The start of my LED conversions
#1
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The start of my LED conversions
Well I'm finally doing something with the car again. I've decided to go ahead and start on converting all the exterior lights to LEDs.
A couple weeks ago, I started on the front parking light. Using a dremel I was able to cut open the parking/turn light. I removed the factory diffuser, and then I cut a PC board, to fit the reflector housing.
Once I had the board cut to fit, I then soldered in 70 superflux style LEDs. It was a little tricky getting them all in there, but I was able to do it!
Because the board is closer to the lens, the original diffuser wouldn't work. Plus it made the LEDs look funny anyways. So I took a diffuser from a florescent light, and cut it to fit the housing.
Since I had the lens off, I decided to wet sand it, and polish it. So now it looks like brand new lens.
Here is where I'm at with the parking lights.
Here is a shot of the new lens installed, and how the lens looked before I sanded them and cleaned them.
Here is a closup of the new lens installed
Here is a video of the lights flashing. As soon as I get my LED flasher for these, I'll be able to convert everything to LED. right now I have to leave the bulb in the back otherwise it won't flash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUIfVH-Gj1k
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Now while I'm waiting for the flasher to get here. I decided to start on the tail lights.
These are going to be so much easier, because the tail lights open right up. No cutting, or baking!!
So I cut a PC board to fit the first brake light section.
I also soldered in 2 of the 3 rows per section, that I'm going to do.
I went with 10 superflux LEDs per row this time. The board was just wide enough for this.
Here is a test shot with the LEDs placed behind the lens.
I'm hoping to get the whole brake/tail light done later next week. I'll update as I go.
My goal is to do brake/tail, turn, and reverse lights all in LEDs
A couple weeks ago, I started on the front parking light. Using a dremel I was able to cut open the parking/turn light. I removed the factory diffuser, and then I cut a PC board, to fit the reflector housing.
Once I had the board cut to fit, I then soldered in 70 superflux style LEDs. It was a little tricky getting them all in there, but I was able to do it!
Because the board is closer to the lens, the original diffuser wouldn't work. Plus it made the LEDs look funny anyways. So I took a diffuser from a florescent light, and cut it to fit the housing.
Since I had the lens off, I decided to wet sand it, and polish it. So now it looks like brand new lens.
Here is where I'm at with the parking lights.
Here is a shot of the new lens installed, and how the lens looked before I sanded them and cleaned them.
Here is a closup of the new lens installed
Here is a video of the lights flashing. As soon as I get my LED flasher for these, I'll be able to convert everything to LED. right now I have to leave the bulb in the back otherwise it won't flash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUIfVH-Gj1k
----------
Now while I'm waiting for the flasher to get here. I decided to start on the tail lights.
These are going to be so much easier, because the tail lights open right up. No cutting, or baking!!
So I cut a PC board to fit the first brake light section.
I also soldered in 2 of the 3 rows per section, that I'm going to do.
I went with 10 superflux LEDs per row this time. The board was just wide enough for this.
Here is a test shot with the LEDs placed behind the lens.
I'm hoping to get the whole brake/tail light done later next week. I'll update as I go.
My goal is to do brake/tail, turn, and reverse lights all in LEDs
Last edited by cdoyle; 09-16-2007 at 07:57 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
That is super cool....id love to do this someday. Always admire the new luxury cars with led tail lights. Though i think LEDs will be stardard on all cars soon enough. Along with HID headlights.
Efficiency is the name of the game.
Efficiency is the name of the game.
#5
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Got another row of LEDs in place, hoping Thursday or Friday to be able to get the other 6 soldered in and have one section done.
So far so good, I'm pretty happy with how this is turning out.
So far so good, I'm pretty happy with how this is turning out.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Thoose are killer. In my electronics class were learning to solder to boards and de-solder so i hope to do something similar soon.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Looking good. While your at it, do the amber to red lens conversion on the rear light lenses.
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#11
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
The LEDs are superflux, you get them right from lumileds. They are the same ones used in OEM applications. They are the red/orange ones 70ma, bin 'E' I believe.
The amber ones I used for the parking lights, I went with the ones that Quickar has for .10 each.
The PC boards, I just got at radio shack. I haven't been able to find a better place to get them.
The tail lights, I'm going to epoxy them right to the back of the lens this time I think. I seem to get a better light when they are up close to the lens. For sealing, I might use a bead of silicone or something around the entire lens.
