48 replies to this topic

[Brams96]

Do you think this would be a good number plate light if I had it fitting under a lip over the plate? LINK

A little research shows a standard number plate is 533mm x 152mm but according to the DVLA it only has to have minimum spacing, margin & font size. I worked out that the minimum size plate could be 460mm wide (7 characters, spacing & margins). Are there any MOT'ers here that can tell me if the car would fail having a smaller number plate than standard?

[1964Woody]

A 'high' third brake light has been one of the first mods I make to my Minis. The cars are so small that you want to be as visible as possible. To be seen, though, you need the light as high as possible. If you put the light in your boot lid it will look very cool but will not make your brake lights as visible as they should be. If you ALSO put one inside the vehicle at the top of the rear screen then it will not be visible from the outside (and you will have the 'look' you are after) but it will give you the visibility you should have when you apply your brakes.

The other thing to do with third brake lights is to make then 'pulse'. 6-8 short strobes when you apply the brakes and then revert to 'solid' red brake lights. I am not sure about the legality of them on your side of the pond but they are legal in Canada and they are now starting to be used by ambulances and fire trucks. When they strobe they really get your attention- which is the point. And they do not strobe long enough to be annoying (or cause epileptics to seizure). If you are electronically inclined, here is a link to a circuit for that type of brake light flasher. It was developed for motorcycles but works fine with other lights. It would also work with LED's (although you need current limiting resistors with it). I actually started to build one just last night:

http://www.sentex.ca...c/motflash.html

[Brams96]

Thanks for the circuit link, I'm definitely going to look into this.

[Dirk130]

or something like these:

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item588c97e586