My LED taillight panels... which version should I use??

Tried2Live · Dec 5, 2003

I made a panel of LEDs to go behind my stock lenses on my car, but I'm not sure which wiring configuration I want to use. On the first set of pics, the brightness is varied by just the number of LEDs on at a time. On the second set, the brightness is what varies, not the amount of them turned on.

well here are my choices...

This is of the regular tail lights.

This is of just the brake lights.

This is the tail lights with the brake lights.

OR

Tail lights

Brake lights

In a way I think the first set is cooler since they show off the fact that they're LEDs, but then the second is cool too. I can't decide.

Edited to show original pics. Here are a couple of the finished product too.

The second pic is of the brake lights on. The exposure changed though, that's why they look orange.

jadedinpa · Dec 5, 2003

go with the first one, if you like the way it looks on the car - keep it. otherwise go with the full grid on.

86GT-Top · Dec 5, 2003

damn, thats cool as hell!!! you could market that and make a couple bucks, even from me!

Mavrick · Dec 5, 2003

Personally, i don't care for it much myself (wouldn't buy it). But that is pretty sweet what you did with LED's.

I would go with the first one myself, it looks pretty cool. Definetly a trick custom mod.

bmorrisj · Dec 5, 2003

make me some...i like the first one

MAC'n89Blckstng · Dec 5, 2003

Damn you beat me, how did you do that I wanted to do something like that with all the lights in the rear. Did you buy them or make them and how did you make them.
Thanks,
Jesse Barratt

GT40XStang9 · Dec 5, 2003

On the second one - are you regulating current or voltage?

Tried2Live · Dec 5, 2003

I actually made them from just parts. 90 super-bright LEDs in each side.

Some people suggested I make them like the first set, only with vertical bars instead of horizontal. It's tempting, but at 30 cents an LED, I have a lot of money in them to just do experimenting.

Tried2Live · Dec 5, 2003

GT40XStang9 said:
On the second one - are you regulating current or voltage?

I have a few resistors ahead of the system, so voltage and current have both dropped. My power supply voltage is the same.

jadedinpa · Dec 5, 2003

you've inspired me. i will have custom taillights too

89roadster · Dec 5, 2003

Sweet! I've seen a lot of this on the new cars and have been thinking about doing this, but include a third brake light. How much of a draw does a full set pull? I am also worried about the difference between just brake lights and brake lights + running lights in the first set - I think you should just have full brake lights no matter if the running lights are on or not (just my opinion...but if someone rear ends you, watch out...they have a case because you are not DOT approved)

BlackFox5.0 · Dec 5, 2003

I've gotta subscribe to this, if it looks good I might attempt it! Can you show use a wiring diagram?

Are you running the LEDs in parallel, or in series? looks like in series to me

89MustangGX · Dec 5, 2003

I like the second version myself. I'd like to see a full setup with blinkers too.

GTPhreak · Dec 5, 2003

89MustangGX said:
I like the second version myself. I'd like to see a full setup with blinkers too.

definitly

JaysGreenLX · Dec 5, 2003

That is pretty cool. I like the last one the best. You are fully utilizing the the LED's that way.

Mustang5L5 · Dec 5, 2003

I like the last setup. Hell now i have a winter project.

JaysGreenLX · Dec 6, 2003

Ok through the power of math I figure you have spent $54 on LED's alone. What have you put into this project in total? and what other parts are needed?

Tried2Live · Dec 6, 2003

Thanks for all the compliments. I think I'll probably do the second one actually. The first one is kinda cool, but I'm not really sure if it fits very well being a Mustang. Maybe they would look slick behind some cheese graters though.

As far as wiring... I never drew a schematic. I just did the calculations and wired it from some ideas I had in my head. It's a series-parallel thing, with quite a few resistors. If I decide for sure to use the second version, there will have to be another resistor or two and a couple of diodes.

The whole thing has taken a LOT of time, and I only have the one side done. I think I spent about 6 or 8 hours getting things together, and wiring/soldering every connection. It's been pretty fun though. I should be able to pick up the rest of my LEDs Monday, so I can do the left side and a third brakelight.

At full brightness, all 90 LEDs combined draw less than a half an amp of current, and I'm sure they're at least 1.5 times brighter than the regular bulb.

Tried2Live · Dec 6, 2003

JaysGreenLX said:
Ok through the power of math I figure you have spent $54 on LED's alone. What have you put into this project in total? and what other parts are needed?

The LEDs were 32 bucks for just the one side, circuit boards were 4 bucks each, resistors are really cheap (I think I paid $2.50 for 100) solder I got from an old job. I'd say overall I'll have about 100-120 bucks in a 3 piece set.

89 blue lx · Dec 6, 2003

wow that is an awesome idea

My LED taillight panels... which version should I use??

Tried2Live

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jadedinpa

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Mavrick

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GT40XStang9

Thanks to Tim, I get off pretty easy.

Tried2Live

Tried2Live

jadedinpa

89roadster

BlackFox5.0

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!

GTPhreak

JaysGreenLX

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

JaysGreenLX

Tried2Live

Tried2Live

89 blue lx

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My LED taillight panels... which version should I use??

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Thanks to Tim, I get off pretty easy.

I have nothing productive to add!

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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