Has anyone tried these: http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/115x-xLX3.htm ?

These are wide angle high power LEDs, which in theory are brighter than
incandescents

Jaap
'87 caravelle diesel

>>Maybe you'd be interested in LED tail lights.
>>That's been done before.
>>Bright, now power consumption, last forever.
>
> I've been thinking about LED taillights. I wouldn't touch the LED
> inserts you can buy to replace bulbs... just not enough LEDs, and the
> lens/reflector are  not designed to spread the directional LEDs'
> light in the right way.
>
> Problem is, none of the complete LED lights are really good-looking. The
> rectangular ones LOOK like truck items, Narva moreso than Hella.
> Peterson's (?) round lights come in yellow (indicator), red (brake or
> tail) and white (reverse) and a three-light black bezel is available.
> These would look OK, I think. This way would alleviate any necessity of
> cutting the van's body, though some small holes would have to be drilled
> for screws. To make things more esthetic a black acrylic
> panel could be made-up to cover the entire rear panel, flush with the
> tailgate, with circular cutouts so that the lights were the only
> items visible. Or a plastic or metal panel color-matched to the van. The
> panel could have a cutout for the licenseplate flap, or be two separate
> panels, with a gap to clear the licenseplate. Smoked
> transparent panels could be used, but raises the problem of dirt
> inside showing through, so I'd recommend opaque materials. Shame
> these vans didn't have modern wraparound taillights. I'm thinking of
> doing this myself eventually.
>
> The Peterson bezels attach by 4 screws, one near each corner (don't
> think there were any in the middle) and the light units clip in from in
> front (ie bezel has to be off to fit/remove lights). I'd use
> stainless bolts rather than sheetmetal screws, so that the holes
> drilled in the van could be rustproofed.
>
> LED lights have a problem... they are pretty directional. Viewed
> obliquely, they may not show up at all in daylight, but this is less of
> a problem for rear lights than front, as you're going, not coming. Just
> keep the front indicators incandescent... as they flash, you'd probably
> be safe in upping the wattage considerably.
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> Dunedin
> New Zealand
> Fossil preparator
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
> � Opinions stated are mine, not those of Otago University
> "There is water at the bottom of the ocean"  - Talking Heads