Today I addressed the vehicle code issue of lights for the license plate on my smoothie rear bumper. Since I wasn't up to fabricating my own solution, I did an internet search for a lighted automobile license plate frame and found Radiantz LED Lighting. Their license plate frame is USA made (Brookings, OR) cast aluminum with a black powder coated finish with 18 white LED's.
I removed the muffler to give me full access to the backside of the rear bumper.
Testing the LED license frame.
This unit uses a simple 2 wire connection: white for +12V and black for ground. I used crimp-on 1/4 inch blade connectors to connect the LED license frame wires to one of the original license plate light wiring pairs (I used the driver's side wiring pair). The original wiring pair is gray for +12V and brown for ground, so my connections are easy to remember: light to light and dark to dark. Of course if I get it wrong, the LED's don't light up as they are polarity specific.
I drilled a 1/2 inch hole in the bumper to pass thru the LED license frame wires.
I bought one of the wiring grommets for the rear bumper (p/n 911-505-347-00) and installed it in the hole I had made to protect the LED license frame wires.
I used black electrical tape and wrapped the LED license frame wires and passed the wires thru the grommet in the bumper. Then I assembled the LED license frame and the license plate to the license plate mounting bracket with M5-0.8 x 10 mm stainless steel counter sunk machine screws that use a 3 mm hex head to make it more challenging to steal.
Next, I made the wiring connections to the car wiring and secured the wiring with adhesive backed mounting squares and cable ties.
I replaced the muffler, then tested the LED license frame.
Now I think I'm done with my DIY projects for a while....