The amber ones I used for the parking lights, I went with the ones that Quickar has for .10 each.
The PC boards, I just got at radio shack. I haven't been able to find a better place to get them.
The tail lights, I'm going to epoxy them right to the back of the lens this time I think. I seem to get a better light when they are up close to the lens. For sealing, I might use a bead of silicone or something around the entire lens.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
what kind of cost are you looking at on doing the tail lights? I am sure they are the most expensive. so I would rather know the most it will cost then the rest will be less. looks great keep up the great work.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Hey man I gotta hand it to you I thought it would be a stupid idea but your work looks pretty good.
BUT, not to mention the costs associated with putting soo many LEDs in place, with that many LEDs people would see you from 10 miles away, not to mention you'd probably end up blinding everyone who comes up on your brake lights
BUT, not to mention the costs associated with putting soo many LEDs in place, with that many LEDs people would see you from 10 miles away, not to mention you'd probably end up blinding everyone who comes up on your brake lights
#16
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Hey man I gotta hand it to you I thought it would be a stupid idea but your work looks pretty good.
BUT, not to mention the costs associated with putting soo many LEDs in place, with that many LEDs people would see you from 10 miles away, not to mention you'd probably end up blinding everyone who comes up on your brake lights
BUT, not to mention the costs associated with putting soo many LEDs in place, with that many LEDs people would see you from 10 miles away, not to mention you'd probably end up blinding everyone who comes up on your brake lights
I did a similar retro on my 04 4Runner. The tail lights have 40 LEDS each, and the bumper lights have 20 each. They turned out great, and are just right.
Plus if for some reason, these come out too bright. I can just limit the current down with the current limiting resistor to dim them.
Cost wise, this isn't going to cost too much. I think for this conversion it will cost about 100 for the boards, and LEDs, the rest is just time really (I got a deal on 600 red/orange superflux's, that's how it's only going to cost that much. If I didn't get the deal, it would be a lot more) not too bad for something totally custom tail light that'll I'll be pretty darn sure I wouldn't see anyone else around here with it. Especially on an 3rd gen Camaro
Friday I should have this section done. Then I'll start on the turn signal.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
what website did you get them from I could find them on the Phillips website but nowhere did I see anyplace to buy them.
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also which boards do you get from radio shack (part #'s if you can) I have never done this so I may have more questions if you don't mind. I like this idea so I can use blackouts not trying to copy or anything.
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also which boards do you get from radio shack (part #'s if you can) I have never done this so I may have more questions if you don't mind. I like this idea so I can use blackouts not trying to copy or anything.
Last edited by jstoltz; 09-19-2007 at 05:42 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#19
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
http://www.componentsuperstore.com/s...IGHTING4612651
Is an authorized dealer of superflux, they might be out of the ones I got tho.
I got mine from a guy on
www.HIDPLANET.com
I don't want to say who, because he might not be selling them right now. Just search the LED forum, and the classifieds.
For the amber ones, I just went with the ones at Quickar, .10 each for 70ma superflux 'style' not true superflux but close enough.
The radio shack board I normally use is this one.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search
I then usually trim it to fit whatever application I need. I wish I could find longer ones tho, the parking light I did, I had to cut, and piece 2 boards into one. takes more time doing that
Here is a great LED calculator for determining what resistors to use.
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
Now remember if you do a brake/tail or a turn/parking light. You'll have to use a couple diodes to isolate the 2 inputs from each other.
Is an authorized dealer of superflux, they might be out of the ones I got tho.
I got mine from a guy on
www.HIDPLANET.com
I don't want to say who, because he might not be selling them right now. Just search the LED forum, and the classifieds.
For the amber ones, I just went with the ones at Quickar, .10 each for 70ma superflux 'style' not true superflux but close enough.
The radio shack board I normally use is this one.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search
I then usually trim it to fit whatever application I need. I wish I could find longer ones tho, the parking light I did, I had to cut, and piece 2 boards into one. takes more time doing that
Here is a great LED calculator for determining what resistors to use.
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
Now remember if you do a brake/tail or a turn/parking light. You'll have to use a couple diodes to isolate the 2 inputs from each other.
#22
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
#23
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Didn't have as much time as I hoped to work on this, but did get another 3 rows lit up.
Here is just tail light function, it's a little too bright so I'm going to use a different size resistor to dim it some more.
And here is brake function, this is looking really good! I wish the camera took better pics of it.
