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Reverse light bulbs – 50 watt

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K5_Fla

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Anyone use them? I just changed mine today to 50 watt (Eiko 1156) nice difference. Also cleaned the inside of the lenses. I left them on for a few min, didn’t seem to get the tail light too hot….but I guess it could start melting the tail light after 10 min or so. I never seem to have it in reverse for more than 2 min

Anyone had an issues with the higher watt bulbs?
 
K5_Fla said:
Anyone use them? I just changed mine today to 50 watt (Eiko 1156) nice difference. Also cleaned the inside of the lenses. I left them on for a few min, didn’t seem to get the tail light too hot….but I guess it could start melting the tail light after 10 min or so. I never seem to have it in reverse for more than 2 min

Anyone had an issues with the higher watt bulbs?
Click to expand...


The factory light wiring and sockets SUCK, i wouldn't increase the wattage. You are just asking for a melted housing/fire.

Its easy enough to wire up aux backup lights, under teh bumper, and run them off a relay.
 
I hate the idea of adding lights to the back, or tapping into wires.

what is the wattage of the stock bulb 30 watt?

anyone else have comments? I have heard most say they have no issues...
 
Have you tried the SilverStar Bulbs? I just purchased some and they are a whole lot brighter than OEM.
 
K5_Fla said:
Anyone use them? I just changed mine today to 50 watt (Eiko 1156) nice difference. Also cleaned the inside of the lenses. I left them on for a few min, didn’t seem to get the tail light too hot….but I guess it could start melting the tail light after 10 min or so. I never seem to have it in reverse for more than 2 min

Anyone had an issues with the higher watt bulbs?
Click to expand...
Where'd you get those bulbs?

I remember 10 or so years ago finding 50w replacement backup bulbs at the parts store but now I can't find them anywhere. I too don't particularly want to add lights under my bumper or something begging to get ripped off at the first stream crossing or whatever. I have a set of add-on backup lights but meh...haven't put them on yet.
 
As I posted here a year or so ago, my 60 model Jeep did not come with backup lights.
I got tired of replacing tail light assemblies.
They did not cost much, they were generic NAPA tail lights that I bought a case at a time.
Think I paid about $3 apiece.

But, trying to turn around in the woods at night would usually cost me 3 or 4 per year.
My motto was "Just back up until you hear something crunch".

Finally I mounted a pair of those 150,000 candlepower 7 inch JC Whitney driving lights on the back.
Ran it to a switch on the dash.
It was great for turning around in the woods at night.

And, because I was young and stupid, I found it very useful for those guys who would run up behind me and put their high beams on because I was driving too slow for them in town.

They only did it once.

In your case, if you do a lot of turning around on trails at night, I would consider mounting a pair of those 55 watt rectangular flood/fog lights in the back.

Just be sure to run them through a relay!!

There is no sense in having to replace a backup light switch, maybe some wiring, and then have to put the relay on anyway.

I would let the backup switch fire the relay only, and run a heavier power line from the power source to the relay and then heavy wire from the relay to the lights.

Here is a kit that probably has what you need.

http://www.amazon.com/KC-HiLiTES-51..._6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1291840351&sr=1-6

Probably find it cheaper somewhere else, or as separate parts.

But, it only has to prevent you from backing off into a stump hole or small creek to pay for its self.
 
what wattage are your Silver Stars? 50 watt? part # ? any issues?
I'm a little worried about fire ... not so much melting the tail light ...since I only use reverse a few min at a time..


Suecyde said:
Have you tried the SilverStar Bulbs? I just purchased some and they are a whole lot brighter than OEM.
Click to expand...
 
I know most people do and would rather use an exterior (seperate ) reverse light mounted on the rear.

I would rather not do that. Instead just try to make the stock reverse lights a little better.

I just dont want to truck to catch fire as a result :-)
 
I've been using 50 watt bulbs on my Burb for the past couple of years, no issues with melting lenses or wiring/socket problems yet. They are a big difference in the light output too, i like them. :D
 
I just bought a set of these 50w bulbs from JC Whitney and so far they are fine.

I'd be surprised if they catch on fire as the fuse should blow before anything drastic like that happens. And I dunno about you, but I usually only back up for about 10-20 seconds max, so things would have to heat up a LOT to cause problems that quickly.
 
Jessie - that's what I wanted to hear. And yes... I never have it in reverse for more than 1 min.
 
Update - I just took my thermal heat/leak detector and went out their to measure the temp. Keep in mind that it's like 20 degrees F out here. The plastic lens came in at a whopping 12 degrees F and when I put on the reverse lights there was no appreciable rise in temperature.

I put my hand over the lens and confirmed it's cold to the touch for up to a minute, which was as long as I could stand the cold. My hand registered 59 degrees (the wind skews the reading) but I did not notice the plastic of the lens getting hot at all. In fact, I would have been rad pressed to tell you if the light was on or not if my eyes were closed.

Now I've run some 160w H3 driving lights in an old car and those I did run larger wires and relays, and I could feel the heat from the beam over 10' - yes feet - away.

I think we're safe folks. However, seeing as how my last Blazer caught on fire, maybe this one will too! :o
 
The main reason i went with the brighter bulbs, is because i can no longer see out the rear or side windows at night due to the added layer of 5% limo tint, on top of the factory tinted glass :D,, i used to haul all my tint supplies around in the truck, and didn't want anybody seeing inside during the daylight hours.

I installed these lights mainly to light up that area back there and it's a huge difference when using your mirrors during backing, which i'm used to anyways.

As mentioned, i have been using them for the past couple of years, i get comments from people when they are standing towards the rear of the truck and i put it in reverse, "man those lights are bright"

ALSO, i'm using the 50 watt halogens too, still no issues with melting housings or wiring problems. I have felt the housing when they are on, it does warm up alittle, but nothing to cause problems.

oh BTW, i bought mine at Autozone
 
I put mine in today eiko 1156 - got them at Orielly. When it gets dark I'm going to see the difference - I sure it will be big.

this is great because I hate the idea of hanging flood light off the rear bumper. This way looks stock and only costs about $8 and 10 min.

I need a little more light and it seems these 50 watts will be perfect.
 
yea... those suckers are a lot brighter. I lifted up the cover and put them on. Didnt seem to get very hot after a few min .... they look like head lights....lol

393914693.jpg
 
Anybody willing to get me a set or two of these and send them to me? I'll pay for everything and your time as well. I bet a search this year would be as fruitless as it was last year.
 
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