LED tails......pics are up!!!
02-10-2006, 09:12 AM
#41
Dr Roy
DR Roy has done it again,
Dr Roy has done it again
Now I know why you couldnt do my retro. Hm Nice output. Bet you'll send a whole bunch. I have a few questions for you though so please check your Pm. Thanks
Dr Roy has done it again Now I know why you couldnt do my retro. Hm Nice output. Bet you'll send a whole bunch. I have a few questions for you though so please check your Pm. Thanks
02-10-2006, 02:50 PM
#45
here is a pic of the finisher power supply module PCB
and the power supply hooked up to the LED array and tail light harness
the module is a simple little circuit that takes care of converting 3 inputs from the tailight harness into 2 outputs for the LED panel, it also prevent backfeeed of the brake and tails into each other and will also balance the blinker load so it blinks at the same frequency as a bulb.
Most importantly it regulates the voltage and current that will flow into the tails protecting the LEDs from the cars electrical system. so the LED panel will last the life of the car.
One of the main goals of this project is reliability, a lot of care was taken when designing, to prevent component failure since the brake lights are an important safety feature of the car. A few LEDs out in the panel will be at most unattractive and annoying; if a large fraction of LEDs in both panels fail and/or total panel failure occurs the result could be very dangerous for the driver and other motorists.
So........one side all finished and ready to go into a housing. it will be a little while before i do that though. i am all out of free time. will update and post some pics when i do
and the power supply hooked up to the LED array and tail light harness
the module is a simple little circuit that takes care of converting 3 inputs from the tailight harness into 2 outputs for the LED panel, it also prevent backfeeed of the brake and tails into each other and will also balance the blinker load so it blinks at the same frequency as a bulb.
Most importantly it regulates the voltage and current that will flow into the tails protecting the LEDs from the cars electrical system. so the LED panel will last the life of the car.
One of the main goals of this project is reliability, a lot of care was taken when designing, to prevent component failure since the brake lights are an important safety feature of the car. A few LEDs out in the panel will be at most unattractive and annoying; if a large fraction of LEDs in both panels fail and/or total panel failure occurs the result could be very dangerous for the driver and other motorists.
So........one side all finished and ready to go into a housing. it will be a little while before i do that though. i am all out of free time. will update and post some pics when i do
02-10-2006, 09:40 PM
#53
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 221
Well, if you will be offering these on the .org, is there any way you could provide us with a ballpark of what you would charge between parts and labor?
Also, in the pictures with the brake light on, the color output looks very white. Is it more red than that in person? Would it be at all logical to use red and yellow LED's instead?
Also, in the pictures with the brake light on, the color output looks very white. Is it more red than that in person? Would it be at all logical to use red and yellow LED's instead?
02-11-2006, 08:18 AM
#54
I can see that there will be a demand for these but I am not sure if I will be offering a LED retro service. I just dont have the time. I was thinking of just selling the boards, somewhere around $60 for the 4 boards (2-LED PCBs and 2-power supply PCBs) the other components LEDs, resistors ect cost about $60. idealy, I would like to find someone to sell my boards to exclusivley, then that person could offer the retro service or sell the boards filled w/ components.
The little free time i have i would like to use to further develope the LED tails, i have already started on a second generation design that will use superflux leds and use a different power supply, rather than limiting current during taillight function as the 1st gen power supply does. the 2nd gen will have a integrated pulse width modulator so the tails can be dimmed by adjusting the duty cycle of the LEDs...much like most cadilacs
The little free time i have i would like to use to further develope the LED tails, i have already started on a second generation design that will use superflux leds and use a different power supply, rather than limiting current during taillight function as the 1st gen power supply does. the 2nd gen will have a integrated pulse width modulator so the tails can be dimmed by adjusting the duty cycle of the LEDs...much like most cadilacs
02-11-2006, 08:31 AM
#55
Originally Posted by Dr. Roy
I would like to find someone to sell my boards to exclusivley, then that person could offer the retro service or sell the boards filled w/ components.
02-11-2006, 09:30 AM
#57
Originally Posted by Anarchist
Well, if you will be offering these on the .org, is there any way you could provide us with a ballpark of what you would charge between parts and labor?
Also, in the pictures with the brake light on, the color output looks very white. Is it more red than that in person? Would it be at all logical to use red and yellow LED's instead?
Also, in the pictures with the brake light on, the color output looks very white. Is it more red than that in person? Would it be at all logical to use red and yellow LED's instead?
02-11-2006, 10:59 AM
#59
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 591
Originally Posted by Dr. Roy
I can see that there will be a demand for these but I am not sure if I will be offering a LED retro service. I just dont have the time. I was thinking of just selling the boards, somewhere around $60 for the 4 boards (2-LED PCBs and 2-power supply PCBs) the other components LEDs, resistors ect cost about $60. idealy, I would like to find someone to sell my boards to exclusivley, then that person could offer the retro service or sell the boards filled w/ components.
The little free time i have i would like to use to further develope the LED tails, i have already started on a second generation design that will use superflux leds and use a different power supply, rather than limiting current during taillight function as the 1st gen power supply does. the 2nd gen will have a integrated pulse width modulator so the tails can be dimmed by adjusting the duty cycle of the LEDs...much like most cadilacs
The little free time i have i would like to use to further develope the LED tails, i have already started on a second generation design that will use superflux leds and use a different power supply, rather than limiting current during taillight function as the 1st gen power supply does. the 2nd gen will have a integrated pulse width modulator so the tails can be dimmed by adjusting the duty cycle of the LEDs...much like most cadilacs
02-11-2006, 11:59 PM
#65
Originally Posted by Dr. Roy
they are red & yellow LEDs in the pics, its my camera that makes them look like that. but the boards can be filled with red/yellow, red/white, red/red, 5mm or 10mm LEDs.
Hehehe. I'm really excited at the prospect of this. Keep me posted bro, and let me know when to get my money ready. =P
02-12-2006, 05:18 PM
#71
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 221
Roy- I was just wondering what the difference in color was between OEM lights and LED's - if there is any at all. Could you try and describe the differences for us? LED's are brighter I'm guessing, but color differences, visibility differences etc.. are people behind us going to be blinded by our tails like the cadilacs? Just any observable differences if you can.
Thanks
Thanks
02-19-2006, 08:14 AM
#73
Originally Posted by 01GreyLustreSE
I think about 80% if not more of every 5th gen owner on here is going to want a pair of these. (including me as well)... hopefully somehow we all can get a pair..
02-20-2006, 01:45 PM
#74
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 221
Well, you have to keep in mind that price isn't a factor to some (few as they may be) people. Look at the money that people put into other cosmetic mods and keeping that in mind I think that LED tails could do very well - maybe not a huge profit margin per tail, but lots and lots of sales might make it worth somebody's time. I'd do it if I knew how.
04-04-2006, 12:08 PM
#77
work on these has been at a snails pace, but i have a few pics to update this thread. hopfully i will get these on the car tonight, and will have some more pics up soon
finished tailight
same light, just a little closer
finished set, tail lights on left side, brake light on right, it is not that orange, its my camera
and here is another little LED project for the headlight marker lights, these will get done sooner or later, will update w/ pics when i do
finished tailight
same light, just a little closer
finished set, tail lights on left side, brake light on right, it is not that orange, its my camera
and here is another little LED project for the headlight marker lights, these will get done sooner or later, will update w/ pics when i do
