LED License Plate Bulb

[HVT]

Originally Posted by crazydude

For me the bulb was touching the plastic housing. After a drive of 2+ hrs, touched the plastic housing and found it very hot.

I didn't want to take a chance and went with a smaller bulb size instead.

Just wanted to let the readers know.

Gotcha

[Phatty McPatty]

Vehicle light-color restrictions are pretty vague. Typically they refer to light needing to be "white", "amber" or "red". In this case "white" isn't very descriptive; it can mean ~2,500K~6,000K, but that's not official. Automotive regulation doesn't define "white". So broadly any bulb outputting "white" light is perfectly legal. R1ch is correct, several luxury vehicle manufacturers are using white LEDs for internal and external lights (license plate, reverse, etc.). They actually use '6,000K' bluish-white LEDs because they are currently the least expensive and have the highest efficacy. There are output restrictions for license plate bulbs, but you probably won't find an LED retrofit that breaks the output barrier while also being inexpensive and physically fitting inside the tiny bulb housing.

Originally Posted by HVT

Since when do Light Emitting Diodes produce noticable heat? And enough to melt plastic?...they ARE plastic..lol.

Since forever. No, diodes aren't heated to produce light as an incandescent filament is, but heat is a biproduct of creating visible light using a diode. LEDs actually use more energy inadvertently making heat than light... by a lot. At best, LEDs lose 1/2 of its supplied power as heat. LEDs are also very sensitive to the adverse affects of heat (hotter = dimmer). So heat management is hugely important for LEDs, which is the reason LEDs typically have heat sinks. A hotter incandescent filament burns brighter, a hotter LED burns out. These retrofits get hot because they don't have heatsinks and also have resistors that keep the current within the LED specs. The biproduct of electrical resistance is heat. So yes, LEDs produce heat, and LEDs using resistors produce even more heat.

Old article but good info:
LEDs Magazine - Fact or Fiction? LEDs don't produce heat

[HVT]

Originally Posted by Phatty McPatty

Vehicle light-color restrictions are pretty vague. Typically they refer to light needing to be "white", "amber" or "red". In this case "white" isn't very descriptive; it can mean ~2,500K~6,000K, but that's not official. Automotive regulation doesn't define "white". So broadly any bulb outputting "white" light is perfectly legal. R1ch is correct, several luxury vehicle manufacturers are using white LEDs for internal and external lights (license plate, reverse, etc.). They actually use '6,000K' bluish-white LEDs because they are currently the least expensive and have the highest efficacy. There are output restrictions for license plate bulbs, but you probably won't find an LED retrofit that breaks the output barrier while also being inexpensive and physically fitting inside the tiny bulb housing.


Since forever. No, diodes aren't heated to produce light as an incandescent filament is, but heat is a biproduct of creating visible light using a diode. LEDs actually use more energy inadvertently making heat than light... by a lot. At best, LEDs lose 1/2 of its supplied power as heat. LEDs are also very sensitive to the adverse affects of heat (hotter = dimmer). So heat management is hugely important for LEDs, which is the reason LEDs typically have heat sinks. A hotter incandescent filament burns brighter, a hotter LED burns out. These retrofits get hot because they don't have heatsinks and also have resistors that keep the current within the LED specs. The biproduct of electrical resistance is heat. So yes, LEDs produce heat, and LEDs using resistors produce even more heat.

Old article but good info:
LEDs Magazine - Fact or Fiction? LEDs don't produce heat

Of course they produce heat but are not a significant heat source as are regular filament bulbs. My point was that they are made of plastic and couldn't make enough heat to melt the lens....or so I though anyhow. Interesting article. Thanks

[RDshift]

Originally Posted by nafddur

I believe you're right. Altering the license plate lighting with LED's is probably as illegal as putting those colored, fluorescent license plate frames on here in MA. I KNOW those are illegal in MA (and likely other states as well).

I've actually read the relevant legislation, which is MA Part 1 Title XIV General Laws: CHAPTER 90, Section 7E, and it covers both red and blue lighting separately. Its apparent that we cannot use ANY blue lights on the outside of the vehicle, and it might be risky if blue lights from inside are visible on the outside (though you'll probably get off with a warning). Red lights, however, can be used as long as they are not "flashing, rotating or oscillating." I'll put this to the test. I'm going to print and highlight the legislation (in red/pink of course), put it in my glove box, and install a red license plate LED bulb or strip.

I drive an RX-8 though. I'd love to have a Murano for my work SUV.

[Warhammer]

Fight the system!!!