Tail lights question, possible LED mod
Tail lights question, possible LED mod
Hey guys, I just installed LEDs in the brake lights like some of you have seen in the "Quest for canbus in brake lights" thread, and they work wonderfully with no complaints. Anyway, that gave me another idea while I was messing with them.
You know how on the rear tail lights, right underneath them there is a little groove straight across their bottom, which is nicely sunk in. Well, what I'm wondering is if it's possible to put in LEDs in there in the form of LED bars.
Something like these? Red Bumper Reflector LED DRL Tail Brake Light LR Range Rover L322 Freelander LR2 | eBay
I attached an image of what I'm referring to as well, because it seems to me that there must be some way to have an LED brake light bar there that would work in conjunction with the regular brake lights.
Anyone else like this idea?
You know how on the rear tail lights, right underneath them there is a little groove straight across their bottom, which is nicely sunk in. Well, what I'm wondering is if it's possible to put in LEDs in there in the form of LED bars.
Something like these? Red Bumper Reflector LED DRL Tail Brake Light LR Range Rover L322 Freelander LR2 | eBay
I attached an image of what I'm referring to as well, because it seems to me that there must be some way to have an LED brake light bar there that would work in conjunction with the regular brake lights.
Anyone else like this idea?
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
Seems to me a flexible led strip would make more sense for this application... And cheaper to boot. As long as you're comfortable disassembling and reassembling the housing I'm not seeing any reason you couldn't just tap into the existing 12v source for the brake lights.
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
You wouldn't even have to take apart the housing itself, because the whole thing is held in place by 3 bolts if I'm not mistaken. Could just be pulled out entirely and the wire for the LED strip fed in there and secured. The question is, where would you tap in for the power source? And how would you make it be in sync with the brake lights for both the running lights position and the applied brakes position?
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
What I would ideally want for these strips to be used as is an additional regular "brake" light so to say. I want them to turn on and run just like our normal brake lights right above them. To have the same "low" beam and "high" beam mode so to say just like the 1157 LEDs i have in the brake lights already.
Maybe something like these might work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/4PCS-15-SMD-Led-Lamp-String-Waterproof-Flexible-Car-Strip-Light-30CM-RED-K45-/400699570882?pt=US_Car_Lighting&hash=item5d4b8e3ac2
Maybe something like these might work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/4PCS-15-SMD-Led-Lamp-String-Waterproof-Flexible-Car-Strip-Light-30CM-RED-K45-/400699570882?pt=US_Car_Lighting&hash=item5d4b8e3ac2
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
Seems to me you could feed the strip + lead from 2 diodes connected to both the tail and brake + wires .....
+------brake wire -----|>----,
.................................. ,--------LED strip +
+------tail wire ---------|>----'
That way, it would be lit in either case, but you would see no difference if lights are on and brakes are pushed.
+------brake wire -----|>----,
.................................. ,--------LED strip +
+------tail wire ---------|>----'
That way, it would be lit in either case, but you would see no difference if lights are on and brakes are pushed.
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
I doubt it, or at least I wouldn't expect to see it in custom lengths, given how they're constructed. Unless of course someone offers the dual row ones with 2 positive leads? Hmmm...
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
What I would ideally want for these strips to be used as is an additional regular "brake" light so to say. I want them to turn on and run just like our normal brake lights right above them. To have the same "low" beam and "high" beam mode so to say just like the 1157 LEDs i have in the brake lights already.
Maybe something like these might work? 4pcs 15 SMD LED Lamp String Waterproof Flexible Car Strip Light 30cm Red K45 | eBay
Maybe something like these might work? 4pcs 15 SMD LED Lamp String Waterproof Flexible Car Strip Light 30cm Red K45 | eBay
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
I wouldn't really need it as a blinker, but that's not a bad idea actually. The whole reason I started this thread was because that little area under the tail lights is just too convenient to pass up and not use for SOMETHING lol.
I still can't believe nobody ever tried using it for some kinda LED work hahaha :P
I still can't believe nobody ever tried using it for some kinda LED work hahaha :P
re: Tail lights question, possible LED mod
Would you be interested in testing things out with me for this project? I would figure more members actually would like this idea if it worked
Forgot to mention, I'm trying to NOT use any kind of LED strips that look like those cheap ones on the back of pickup trucks. LOL
btw: found something that might work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radiantz-Flexible-LED-Light-Red-Red-Tube-3-94-/230519663528?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35ac0aeba8&vxp=mtr ^----- these come in different lengths btw!!
Forgot to mention, I'm trying to NOT use any kind of LED strips that look like those cheap ones on the back of pickup trucks. LOL
btw: found something that might work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radiantz-Flexible-LED-Light-Red-Red-Tube-3-94-/230519663528?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35ac0aeba8&vxp=mtr ^----- these come in different lengths btw!!
Last edited by Adrian_X; 05-12-2014 at 08:13 PM.