Replace Backup Bulb with led
Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 61
Likes: 23
From: Temecula, CA
Actually, he's entirely correct. Unlike an incandescent bulb which is polychromatic and produces roughly the same amount of light across the entire visible spectrum, and LED is monochromatic (or, more accurately, it's typically produces a few different wavelengths across the spectrum, but not a complete spectrum). White LEDs are actually (in most cases) a blue/violet LED with a coating of a YaG phosphor... producing a spectrum somewhat like this (and compared with daylight):
Filters work by only allowing a specific wavelength (or, more precisely, a narrow band of wavelengths) through. If you use a filter that only allows a spectrum which isn't produced in great quantity by the white LED, the output will be crap.
Thus, your best bet is a filter matched to the output wavelength of the LED. Thus, a red filter in front of a red LED, etc. Or, go to a clear filter, like most emergency vehicle lights have gone to.
Filters work by only allowing a specific wavelength (or, more precisely, a narrow band of wavelengths) through. If you use a filter that only allows a spectrum which isn't produced in great quantity by the white LED, the output will be crap.
Thus, your best bet is a filter matched to the output wavelength of the LED. Thus, a red filter in front of a red LED, etc. Or, go to a clear filter, like most emergency vehicle lights have gone to.
I follow the same chart that is posted on Sylvanias website. for LED color and lens color.
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 1,184
From: Franklin, PA
I THOUGHT the subject was back up lights, which are white. Replaced mine with inexpensive ones off Amazon, much brighter. High cargo light and license plate, too, much brighter but main reason there was to get rid of the pee stained lighting look 
Thread Killer
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 199
Likes: 186
From: So Cal
sorry everybody
I didn't mean to hijack this thread or start a war.
I'm sorry I put white LED's in my brake lights. OK?
Live and learn.
Is everybody happy now?
lets get back to the subject at hand, the back up lights.7440's.
(sorry op C3)
I didn't mean to hijack this thread or start a war.
I'm sorry I put white LED's in my brake lights. OK?
Live and learn.
Is everybody happy now?
lets get back to the subject at hand, the back up lights.7440's.
(sorry op C3)
Community Team
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 8,964
Likes: 7,493
From: Vermont
All is well. I was merely trying to be helpful and inform. Then a know it all member decided to post I was making this up when they had no clue as to what they were talking about. Someone else with more knowledge chimed in with facts.
If people weren’t so quick to call others out before educating themselves, the off topic portion of this thread might not have derailed for quite as long.
everyone can learn and move on. No harm.
Id recommend the 5000k white Sylvania zevo leds for reverse lights. Whiter and brighter than stock. Plus they reflect all light back at the reflector housing. You don’t end up with hot spots and wasted light.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 2,604
If you've got a limited, your reverse lights are LEDs soldered to a circuit board - part of the entire assembly. They aren't bulbs that can be replaced. Either way, the tiny little reverse light housings on the current gen trucks are basically useless as anything more than indicator lights... there's simply not enough area, not enough reflector. If you want real light to the rear, you'll need to add your own light. Either mount some LED cubes back there, add a lightbar (I hear the Putco Blade is well regarded), or replace the entire rear bumper with something that can accept lights.