Here is just tail light function, it's a little too bright so I'm going to use a different size resistor to dim it some more.
And here is brake function, this is looking really good! I wish the camera took better pics of it.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Looking really nice. Cant say I approve of the radio shack purchase though lol j/k. Keep on the updates
#25
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Believe me, I've been trying to find boards online at a good price, but haven't been able to find anything.
It's driving me crazy having to go there all the time to get PC boards.
It's driving me crazy having to go there all the time to get PC boards.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
You should ask them, "What size batteries do these take?
How do you get the LEDs to have 2 different levels of light between tail & brake? Do the LEDs have 3 leads? Or do you use just additional rows for the brakes?
I've thought about doing that, for my 3rd brake light. Don't wanna tear apart my GTA lighgts, to do the LED conversion.
How do you get the LEDs to have 2 different levels of light between tail & brake? Do the LEDs have 3 leads? Or do you use just additional rows for the brakes?
I've thought about doing that, for my 3rd brake light. Don't wanna tear apart my GTA lighgts, to do the LED conversion.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
I was thinking that the taillights on a 3rd gen would look bad *** like that. Good job man.
#29
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
No they don't ask about batteries, but how many times do you think it will take for them to understand.......
No I don't want to upgrade my phone!!
geeze, the same guy asks me that every time I walk in there!!!
No I don't want to upgrade my phone!!
geeze, the same guy asks me that every time I walk in there!!!
#30
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
You should ask them, "What size batteries do these take?
How do you get the LEDs to have 2 different levels of light between tail & brake? Do the LEDs have 3 leads? Or do you use just additional rows for the brakes?
I've thought about doing that, for my 3rd brake light. Don't wanna tear apart my GTA lighgts, to do the LED conversion.
How do you get the LEDs to have 2 different levels of light between tail & brake? Do the LEDs have 3 leads? Or do you use just additional rows for the brakes?
I've thought about doing that, for my 3rd brake light. Don't wanna tear apart my GTA lighgts, to do the LED conversion.
I used to have a diagram, that shown exactly how to do it. But now I can't find it.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
#33
Re: The start of my LED conversions
If you could post the wiring diagram for the tailights and the marker lights that would be killer!
Also, I looked around and found a place to get these LED's, and am curious why you didn't opt to get the red LED's, because they also have a wider viewing angle.
Here is the site I was looking at:http://www.ledcar.com/products_led.html
Also, I looked around and found a place to get these LED's, and am curious why you didn't opt to get the red LED's, because they also have a wider viewing angle.
Here is the site I was looking at:http://www.ledcar.com/products_led.html
Last edited by fenton06; 09-23-2007 at 12:28 AM.
#34
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
From what I've been reading over at HIDPlanet, all the people that do these retros prefer the Red/orange because it has a higher lumens output. Plus it's the same LEDs that OEM manufactures use in their tail lights.
I have the RED in my 4Runner and I have to agree that the red/orange are brighter. And you can't even see any orange in them through the lens.
I have the RED in my 4Runner and I have to agree that the red/orange are brighter. And you can't even see any orange in them through the lens.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
I guess ill be the one to say something stupid then, but I thought you couldnt dim LEDs? ie, i thought they were just on or off
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
You can dim LEDs. Maybe you're thinking of fluorescent bulbs?
#37
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
The only way to dim the LEDs is by using a current limiting resistor.
oh,
There is another way to make the LEDs 'appear' to be dimmer. It's by using pulse width modulation. How that works is, the LEDS are always on full brightness, but the PWM turns them on/off over and over again really fast. So as you change the frequency the LEDs appear to be brighter.
A lot of the guys over at HIDPlanet do it this way, but I've always had good luck with just designing my circuits with a slight higher then normal source voltage to compensate for any voltage spikes. For me it simplifies the circuit, and one less thing to have to worry about failing later.
oh,
There is another way to make the LEDs 'appear' to be dimmer. It's by using pulse width modulation. How that works is, the LEDS are always on full brightness, but the PWM turns them on/off over and over again really fast. So as you change the frequency the LEDs appear to be brighter.
A lot of the guys over at HIDPlanet do it this way, but I've always had good luck with just designing my circuits with a slight higher then normal source voltage to compensate for any voltage spikes. For me it simplifies the circuit, and one less thing to have to worry about failing later.
Last edited by cdoyle; 09-23-2007 at 09:16 AM.
