for £19.99!!!

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:08 pm

Bob wrote:As always there is a fly in the ointment, I've a good idea it is illegal to fit more than 2 revesing lights. This wouldn't be a problem if you disconnect the originals, which you could then use a fog lights, then you wouldn't need your retro-fit fog light, which you could use as a reversing light. That does look like a nice neat job.

I have a set of red bulbs in the glovebox ron for m.o.t.'s etc.

My bongo is pretty much mothballed over the winter anyway,i've never in my 4 years of ownership ever needed to use the foglights as foglights!

The lights in the bumper was originally a single dangly red fog light. then two,then two danglies with clear lenses,and now in their current guise....phew!

They are switchable Ron,(as indeed the original foglight was) they are only switched on when i reverse up my drive,or, if it gets a bit close to a car at night when parallel parking.

The parking sensors of neil's seem a great buy...Especially wirleless ones!

I wish they were available when i did mine

Post by **Bob** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:28 pm

Brilliant idea to pop in red bulbs as and when, can't argue with that, I agree that you hardly ever need to use rear fog lights, the Highway Code is quite clear "Visibility less than 100m", (I think they mean mertic yards not miles) and that is quite rare.

It is a right pain when the Bone Heads switch on rear fog light at the first spot of rain - they actualy increase the chance of being rear ended as there is no contrast when their brake lights come on and give the rest of us a headache.

I am aslo amazed at the people who think the visibility is bad enough for fog lights (the clue is in the name) yet think it is good enough to drive as 70mph+.

Gripe over.

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:42 pm

Bob

When you live up in the Pennines like we do, fog lights become a bit more important!

The 'fog' we get is low cloud (isn't that what it is anyway?) - and yes it is very common in the winter, when you are going 'over the tops', from white to red (rose!).

We live only about 500ft up, but the cloud is often down to 600-700 feet, which is only just 'up the road'.

Post by **Bob** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:56 pm

Yep, I can see that (or not), no problem using fog lights in fog, that's what they're for, it's just in rain, on the motorway...

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:04 pm

Thanks again all - I'm going to fit wireless sensors - just made an offer for a set so i will see what happens. I also have a dangly fog light at the rear, I wonder if I can convert that to a manually switched reversing light by just replacing the fitting with a simple reversing light fitting.

Neil - from your photo it looks as if you fitted alll 4 sensors at the rear, with hindsight do you think that is vital?

This Forum is an absolute godsend.

Ron

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:05 pm

Sorry - its BigDaddy photo I meant to refer to!
Ron

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:41 pm

Hi Ron,

Is your dangly foglight this type made by "ring" but has a red lens?(excuse the small pic)

If, so, the clear lenses can be simply screwed into place instead of the red one.

I think i still have those (clear) lenses knocking about, if you pm me your address, i'll gladly post them to you free of charge.

The rear parking sensors on my bongo are the wired variety unfortunately, so all four sensors had to be installed as the wires connect to the "control box" internally.

They were originally black, i colour coded them so they didn't stick out like a sore thumb!

I barely notice they are there now...

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:23 pm

The fog light just has the word 'LASER' and some nos on it - I dont think its a Ring make. Thanks for the offer of lenses - I can get a complete reversing light locally for 6.999 so that will be the route for now. I should be able to set an angle on the dangly.

Re sensors - what I've found so far is that the wireless ones are wireless between the control box and sensors so I understand your point now. Have'nt seen any that are wireless between sensor and control.

Just bought a gas hob on ebay for £25 so next job but one is to build a modest little cooking facility in the back.

Ron

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:25 pm

Damn - I meant wireless between control box and monitor - it must be all those bongos playing in my head!
Ron