I was thinking of replacing the stock reverse 921 bulbs with LEDs, but instead I used some brighter halogens to make it cheap and easy.
You'll need some 8XX bulbs, I used 37.5W 894 bulbs from a Blazer foglight.
The stock bulbs are 18W, so we're going to be basically doubling the power.
Using a pair of tinsnips, I cut the bulb leads as low as I can, and then bend them to approximately where the original bulb has it's leads.
Then, pull out the stock bulb if you haven't already, stick the new bulb in the holder.
Put everything back together and you're done!
New on the left and old on the right:
Stock vs modified bulb:
Now, these are going to be drawing a lot of juice because remember we doubled the wattage, so don't leave them on too long lest you pop a fuse or melt your lenses, haha
If you can find one, might want to try a 886 bulb. They're built exactly the same but put out an extra 300 lumen over these bulbs. I just didn't have any on hand here.
Make sure you check it once a while..... using higher wattage bulb may fire harness or damage reflector. Not in 8th gen civic, but I saw report on people burned turn signal reflector at front because of using higher wattage bulb.
to match output of halogen(stock). you need to have probably 3-5W led in there
1W led provides about 75 lumens. 3W about 200 lumens. 12W about 900(SSc p7 led). regular headlight 9006 bulb about 1000lumens
Here's the 3000lm or so of a 4300k hid vs a 9005 with ~1700lm :wavey:
The HID is obviously overkill, and takes too long to warm up, but the 9005 actually works nicely.
The stock Sylvania high beam bulbs, if you take them apart, have very long leads you can easily mod to fit the stock bulb holder. And much brighter than my first 894 bulb mod
its debateable if yours are brighter. they might apear that way but how much light is actualy being thrown to back of the car.
to match output of halogen(stock). you need to have probably 3-5W led in there
1W led provides about 75 lumens. 3W about 200 lumens. 12W about 900(SSc p7 led). regular headlight 9006 bulb about 1000lumens
eficiency of leds are about 75lumens per watt(with new leds it might be higher now). halogen about 20 per watt
But if he isn't in reverse for too long then his hid bulb wouldn't have enough time to overheat but they also wouldn't have enough time to get to optimal work temp. Right?
If you guys wanna do this I suggest going to IJDMtoys(site sponser) they sell LED bulbs for your reverse lights. Super easy to install super bright and they give you a great deal if you're an 8thgen member I'll post up pics if you guys want.
How many lumen do they produce?
I've got a pair of high power 7W LEDs with optics, around 500-600lm, which look great and are brighter than stock, but they're still not as effective as the 9005s. And, they get smoking hot at the emitter. With a bulb so small it's just not possible to heatsink properly.
Any LED bulb this small with decent output is going to have a short life, that's just how it is.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
8th Generation Honda Civic Forum
12M posts
157.4K members
Since 2005
We’re a community for 8th Gen 2006 - 2011 Civic owners to discuss performance mods, body kits, Si models, turbo kits and accessories. Come Join the club!