P38A Reverse lamp, electrickery knowledgeable peeps, what do you think?

kermit_rr said:

Can you put some LEDs in place of regular bulbs? Should be brighter
LEDs are great

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Datatek said:

18 watts additional load should be operated from the reverse lamps via a relay. Leave the existing bulbs in place.
An alternative is to use the trailer wiring to drive the lamp unit., I can supply the connection info if you want it.

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Flossie said:

Brilliant! Never occurred to me to use the trailer wiring. I've got the socket on the back but don't know if I've got a reverse feed there or is it somewhere else on all 38's regardless?. I did redo the socket 3 yrs ago as it was a rusty mess and it works fine towing a trailer but I didn't know or care if I had caravan type stuff at the time as I had no intention of towing anything other than a simple trailer. There is a relay setup near the battery which is possibly to do with a caravan but I disconnected it.

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marjon said:

The basic 12n socket doesn't have a reverse light connection. its the Aux 12s that does. but what @Datatek is saying is that there is a connection in the back for the 12s so has a reverse light function (I think).

Not sure if a little LED light bar wired in series with the reverse lights would work as it probably wouldn't effect the system to cause or not the "bulb out " function.

J

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Flossie said:

Brilliant! Never occurred to me to use the trailer wiring. I've got the socket on the back but don't know if I've got a reverse feed there or is it somewhere else on all 38's regardless?. I did redo the socket 3 yrs ago as it was a rusty mess and it works fine towing a trailer but I didn't know or care if I had caravan type stuff at the time as I had no intention of towing anything other than a simple trailer. There is a relay setup near the battery which is possibly to do with a caravan but I disconnected it.

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Flossie said:

Can't see much when reversing in the dark, replacement led bulbs from halfords a bit better but still poor.
I've spotted a durite(usually good quality stuff)reverse lamp that will fit quite neatly under the rear bumper for around £30. 6" wide, 1" high, 1"deep. Screenshot of the spec below.
Bit worried about upsetting the becm? I forget what wattage the halfords led bulbs were but I can find out later. I do get the blown bulb message on the message center as expected but should I remove these bulbs when fitting the durite? Or would those bulbs plus the durite still be under what the becm can happily handle? View attachment 333814

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Grrrrrr said:

I got an LED spotlight and mounted it from that hole in the wheel-well. Ran power out to it and then used a relay off the reversing light wire at the rear light cluster. You can't see the light unit unless you go looking underneath but when I throw it into reverse at night it floods everything behind me with a low level beam of light - won't blind anyone because the body shields them. I put a switch in there too in case the MoT people didn't like it but they've never commented.

Edit: I also have the Halfords LED bulbs (for off-road use only) and they're much better than the originals.

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Grrrrrr said:

I got an LED spotlight and mounted it from that hole in the wheel-well. Ran power out to it and then used a relay off the reversing light wire at the rear light cluster. You can't see the light unit unless you go looking underneath but when I throw it into reverse at night it floods everything behind me with a low level beam of light - won't blind anyone because the body shields them. I put a switch in there too in case the MoT people didn't like it but they've never commented.

Edit: I also have the Halfords LED bulbs (for off-road use only) and they're much better than the originals.

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Flossie said:

It's the halfords off road ones I used, not impressed tbf. The hole in the wheel well is where me water runs out , assuming you mean the bung hole near the turret with the thread in it?

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Flossie said:

Ordered the above lamp after having a quick look at the other socket I have on the back. Not sure what it's for even though I replaced it 3+ years ago because it was already there but rusted out. Its got a white coloured spring cover rather than the black that the other socket has and the black one is the one I use only. My memory is terrible, can't even remember doing it during the restoration.
Anywhoo, the terminal in the white socket that is at 12 'O' clock is a reverse light feed and it works when tested, so I'll find a convenient place to tap into that wire. I might even wire directly into the back of the socket if the wire(s) will fit through the socket rubber franger thing without comprising water tightness.
Rear of the towbar crossmember looks like a suitable place to mount the lamp but it'll be a little high and maybe not ideal but I'll have a play when it arrives.

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