Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi
When i first joined this site I showed a picture of an internally illuminated number plate i made last year. Someone asked me how to do it but i never got round to replying.
If you (who ever it was!) still want to know, then let me know and i'll put the details on.
This was it

well who ever said they wanted to know I will second it we have to do something different with ours and thats a fantastic idea if you get time love to know

Ok, what I'll do then is draw some diagrams to go with the text.
I make illuminated signs for a living and a number plate is just a little sign!

Most folk try to hide their number plate - from Cops and Speed Cameras! Not make it bleedin obvious!

very good BMC! that said, i too would be interested in one, to compensate for my somewhat dubiously sized front plate

me 3

I assume that the plate has a white backlight, in which case the boys in blue would be very interested as I thought white light was illegal on the rear of a vehicle except for a reversing light.
Hope I'm wrong cos it does look cool

I was wondering about the legality of it too......

As long as the white light is 'diffused', it's perfectly legal. To achieve this use some light diffuser from a striplight cover (the ones you find covering fluorescent strips in buildings), although some people have used tracing paper(!) with success.
They've been using diffused backlit rear numberplates on buses and coaches for years.

I am just interested as it looks really good and Im not bothered about hiding like some others

me 2

twincamman wrote:As long as the white light is 'diffused', it's perfectly legal. To achieve this use some light diffuser from a striplight cover (the ones you find covering fluorescent strips in buildings), although some people have used tracing paper(!) with success.
They've been using diffused backlit rear numberplates on buses and coaches for years.

Thats exactly right!
I'm going to do some diagrams and written instructions over the weekend, would have done it sooner but didn't expect this kind of responce!
There is also a simple way of making it glow red when the brake lights come on, then go back to white when they're not, but that IS illegal!

mitchC wrote: There is also a simple way of making it glow red when the brake lights come on, then go back to white when they're not

Now that really is cool

Red? blue would surely be better... ;-)

Sorry i haven't been about for a while, as the weathers turned nice I've been outside doing my vehicles.
The first step of the modification is to take off the rear plate then start cutting!
Cut to the red line in the below picture. approx 10mm inside the ridge where the plate sits.

Now you have to buy a light. I went to a caravan shop and bought a strip light that was 20" or 500mm wide. Obviously, make sure its a 12 volt one most come with a diffuser attached to it. It will look like this

This is where you need to use your imagination.
basically, you need this unit to sit approx 50mm - 60mm inside the hole you cut in the boot lid. I used some old angle brackets that i then bent to suit my needs.
once this is mounted, attach the old wiring from the old number plate light into your new unit.
test the unit. when you turn your lights on the unit should light up. If it doesn't you've wired it wrong or the switch that some of the units have is switched to off.
This next bit is the tricky bit, you need to go to a sign making shop, and get them to cut a piece of clear acrylic (pref 3mm thick) at 520mm x 110mm with radiused edges. then they need to cut some black vinyl with your registration cut out of it IN REVERSE, it will look like this...

Once this is done ask them to coat the entire rear of the plate with white vinyl, some places may say you need translucent vinyl, but you dont, normal white vinyl is best for this.
So now turn it round and you have a plate, white lettering on a black background. If you hold it up to a light you will notice that the white allows some light through where as the black doesn't. while in the sign shop see if they have any thin double sided tape. Sign compnies usually stock this and it is better than any you will find in B & Q. fit the tape to the edge of the plate, on the rear of course. make sure you DONT get any on the reg number.
Go back home and fit the plate into the recess and you're done!
If any one gets stuck, just let me know.
Cheers

Hi, i only just saw that you had written it up, sorry! i am still interested in doing this, bit down the list at the moment though! only things i have having issues with after reading is...
1.how do you make sure it is water tight? did you use a silicon sealant?
2.did you fit the whole strip light in there? only it looks like it might be a tad cumbersome. i'm sure it can be made to look good on the inside too...
anywho, thanks for the write up, much appreciated!

callyspoy wrote:Hi, i only just saw that you had written it up, sorry! i am still interested in doing this, bit down the list at the moment though! only things i have having issues with after reading is...
1.how do you make sure it is water tight? did you use a silicon sealant?
2.did you fit the whole strip light in there? only it looks like it might be a tad cumbersome. i'm sure it can be made to look good on the inside too...
anywho, thanks for the write up, much appreciated!

1.how do you make sure it is water tight? did you use a silicon sealant?
Yep, i used a black silicone.
2.did you fit the whole strip light in there? only it looks like it might be a tad cumbersome. i'm sure it can be made to look good on the inside too...
It wasn't that bad. I never fully finished the inside but I'm sure with a little panelling it would be fine.