Led tail lights

turboed13b · 05-18-2011, 12:35 AM

Well on the journey to convert everything to led I started on my tails. So far I have three rings that will run on pwm so they will get brighter once the brakes are hit.

This is the prototype I made using some generic led rings.

I then made an array with lumileds because the generic leds are not bright enough.

Generic on the sides and the lumiled in the middle.

Thats all I have so far what do you guys think?

project86 · 05-18-2011, 06:59 AM

where did you get the rings???

My5ABaby · 05-18-2011, 07:52 AM

I would just make sure the underrun the Lumileds and keep them voltage regulated. Although Lumileds are quality and very hardy, they will be run in a constant on state when the running lights are on and for extended periods at stop lights which can build up heat if they're pushed too far. I presume they're the 70mA ones. I would suggest running them at 50mA with a 12v regulator.

Also, AZDave at hidplanet.com sells a PWM setup that includes a voltage regulator. It's cheap and does everything you need.

project86 · 05-18-2011, 03:40 PM

id like to do something similar with my s5 lights but i want the outer ring to be bigger and the leds to be closer together. Ive been thinking of getting piranha 4in round lights but they are really expensive

My5ABaby · 05-18-2011, 04:09 PM

There is nothing cheap about doing a proper LED setup. The Lumileds and Cree P4 I used were something like $.30/each. I used approximately 500 of them for both sides. Include the boards, wiring, resistors, PWMs, regulators, and any other incidentals and you're looking at $300+. This is of course an S4 setup where I used an extreme amount of LEDs, but it is still not cheap regardless.

I would also not suggest skimping on cheap LEDs for tailights. Cheap LEDs don't hold up to heat nearly as well and in a taillight application where you might be standing on the brakes at a stop light for a couple minutes, heat is an issue. LEDs may last 10,000 hours in perfect conditions, but add heat in and that drops dramatically quickly. On top of that, heat causes a shift in the color spectrum that is usually less than desirable. In addition, I doubt a cheap pre-made ring is conservatively run because the need to up the amperage for increased luminosity from cheap LEDs. For the Lumileds that are rated at 70mA and you run at 50mA for a nice bright light, it's no problem. However, a cheap 50mA run at 70mA isn't going to be happy. Now for interior LEDs such as dome lights, I wouldn't have any issue using the crappy chinese LEDs on ebay. Even if their life expectancy is cut to 50 hours due to overrunning and being cheap, that's probably 20x the amount you'd ever use your dome lights.

turboed13b · 05-18-2011, 04:54 PM

The cheap generic rings I bought off of superbrightleds but I am not using them for my tails they were just for prototyping they lack intensity and most likely will burn out quickly.

I made the ring of lumileds it took me forever to make them in a perfect circle since the shape of the leds are square it was kinda like a puzzle lol. I'm not sure if it is possible to stuff more leds into the circle because of the shape of the leds.

I am also using the optidrive kit from azdave.

My5ABaby · 05-18-2011, 09:47 PM

If you use a PCB then it may be hard to position them as you want. If you make your own board from scratch then you can position them any way you want.

mazdadude7 · 05-19-2011, 12:13 AM

loving the s4 led tails man. get that radio in?

My5ABaby · 05-19-2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazdadude7

loving the s4 led tails man. get that radio in?

Sure did. I just need to find the plastic surround for the headunit and it'll be complete.

turboed13b · 05-19-2011, 01:21 PM

Here is one side done i have to turn down the brightness some so it doesn't look i'm braking all the time.

My5ABaby · 05-19-2011, 01:40 PM

Those look good. Mine are, apparently, blindingly bright. I have 240 red/orange Lumileds running at 50mA so it's a bit much when I brake. Thankfully the PWM lets me turn them down when in running light mode as you're talking about. My plan is to tint my tails and actually have visible brake lights when doing so. There's not much I hate more than tinted stock tails that I can't see in the daytime because someone is a jackass.

12arotary · 05-24-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboed13b

Here is one side done i have to turn down the brightness some so it doesn't look i'm braking all the time.

those look great you should do my fb tails now

turboed13b · 06-23-2011, 01:01 AM

Finally got my lights done here it is finished.

EresCuloFace · 07-07-2011, 08:04 PM

i love the s4 lights. has anybody made some for the s5?

DriFD3S · 10-12-2011, 05:44 AM

Those look better than ANY aftermarket tail light I have EVER seen, EVER.
Good Job Man!!!

05-18-2011, 12:35 AM	#1
turboed13b Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 116 Rep Power: 17	Led tail lights Well on the journey to convert everything to led I started on my tails. So far I have three rings that will run on pwm so they will get brighter once the brakes are hit. This is the prototype I made using some generic led rings. I then made an array with lumileds because the generic leds are not bright enough. Generic on the sides and the lumiled in the middle. Thats all I have so far what do you guys think?

