Auxillary light bulb question

[valleyman]

I like the underbody light kit that illuminates the area under the front doors so much that I mounted another underbody light in the rear of the car. I mounted it in the middle of the rear skid plate that I got from DR and wired it so it goes on when the trunk is opened to illuminate the ground at the rear of the car. I would like to tweak it a little bit because it is a wee bit too bright for my tastes; it's just a little brighter than the Ford underbody lights.

The bulb that's in the light fixture is the type they sell at auto parts stores for back-up lights, it has a single element and mounts by twisting it into a spring-loaded socket. There are several different bulbs that will fit but I can't figure out how you tell the brightness. The application books in the store don't tell you and no one in any of the stores knows either. For one manufacturer, say Sylvania or GE, is the higher the number on the bulb mean a brighter bulb, like a 1096 compared to a 1154? Does anyone know so I don't have to buy a handful of bulbs?

Thanks for any help as I continue to be ignorant and unworthy. :bandit:

[the_pack_rat]

There used to be a website that had a GREAT comparison chart that gave you specs for all kinds of automotive bulbs ... but I can't find it(even tried to google it).

I'll see if I can find the hardcopy I printed out a few yrs back.

[the_pack_rat]

Ok, found the hardcopy of the chart ...

This WAS the site it came from a couple of years ago ... but it's under construction :

http://www.litebulbs.com

You probably have 1156's now which are 32 CP(candlepower).

Your choices from the chart below. The specs read from left to right as follows :

Bulb # - Volts - Watts - Amps - Candlepower

1156 - 12.80 - 13.88 - 2.10 - 32.00(what you prob have for comparison)

67 - 13.5 - 7.97 - 0.59 - 4.00

89 - 13.0 - 7.54 - 0.58 - 6.00

97 - 13.5 - 9.32 - 0.69 - 4.00

1003 - 12.80 - 12.03 - 0.94 - 15.00

1141 - 12.80 - 18.43 - 1.43 - 21.00

The 67 & 89 & 97's are generally used in license plate lamp apps.

The 1003's are generally used as underhood & trunk lamp apps.

The 1141 doesn't have an application specified(just says GM models thru present), but I'd guess it is for underhood & trunk apps like the 1003.

NOTE -

The ONLY one of the above bulbs that shares the same size glass as the 1156 is the 1141, the glass of the other bulbs are smaller.

I'd say the license plate spec lamps are probably a waste of time(not bright enough) ... you probably want to go with a 1003 or 1141.

[valleyman]

Eric - that's exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you. :bows:

[Warpath]

You can probably wire a resistor in series with the bulb to drop the voltage down at the bulb.

[valleyman]

Warpath - I hadn't thought of that. That's probably what I'll do since the wiring is much more accessible now than the bulb is.

[Architect]

Wait, who, what, where, how?....What underbody lights?...I ain't got no underbody lights...
Who has underbody lights and how do I get um?
Thanks, architect


I like the underbody light kit that illuminates the area under the front doors so much that I mounted another underbody light in the rear of the car. I mounted it in the middle of the rear skid plate that I got from DR and wired it so it goes on when the trunk is opened to illuminate the ground at the rear of the car. I would like to tweak it a little bit because it is a wee bit too bright for my tastes; it's just a little brighter than the Ford underbody lights.

The bulb that's in the light fixture is the type they sell at auto parts stores for back-up lights, it has a single element and mounts by twisting it into a spring-loaded socket. There are several different bulbs that will fit but I can't figure out how you tell the brightness. The application books in the store don't tell you and no one in any of the stores knows either. For one manufacturer, say Sylvania or GE, is the higher the number on the bulb mean a brighter bulb, like a 1096 compared to a 1154? Does anyone know so I don't have to buy a handful of bulbs?

Thanks for any help as I continue to be ignorant and unworthy. :bandit: