15 Watt bulbs for reverse lights

[rutger kohler]

Hi, I need to replace one of my reversing light bulbs (15Watt).  They are no longer supplied by most stockists down here, with 5, 21 and occassionally 10W being the only choices. What should I replace them with plse?  I have no great wish to repalce them with LED's at the moment.

[ejboyd5]

If you ever drive the car at night and use the reverse light to assist, go with the LEDs. You will be surprised by the improvement.

[scoot]

If you ever drive the car at night and use the reverse light to assist, go with the LEDs. You will be surprised by the improvement.

That depends very much on your choice of LEDs.  Some of the newer ones are pretty good.  Some of the earlier ones not so good.  What specifically did you use in your car?

[ejboyd5]

Replaced 1156 back-up lamps with 1156-CW27-T ( lamps $14.95 each from Super Bright LEDs Inc.) https://www.superbrightleds.com/

[Iconic]

Hi, I need to replace one of my reversing light bulbs (15Watt).  They are no longer supplied by most stockists down here, with 5, 21 and occassionally 10W being the only choices. What should I replace them with plse?  I have no great wish to repalce them with LED's at the moment.

Back to Rutger's original question (he's not interested in LED at this time):
Use the 21 watt. In fact, the bulb is supposed to be a 21 watt bulb, not 15. Additionally, some people use the 1156, which is typically 25 watts, so for you, going from 15 to 21 will be fine. All, please correct me if I am wrong.

[rutger kohler]

Hi, thanks for all the replies.  I will fit a 21W bulb, however the tail light fitting clearly has 15W stamped on it where the reverse light goes. Also the Hynes teardowm manual, for what it's worth, also specifies 15W.
cheers

Rodger K

[mtoomey]

I'd be wary of a conventional 21W bulb due to heat.  If extra brightness is required, look at the LED option.  Superbright is a good outfit; I've used them a few times..

[Pawel66]

I have 21W too, see no traces of heat issue. Perhaps during a very long drive on reverse. I think, however, LED is the best way. Reverse light is all about as bright light as possible, I think.

[66andBlue]

Back to Rutger's original question (he's not interested in LED at this time):
Use the 21 watt. In fact, the bulb is supposed to be a 21 watt bulb, not 15. Additionally, some people use the 1156, which is typically 25 watts, so for you, going from 15 to 21 will be fine. All, please correct me if I am wrong.

Mark,
take a look here: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Electrical/TailLights
Obviously Rutger is correct, the back-up light (reversing light in his language) is a 15W bulb.

[Iconic]

Thanks for the correction Alfred.
15 watts is the spec. Interesting. I hadn't seen that before.
I'll check mine to see if they are original. 
I would still choose 21 watt as a replacement instead of 5 w or 10 w, if the 15 w was not available.
Mark