LED Taillights!

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

But the real thing this time.

I'm wanting some opinions now.. I'm going to try and build some cadillac style LED tails.

I was thinking of using the running lights as the two reflector lines that run across the 93-97 style tails, and the rest of the red on the tail light would be the blinker/brake.

Now i'm thinking, I'm gonna get some very bright LEDs for the brake/blinker, but i'm still deciding if i should get the same brightness for the two lines or a duller LED. Either way the brake/blinker should stand out quite a bit, but i'm just deciding.

Other ideas on orientation of the taillights is welcome too.

(i'm doing this because of that wreck, i have an extra taillight that i can work on while still having tail lights and therefore not be pushed for time)

[00 Silver 6]

Re: LED Taillights!

sounds like a good idea, im definitely interested to see how this one ends up

[CoasterKev06]

Re: LED Taillights!

you know i'm gonna reply... it's an LED tail light thread... ;)



it's definately possible... just have to know what resistors to use and some good soldering skills... the ones im working on have the running lights outlining the outside half of the taillights while the rest lights up... let me know if you need any help... i've done enough testing to know what'll work and what won't (1 pair of altezzas and 2 pair oem housings in the trash)... just haven't had time to finish em... i also started a custom headlight project now... lol... i should change my major to EE...

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED Taillights!

I was gonna say i was taking this up because you mentioned the cadillac style tail lights and i was interested, but i haven't heard any updates from you.

how do these LEDs look for the project?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320111358756

[CoasterKev06]

Re: LED Taillights!

those are what I have... I would check and see that they'll send the right resistor... if you add more or take away LEDs you'll have to put different resistors between everyone since you have to wire them in series... adding just one/taking away one LED changes the resistance of the system... and saying that those are bright are a huge understatement... they hurt... it'll be a good idea to nightshade your taillights...

to be more specific... you probably won't be able to use those resistors for your marker lights... because I doubt you'll have all 50 LEDs wired for one side of the marker lights... but you can probably order 2 orders of those and use them for the brake light string... then order 2 sets of 20 or so with different resistors to wire up for the marker lights... sorry if this doesnt make sense... ive been studyin for finals all day...

[ChronoGN]

Re: LED Taillights!

Theres nothing hard about it. Just use alot of epoxy on your wirings to make sure that they arent going to get wet and short.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED Taillights!

I'm guessing marker lights=runnning lights? I was thinking of just using 50 total for each tail light and i was planning on getting two orders. I was deciding whether to get some duller red leds for the lines for the running lights or just using the bright ones and having the rest of the tail light light up for the brake/blinker.

[CoasterKev06]

Re: LED Taillights!

i guess im not clear enough... here... this will help you...

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz


enter in 12 for your source voltage... 1.8 for your forward voltage... 20 for your forward current... and 50 for the number of LEDs... click on the "wiring diagram" circle... and check the box that says "help with resistor color codes"... then click the "design my array"...

it will show you what resistors SHOULD come with the LEDs... and how you need to wire them... this is ONLY for if you connect all 50 LEDs to a single 12 volt source... if you change the number of LEDs connected to the single 12 volt source the resistor value will change and you'll need to get different resistors to wire in...

you can view each bulb socket as a 12 volt source... so in your taillight you have 4 sources of 12 volts... the backup... brake/blinker... and marker (running) light...

hope this helps... let me know if there's still some confusion...


btw... i forgot to mention this earlier... 10mm LEDs are pretty big... and i always considered them harder to deal with... but they're only a couple of bucks... so you won't lose much if you don't use them...

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED Taillights!

you think 50 will be enough to fill the tail light while looking good and getting it working nicely?

[RadRacer]

Re: LED Taillights!

Quick Question, I Nightshaded my tails and want some brighter lights. Are you guys just bunching these up and then siliconing them right into the light housing? And how many would you recommend per taillight and blinker and all?

[CoasterKev06]

Re: LED Taillights!

hmmm.... i'm not sure totally how you're going to do it... if you're going to fill in everything except where the reflectors are... then no... but if you're going with some different design then yeah... i'm sure it can be worked out...

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED Taillights!

Quick Question, I Nightshaded my tails and want some brighter lights. Are you guys just bunching these up and then siliconing them right into the light housing? And how many would you recommend per taillight and blinker and all?

This is a little more work than i would guess you're interested in taking on. For you I would probably recommend some 3W luxeon bulbs. They fit in the tail without modification and are brighter than incandescent bulbs.

[CoasterKev06]

Re: LED Taillights!

those are uber expensive though...


im experimenting with fiberglass and industrial foam spray insulation in order to have something to mount the LEDs to inside the housing and still be flush against the lens... i'm kinda leaning towards the foam as it is much easier to work with...

i'm also trying to figure out how to make my own custom PCB... it would make things much easier... wish i had more EE friends... lol

[RadRacer]

Re: LED Taillights!

This is a little more work than i would guess you're interested in taking on. For you I would probably recommend some 3W luxeon bulbs. They fit in the tail without modification and are brighter than incandescent bulbs.

I want something cheap that'll be bright when I turn on my lights. I was thinking around 24 LEDs per brake light should be enough, do you? Also, I'm just gonna go ahead and silicone them into place. I can tear the silicone off if needed, and I'll be keeping the stock light harness and all, so it should be easy to revert back to stock if needed. I just thought it would be kewl to have some custom LED's cuz 1-not everyone has them, 2-they're alot brighter, 3-I need to do some wiring work back there anyways (bad ground on my right tail), and 4-just another reason for me to work on my car :D I know how to wire them up and which resistors and such (electrical buff), and was just wondering how you guys were putting them into the lights.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED Taillights!

looks like i'm going to go ahead and pick up two orders of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Red-LED-Set-of-1...QQcmdZViewItem