LED's instead of chassis neon?

[95astrovan]

Just throwing out an idea i had here...i have a black maro, the only real mod so far is a flowmaster 80. i've thought for a while about gettin some neons, but i'm not sure about the laws in NC about neons. at first i wanted red, but now i've been pushin some LED ideads around.
I know that i can purchase led's pretty cheap, and that they can be wired fairly easy w/ some electrical experience. What i'm thinkin is a couple strips down each side under the rocker panels, shining down, basically like light under the car, no colored neon. Just wonderin what some of yall's thoughts might be on somethin like this. If it would be easily done, and if it would even be bright enough to be noticable...And btw, if anyone might happen to know about, or where i can find the laws on neons in NC, then chime on in =D...


-Steve

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

§ 20‑130.1. Use of red or blue lights on vehicles prohibited; exceptions.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to install or activate or operate a red light in or on any vehicle in this State. As used in this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise, "red light" means an operable red light not sealed in the manufacturer's original package which: (i) is designed for use by an emergency vehicle or is similar in appearance to a red light designed for use by an emergency vehicle; and (ii) can be operated by use of the vehicle's battery, vehicle's electrical system, or a dry cell battery. As used in this subsection, the term "red light" shall also mean any forward facing red light installed on a vehicle after initial manufacture of the vehicle.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not apply to the following:

(1) A police car;

(2) A highway patrol car;

(3) A vehicle owned by the Wildlife Resources Commission and operated exclusively for law‑enforcement purposes;

(4) An ambulance;

(5) A vehicle used by an organ procurement organization or agency for the recovery and transportation of blood, human tissues, or organs for transplantation;

(6) A fire‑fighting vehicle;

(7) A school bus;

(8) A vehicle operated by any member of a municipal or rural fire department in the performance of his duties, regardless of whether members of that fire department are paid or voluntary;

(9) A vehicle of a voluntary lifesaving organization (including the private vehicles of the members of such an organization) that has been officially approved by the local police authorities and which is manned or operated by members of that organization while answering an official call;

(10) A vehicle operated by medical doctors or anesthetists in emergencies;

(11) A motor vehicle used in law enforcement by the sheriff, or any salaried rural policeman in any county, regardless of whether or not the county owns the vehicle;

(11a) A vehicle operated by the State Fire Marshal or his representatives in the performance of their duties, whether or not the State owns the vehicle;

(12) A vehicle operated by any county fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, or emergency management coordinator in the performance of his duties, regardless of whether or not the county owns the vehicle;

(13) A light required by the Federal Highway Administration;

(14) A vehicle operated by a transplant coordinator who is an employee of an organ procurement organization or agency when the transplant coordinator is responding to a call to recover or transport human tissues or organs for transplantation;

(15) A vehicle operated by an emergency medical service as an emergency support vehicle; and

(16) A State emergency management vehicle.

(c) It is unlawful for any person to possess a blue light or to install, activate, or operate a blue light in or on any vehicle in this State, except for a publicly owned vehicle used for law enforcement purposes or any other vehicle when used by law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties. As used in this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise, "blue light" means any forward facing blue light installed on a vehicle after initial manufacture of the vehicle; or an operable blue light which:

(1) Is not (i) being installed on, held in inventory for the purpose of being installed on, or held in inventory for the purpose of sale for installation on a vehicle on which it may be lawfully operated or (ii) installed on a vehicle which is used solely for the purpose of demonstrating the blue light for sale to law enforcement personnel;

(1a) Is designed for use by an emergency vehicle, or is similar in appearance to a blue light designed for use by an emergency vehicle; and

(2) Can be operated by use of the vehicle's battery, the vehicle's electrical system, or a dry cell battery.

(d) Repealed by Session Laws 1999‑249, s. 1.

(e) Violation of subsection (a) or (c) of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1943, c. 726; 1947, c. 1032; 1953, c. 354; 1955, c. 528; 1957, c. 65, s. 11; 1959, c. 166, s. 2; c. 1170, s. 2; 1967, c. 651, s. 1; 1971, c. 1214; 1977, c. 52, s. 2; c. 438, s. 2; 1979, c. 653, s. 1; c. 887; 1983, c. 32, s. 1; c. 768, s. 6; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1027, s. 50; 1989, c. 537, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1020, s. 2; 1991, c. 263, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 361; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 719, s. 1; 1995, c. 168, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 756, s. 16; 1999‑249, s. 1; 2005‑152, s. 1.)



§ 20‑130.2. Use of amber lights on certain vehicles.

All wreckers operated on the highways of the State shall be equipped with an amber‑colored flashing light which shall be so mounted and located as to be clearly visible in all directions from a distance of 500 feet, which light shall be activated when at the scene of an accident or recovery operation and when towing a vehicle which has a total outside width exceeding 96 inches or which exceeds the width of the towing vehicle. It shall be lawful to equip any other vehicle with a similar warning light including, but not by way of limitation, maintenance or construction vehicles or equipment of the Department of Transportation engaged in performing maintenance or construction work on the roads, maintenance or construction vehicles of any person, firm or corporation, Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Team (REACT) vehicles, and any other vehicles required to contain a warning light. (1967, c. 651, s. 2; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1977, c. 464, s. 34; 1979, c. 1; c. 765; 1981, c. 390; 1991, c. 44, s. 1.)



§ 20‑130.3. Use of white or clear lights on rear of vehicles prohibited; exceptions.

It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully drive a motor vehicle in forward motion upon the highways of this State displaying white or clear lights on the rear of said vehicle. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the white light required by G.S. 20‑129(d) or so‑called backup lights lighted only when said vehicle is in reverse gear or backing. Violation of this section does not constitute negligence per se in any civil action. (1973, c. 1071.)

Cliffs.
No lights unless clear on front of car.

[95astrovan]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

so legally, i could run then down the sides, but not the front or back...hmm...

ok...next question, would the result of doin this be comparable to havin neons?

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

depends what kind of LEDs you get. SMTs would net you the same results, but normal LEDs would give you a more "spotted" look.

[niik000]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

If you want fancy lights put them inside the car, that's what I did, iv'e got led bars all over the place.

[95astrovan]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

yea, the SMT's are the ones w/ 180 degree light projection, correct?

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

one of them, yeah

[Slave One]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

I think it would look pretty good... just a long line of LEDs...

I had a thought one time of putting like 2-3 LEDs at the top of each wheel well pointing down on the tires as they spin. Might look good on chrome :naughty:

[95astrovan]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

haha, Slave that actually sounds pretty good...and i believe the LED strip would be pretty cool too. Wouldnt have to worry bout fading like neon...

[Slave One]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

AH HAH!!! an even better idea... same location in the wheel wells for the LEDs....

but instead, get the Amber colored LEDs... and hook them into the Turn Signals... whatchya think??

[RadRacer]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

plz don't

[Slv97rRs]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

i'm with that guy ^^

[Slave One]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

Lol, yea, would probably look pretty nasty.... just a thought

[95astrovan]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

haha...it sounds like it could get ricey really quick...i'm wonderin if it would be cool to hook the LED's on each side up to the turn signals...and my signals are red, not amber, so random amber would be pretty messy

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: LED's instead of chassis neon?

As a rule of thumb, underglow=rice.