LED center tail light w/ reverse lights
03-17-2007, 02:12 AM
#1
503wtq Boosted Bimmer
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LED center tail light w/ reverse lights
I've always been disapointed with our tail lights....they should have been led stock I thought i'd give it a try myself. I used Eight 25000mcd red leds for the brake light and fourteen 30000mcd white leds for the reverse lights.
03-17-2007, 02:54 AM
#6
Wow that is resourceful.
Only bad thing I could think I see with this is someone could mistake the white backup light for you still pressing on the brake and not yield if you are backing up in a parking lot. Since it is in the standard brake light spot when you put it in reverse.
It looks plenty bright though so maybe not.
You could mount some stealth LEDs into the lower section on the rear bumper as well.
Only bad thing I could think I see with this is someone could mistake the white backup light for you still pressing on the brake and not yield if you are backing up in a parking lot. Since it is in the standard brake light spot when you put it in reverse.
It looks plenty bright though so maybe not.
You could mount some stealth LEDs into the lower section on the rear bumper as well.
03-17-2007, 03:03 AM
#8
Originally Posted by Rotary Rasp
lol, the person would have to be colorbind and a moron if they thought that.... the leds are brighter then hell.
03-17-2007, 10:17 AM
#12
Momentum Keeps Me Going
Nice job RR! Good to see some down and dirty/electronic & soldering skills put to use. Perhaps you should add your schematic and parts list/source to make a real DYI out of it for others to follow!
03-17-2007, 12:27 PM
#14
503wtq Boosted Bimmer
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Spin9k
Nice job RR! Good to see some down and dirty/electronic & soldering skills put to use. Perhaps you should add your schematic and parts list/source to make a real DYI out of it for others to follow!+----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 330 ohms (x2)
These leds have a foward voltage of 2.0 volts and a max current of 20 millamps.
Each 330 ohm resistor dissipates 132 mW. The code for 330 is orange orange brown. ¼W resistors within spec. The diodes dissipate 160 mW. Total power dissipated by the array is 292 mW and the array draws current of 20 mA from the source.
Last edited by Rotary Rasp; 03-17-2007 at 12:34 PM.
03-17-2007, 12:31 PM
#15
503wtq Boosted Bimmer
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This solution is for the white LEDS.
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 470 ohms
Each 270 ohm resistor dissipates 108 mW and each 470 ohm resistor dissipates 188 mW. The color code for 270 is red violet brown and 470 is yellow violet brown. This array draws current of 20 mA from the source.
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 270 ohms
+----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 470 ohms
Each 270 ohm resistor dissipates 108 mW and each 470 ohm resistor dissipates 188 mW. The color code for 270 is red violet brown and 470 is yellow violet brown. This array draws current of 20 mA from the source.
03-18-2007, 05:31 PM
#18
Looks great, Rotary Rasp. I've been thinking of ways to do something similar, except I want to get rid of the red lense all together. I happened on these pics from a French RX-8 forum and really want to do something like this. Unfortunately I don't speak French, so I don't know any details. Here are the pics though:
Another easy way to do this would be to use one of PIAAs rear LED fog lights. The Deno 3 has almost the exact same dimentions as our 3rd brake light. I'm hesitant to spend $70 on it though and find out it won't work for some reason.
Another easy way to do this would be to use one of PIAAs rear LED fog lights. The Deno 3 has almost the exact same dimentions as our 3rd brake light. I'm hesitant to spend $70 on it though and find out it won't work for some reason.
03-18-2007, 05:59 PM
#19
Momentum Keeps Me Going
Originally Posted by Aipex8
I happened on these pics from a French RX-8 forum and really want to do something like this. Unfortunately I don't speak French, so I don't know any details. Here are the pics though:
[
[
03-18-2007, 08:52 PM
#20
http://www.rx8france.com/forum/setopic_6476-led.html
I ran it through google translator and it really didn't help much. I joined the site and sent the user a PM, I don't know if he speaks English or not. It looks like he might actually be selling them though.
I ran it through google translator and it really didn't help much. I joined the site and sent the user a PM, I don't know if he speaks English or not. It looks like he might actually be selling them though.
03-18-2007, 09:53 PM
#21
Surf Hard, Drive Hard
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Indialantic, Florida
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes
on
9 Posts
Take a look at this thread. I know some people were searching for a way to even out this design as just one light in the center tends to fade out on the sides. Maybe some combo between yours and this one would work good.
All a matter of opinion I guess though.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-3rd-brake-light-rx-8-logo-mod-21092/
DT
All a matter of opinion I guess though.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-3rd-brake-light-rx-8-logo-mod-21092/
DT
03-19-2007, 01:24 AM
#23
do you reckon if you used some super-small LED's you could write "RX-8" with the LED's on the circut board, so when you brake it lights up "RX-8"?
I know there is that cover for it, but this would be extra trick IMO. I guess it would look a little "blocky" and not as curvey as the RX-8 script is written in
Dave
I know there is that cover for it, but this would be extra trick IMO. I guess it would look a little "blocky" and not as curvey as the RX-8 script is written in
Dave
03-19-2007, 05:56 AM
#24
503wtq Boosted Bimmer
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by chickenwafer
do you reckon if you used some super-small LED's you could write "RX-8" with the LED's on the circut board, so when you brake it lights up "RX-8"?
I know there is that cover for it, but this would be extra trick IMO. I guess it would look a little "blocky" and not as curvey as the RX-8 script is written in
Dave
I know there is that cover for it, but this would be extra trick IMO. I guess it would look a little "blocky" and not as curvey as the RX-8 script is written in
Dave
03-19-2007, 05:58 AM
#25
503wtq Boosted Bimmer
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aipex8
Looks great, Rotary Rasp. I've been thinking of ways to do something similar, except I want to get rid of the red lense all together. I happened on these pics from a French RX-8 forum and really want to do something like this. Unfortunately I don't speak French, so I don't know any details. Here are the pics though:
Another easy way to do this would be to use one of PIAAs rear LED fog lights. The Deno 3 has almost the exact same dimentions as our 3rd brake light. I'm hesitant to spend $70 on it though and find out it won't work for some reason.
Another easy way to do this would be to use one of PIAAs rear LED fog lights. The Deno 3 has almost the exact same dimentions as our 3rd brake light. I'm hesitant to spend $70 on it though and find out it won't work for some reason.