#38
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
If you could post the wiring diagram for the tailights and the marker lights that would be killer!
Also, I looked around and found a place to get these LED's, and am curious why you didn't opt to get the red LED's, because they also have a wider viewing angle.
Here is the site I was looking at:http://www.ledcar.com/products_led.html
Also, I looked around and found a place to get these LED's, and am curious why you didn't opt to get the red LED's, because they also have a wider viewing angle.
Here is the site I was looking at:http://www.ledcar.com/products_led.html
If I can't find that diagram that I had, I'll make another one. Might take a couple days, since I won't be home much this weekend.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Well if you get it send it my way... I need a good electronics project to do in school this year.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
you've actually inspired me. I decided that I'm gonna put some leds inside my mirror housing so that the outer corners of the gap light up with the turn signals. I saw something like that on ls1tech, looked kinda cool.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
Don't waste your time and money. I tried it and the LEDs aren't near bright enough to shine through the mirror glass, that's why the GM trucks that have them stock have "holes" in the reflective coating.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
I believe he meant the gap between the housing and glass. I think. Maybe im wrong.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
The only way to dim the LEDs is by using a current limiting resistor.
oh,
There is another way to make the LEDs 'appear' to be dimmer. It's by using pulse width modulation. How that works is, the LEDS are always on full brightness, but the PWM turns them on/off over and over again really fast. So as you change the frequency the LEDs appear to be brighter.
A lot of the guys over at HIDPlanet do it this way, but I've always had good luck with just designing my circuits with a slight higher then normal source voltage to compensate for any voltage spikes. For me it simplifies the circuit, and one less thing to have to worry about failing later.
oh,
There is another way to make the LEDs 'appear' to be dimmer. It's by using pulse width modulation. How that works is, the LEDS are always on full brightness, but the PWM turns them on/off over and over again really fast. So as you change the frequency the LEDs appear to be brighter.
A lot of the guys over at HIDPlanet do it this way, but I've always had good luck with just designing my circuits with a slight higher then normal source voltage to compensate for any voltage spikes. For me it simplifies the circuit, and one less thing to have to worry about failing later.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
The only way to dim the LEDs is by using a current limiting resistor.
oh,
There is another way to make the LEDs 'appear' to be dimmer. It's by using pulse width modulation. How that works is, the LEDS are always on full brightness, but the PWM turns them on/off over and over again really fast. So as you change the frequency the LEDs appear to be brighter.
A lot of the guys over at HIDPlanet do it this way, but I've always had good luck with just designing my circuits with a slight higher then normal source voltage to compensate for any voltage spikes. For me it simplifies the circuit, and one less thing to have to worry about failing later.
oh,
There is another way to make the LEDs 'appear' to be dimmer. It's by using pulse width modulation. How that works is, the LEDS are always on full brightness, but the PWM turns them on/off over and over again really fast. So as you change the frequency the LEDs appear to be brighter.
A lot of the guys over at HIDPlanet do it this way, but I've always had good luck with just designing my circuits with a slight higher then normal source voltage to compensate for any voltage spikes. For me it simplifies the circuit, and one less thing to have to worry about failing later.
I wonder if there is a PWM circuit that could be used from one of the newer cars and adapted to run the new custom board w/ LED's?
Or maybe Dakota Digital or another company is making that circuit? There are quite a few companies making LED lights now for hot rods. I'll be at the SEMA show here in about a month and I'll keep my eyes peeled.
#47
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
I've actually thinking about doing something like this too. I have some extra mirror housings in the garage, and later on I might experiment a little with them.
#48
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
OK,
got the brake light section done.
Here is tail light mode. I still need to trim the board a little more, to allow me to move the board around some, and get it to align with the lens better. You can see in this mode, that some appear darker then others. It's just because of the lens.
And here is brake mode.
Next I'm moving on to the turn signal, and then start on the wrap around section. Then finally the reverse lights.
got the brake light section done.
Here is tail light mode. I still need to trim the board a little more, to allow me to move the board around some, and get it to align with the lens better. You can see in this mode, that some appear darker then others. It's just because of the lens.
And here is brake mode.
Next I'm moving on to the turn signal, and then start on the wrap around section. Then finally the reverse lights.
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Re: The start of my LED conversions
This looks really good, fantastic work! I can't wait to see your reverse LED's, it will probably be the equivalent of looking into a welder's arc, lol.