Any LED tutorials out there?

[LowBuckX]

just ws trying to figure out how to build my own LED tail lights. Ive got it figured out for running lights but cant figure out a brake circuit...

[Pro-touring towncar]

Are you looking at going the new caddy style or just LED replacemnt bulbs.

Tim

[Radio Joe]

I havent really studied them, but the caddy taillights I have seen light up some of the LEDs for tail lights and light up more for brakes. So basically it doesnt get brighter, only lights MORE LEDS.

[LowBuckX]

dont know about the new caddy style but i want led and not the 1157 pop in bulb replacements. I want a card full of HID leds that will work as runners blinkers and stop lights.

[Pro-touring towncar]

basicly you would need a properly etched PC board, LEDs, and soldering iron.
Tim

[LowBuckX]

I understand that..lol I just need to know what other parts would be needed and how to properly wire them in.

[Pro-touring towncar]

depends on the LEDs you may need a resistor. you can eather hard wire them or modify a bulb to hook them up.

Tim

[TonyL]

and a load balancer from radio shack for the blinkers (possibly a new flasher) leds require such a low power to run, that the flashers will think your bulbs are out and blink faster.

[derekf]

At one point, someone on one of the boards I frequent had posted a link to this site:

http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_...ntArticle.html

That site looks to have an article on how to design and build the LED lights, but you've got to pay to read it and I never did. Whoever had posted the link had good things to say about it.

If you do take a look at the contents, let us/me know what you think.

[LowBuckX]

I actually did read that artcle but it doesnt tell you how to make cad type LEDs lights into brake lights.

[Fuelie Fan]

I need a little clarification.
1) Are you or are you not scavenging LED's from a new Cadillac, or are you buying LED's from an electronics supply store? If the latter, please post any information you have about max current and voltage drop.

2) You say you've gotten the normal lights working, but not the brake lights? Elaborate. What have you tried, and what were the results?

[907rs]

I'd give these guys a call.

http://www.cool-leds.com/pages/737503/index.htm

[LowBuckX]

I need a little clarification.
1) Are you or are you not scavenging LED's from a new Cadillac, or are you buying LED's from an electronics supply store? If the latter, please post any information you have about max current and voltage drop.

2) You say you've gotten the normal lights working, but not the brake lights? Elaborate. What have you tried, and what were the results?

Ok I wrote a type o It should have read Card type not cad type.


I will be useing ebay LEDs and mounting them to a blank board cut to fit in my housing.
Now with reading the info on this site tutorial LED tutorial
I have figured out about 90% of what i need to do just need to exsperiment.



Here is what i plan so far. I will have 32 8000 LMC 5mm white Leds running serised in groups of 4 requiring no resistor these will be 3.2volt leds. And for the blinker/Brake circuit I will be running 5 10mm 14,000 LCM LEDs (SUPER BRIGHT WHITE) with resistors.


Is this what you want to know I figure total involved would be about $75 and the right to say i built them.

[derekf]

Shawn, that's a great link, thanks for posting.

If you don't mind, keep us posted as to how the light fab goes.

[Pro-touring towncar]

Shawn, where did you get the blank pc board I can't find any on line.

Tim

[derekf]

Many, many years ago I was able to buy un-etched PCB at Radio Shack. A search of their online catalog shows that they still have the etch, so I would assume they still have the boards too.

[LowBuckX]

Yes Radio shack has the blank boards they are under $2 a peice.

[zbugger]

One question..... Why not use the red LED's? The make the light look more red than the pink that I've seen... I like red... Lights, that is. Not districts. Oh, and I mean brake lights. Besides, I think they are less expensive than the white ones. Aren't they?

[LowBuckX]

hhhmm zbug I will have to test this out I dont want pink lights either.

[elcamino80]

Some Red LED's come in a clear casing... Have you tested that yours really have a white light not red?

Anyway, red is the color you want