05-18-2011, 06:59 AM	#2
project86 Can't.Make.Up.My.Mind. Join Date: May 2009 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (3) Posts: 1,377 Rep Power: 17	where did you get the rings??? __________________ '90 GTUs Stay up to date with my photography '06 Toyota Highlander Hybrid '10 Toyota Prius "Initial Success or Total Failure"

05-18-2011, 07:52 AM	#3
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 19	I would just make sure the underrun the Lumileds and keep them voltage regulated. Although Lumileds are quality and very hardy, they will be run in a constant on state when the running lights are on and for extended periods at stop lights which can build up heat if they're pushed too far. I presume they're the 70mA ones. I would suggest running them at 50mA with a 12v regulator. Also, AZDave at hidplanet.com sells a PWM setup that includes a voltage regulator. It's cheap and does everything you need. __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

05-18-2011, 03:40 PM	#4
project86 Can't.Make.Up.My.Mind. Join Date: May 2009 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (3) Posts: 1,377 Rep Power: 17	id like to do something similar with my s5 lights but i want the outer ring to be bigger and the leds to be closer together. Ive been thinking of getting piranha 4in round lights but they are really expensive __________________ '90 GTUs Stay up to date with my photography '06 Toyota Highlander Hybrid '10 Toyota Prius "Initial Success or Total Failure"

05-18-2011, 04:09 PM	#5
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 19	There is nothing cheap about doing a proper LED setup. The Lumileds and Cree P4 I used were something like $.30/each. I used approximately 500 of them for both sides. Include the boards, wiring, resistors, PWMs, regulators, and any other incidentals and you're looking at $300+. This is of course an S4 setup where I used an extreme amount of LEDs, but it is still not cheap regardless. I would also not suggest skimping on cheap LEDs for tailights. Cheap LEDs don't hold up to heat nearly as well and in a taillight application where you might be standing on the brakes at a stop light for a couple minutes, heat is an issue. LEDs may last 10,000 hours in perfect conditions, but add heat in and that drops dramatically quickly. On top of that, heat causes a shift in the color spectrum that is usually less than desirable. In addition, I doubt a cheap pre-made ring is conservatively run because the need to up the amperage for increased luminosity from cheap LEDs. For the Lumileds that are rated at 70mA and you run at 50mA for a nice bright light, it's no problem. However, a cheap 50mA run at 70mA isn't going to be happy. Now for interior LEDs such as dome lights, I wouldn't have any issue using the crappy chinese LEDs on ebay. Even if their life expectancy is cut to 50 hours due to overrunning and being cheap, that's probably 20x the amount you'd ever use your dome lights. __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." Last edited by My5ABaby; 05-18-2011 at 04:14 PM..

05-18-2011, 04:54 PM	#6
turboed13b Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 116 Rep Power: 17	The cheap generic rings I bought off of superbrightleds but I am not using them for my tails they were just for prototyping they lack intensity and most likely will burn out quickly. I made the ring of lumileds it took me forever to make them in a perfect circle since the shape of the leds are square it was kinda like a puzzle lol. I'm not sure if it is possible to stuff more leds into the circle because of the shape of the leds. I am also using the optidrive kit from azdave.

05-18-2011, 09:47 PM	#7
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 19	If you use a PCB then it may be hard to position them as you want. If you make your own board from scratch then you can position them any way you want. __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

05-19-2011, 12:13 AM	#8
mazdadude7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Franklin, NC iTrader: (5) Posts: 410 Rep Power: 17	loving the s4 led tails man. get that radio in?

05-19-2011, 01:21 PM	#10
turboed13b Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 116 Rep Power: 17	Here is one side done i have to turn down the brightness some so it doesn't look i'm braking all the time.

05-19-2011, 01:40 PM	#11
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 19	Those look good. Mine are, apparently, blindingly bright. I have 240 red/orange Lumileds running at 50mA so it's a bit much when I brake. Thankfully the PWM lets me turn them down when in running light mode as you're talking about. My plan is to tint my tails and actually have visible brake lights when doing so. There's not much I hate more than tinted stock tails that I can't see in the daytime because someone is a jackass. __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

06-23-2011, 01:01 AM	#13
turboed13b Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 116 Rep Power: 17	Finally got my lights done here it is finished.

07-07-2011, 08:04 PM	#14
EresCuloFace The Newbie Join Date: Jul 2011 iTrader: (0) Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	i love the s4 lights. has anybody made some for the s5?

10-12-2011, 05:44 AM	#15
DriFD3S Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 174 Rep Power: 0	Those look better than ANY aftermarket tail light I have EVER seen, EVER. Good Job Man!!! __________________ *Live the DriFD3S or die trying.* JDM True Story. the Vacuum line, to my MAP became detached while I was legally drifting. my engine would not rev past 2500, and idled from 300-650 and was stalling. Fortunately, I acquired a Zip-Tie. I fixed a catastrophic engine failure, With a Zip-Tie. JDM FTW.