How bright can number plate lights be?

Wetbench4 · 23-01-2014 11:53am #1

Hi all, I recently ordered some LED bulbs for the number plate, these--> http://www.ebay.ie/itm/380628426151?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I installed yesterday and they looked fine but once it got dark i noticed that they are very bright. They light up the ground around the back of the car. I think they look great but i was wondering what the legal standpoint is? Is there a limit to the brightness? Will they fail nct?
From behind you can't see the bulbs so they are not dazzling, you can only see the light thrown from them.

Kintarō Hattori · 23-01-2014 12:15pm

Technically the law should love you as you've just made your car all the more identifiable should it have been involved in anything naughty!

murphjohn121 · 23-01-2014 12:16pm

Ya there is no limit on the brightness!

dougie-lampkin · 23-01-2014 1:14pm

Here's the official standing on brightness:

"The lamps, when lit, shall illuminate by means of reflection, and render easily distinguishable at night time in clear weather for a distance of 65 feet from the rear of the vehicle every letter and figure of the identification mark exhibited on the rear of the vehicle."

So you can fit 55 W headlight bulbs to your number plate lamps if you like, once the plate can be seen from 65 feet away.

Wetbench4 · 23-01-2014 1:35pm

Thanks ppl, dont feel as worried now.

eringobragh · 23-01-2014 5:23pm

No issues here just passed nct last week

Running 2 x 9 SMD boards

RustyNut · 23-01-2014 5:27pm

dougie-lampkin wrote: »

Here's the official standing on brightness:
So you can fit 55 W headlight bulbs to your number plate lamps if you like, once the plate can be seen from 65 feet away.

Hmmm, I wonder how that would look to cash speed camera.

shedweller · 23-01-2014 9:37pm

RustyNut wrote: »

Hmmm, I wonder how that would look to cash speed camera.

Thats when the law would be changed.

colm_mcm · 23-01-2014 9:52pm

I think they keep a video from the front for such eventualities. Not certain about that but they do that in other countries I think.

RandomAccess · 23-01-2014 11:31pm

RustyNut wrote: »

Hmmm, I wonder how that would look to cash speed camera.

Overexposed

GTE · 24-01-2014 12:43am

A car passed me a couple of weeks ago with LED reg lights so bright that the plate could not be read.

It was an older Passat, 2000 shape. Maybe certain types of plate do not react well with LEDs. I was shocked though there were stupidly bright.

sawdoubters · 24-01-2014 12:45am

90 lumens

How bright can number plate lights be?

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