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Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:03 pm
by maxheadroom
Well I have been bored today so I thought I would see if I could fit a old spot light I found in the shed under the car to improve night time reversing. Anyway couldn’t find the right place to fit it, so took the spot light apart. I then thought I wonder if I can get the bulb fitting to fit the Bongo’s rear light cluster. A bit a fettling later and its fitted. Don’t know what it’s like in the dark yet but check out the pictures and I’m sure you will agree it’s brighter.

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Old spot light

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Fitted, I did water proof with tape and a bit of old bike inner tube.

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Offside

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Nearside

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:08 pm
by Bob
Watch it don't melt the plastic Max. (And schhh, it may not be legal, but that's our little secret.)

Should make going backards less tricky. :D

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:16 pm
by maxheadroom
I left it running for a few minutes when I took the pictures and then put my hand on the lens and it didn't feel that warm. I don't think most people leave it in reverse for that long :D
I have my MOT on Wednesday so let you know then :wink:

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:29 pm
by francophile1947
I don't think reversing lights affect the MOT, as they're not a safety matter. I'm pretty sure it'll be illegal for road use, as it's over 18watt.

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:18 pm
by waycar8
I was thinking a while back about having some kind of downlighter attached to the reversing mirror to illuminate the surrounding area at the rear of the vehical, had a scan about on the net and couldnt find owt what i had pictured in my head, found these
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Which is similiar to what i had in mind but without the middle bits and not glass, i was thinking more of a square which i could put around the edge of the mirror, i thought about plastic neon strip but dont think it would be bright enough.

well the type of light i wanted i would have needed one of these hanging from the mirror
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:lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:22 pm
by maxheadroom
waycar8 wrote: well the type of light i wanted i would have needed one of these hanging from the mirror
Image

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Looking good :lol: you may find it fowls the rear wiper :shock:

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:58 pm
by David Edwards
Good job, I put a thread on here the other day saying my reversing lights are pathetic and was gonna fit a old spot lamp, I know my bongo does have dark tinted glass but the lights really are terrible, perhaps I will have to re think now after seeing yours, lol.

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:34 am
by tricky
francophile1947 wrote:I don't think reversing lights affect the MOT, as they're not a safety matter. I'm pretty sure it'll be illegal for road use, as it's over 18watt.
IIRC, if they are fitted and are working properly then they need to comply with regulations. I have an MR RV8 where they haven't worked for years (and the switch is a PITA to replace) but have not had an MOT issue as they always don't work. If they were intermittent then I would have had an issue. Likewise, if they were high powered like above, I may have had an issue.

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:44 am
by You've Been Bongod
problem solved fit a reverse camera :wink:
it doesn't matter how tinted your rear screen is then you will always be able to see

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:01 pm
by David Edwards
Yea could do there is a facility for it on my dvd player along with a sat nav link, will have to have a look around for one next time I am in maplins, might trawl the net soon, lol.

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:43 pm
by You've Been Bongod
David Edwards wrote:Yea could do there is a facility for it on my dvd player along with a sat nav link, will have to have a look around for one next time I am in maplins, might trawl the net soon, lol.
daivd my good man,
you can get a camera off ebay for around £ 24 delivered from china :wink:

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:59 pm
by vanvliet
If I removed the rear mirror (leaving a four bolt mounting point) could some type of cheapo camera be mounted there tidily?

Re: Upgraded reversing light

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:02 pm
by You've Been Bongod
yes you can get a small bullet type camera again off ebay