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?

 

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.

 

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?

 

New to the crossfire here so forgive me for the housing part... *chuckle* But I was thinking tap into the third brake light, sounds like that's not what you're trying to achieve though?

 

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

 

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.

 

I was thinking on/off with the third brake light. Of course you could always wire one to taillights/brake, one to brake only and have two strips per side :-P

 

Ahh yes, I'm trying to find 2 stage ones is what I meant earlier ala :P That would work though if I just wanted them lit the whole time.

 

Double the strip, double the fun !!!!!
( it's not as much fun with only one strip happening )

Does anyone offer a LED strip with 2 plus leads where each illuminates 1/2 the LED's ?

 

Still trying to find some myself, if anyone else wants to chime in on this please do! This could be a good mod :P

 

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...

 

Anyone know the actual length needed to cover that little area under the tail lights?

 

Search switchback lights on ebay, they have some 3 wire that are cuttable to the length you need. One wire goes to the running lights the other to your blinker or brake light. When you hit the brake and feed the power to that light it switches to the other led.

 

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

 

Remember it will only "blink" if its hooked to your blinker...a solid power source will light it. So basically it will work perfectly. I had this idea on my last XF, so far I havent had a chance to do anything to the new one.

 

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!!

 

interesting idea....

 

Indeed, now where is Mr.Miata, I'm sure he would like to slowly turn his Xfire into more of a UFO as well.

 

I'm game....as soon as I change my conductor plate in the trans. Cool lights wouldnt be cool if I cant drive and show them off.

 

Hahah this is true! Let me know when you can sir.