Highbeamz

So I have a question to those of you running custom LED strips in the inner tail lights...

What size diode are you using in the line (I see some are using a diode before the LED strip). It's based off the LED's current draw, right?

Also, has anyone established a good level of resistance (size of resistor) for the running lights? I can always guess and test if no one has an answer, but if someone has established it, all the better.

jschatte

well it depends on how much leds you have to determine the resistance, so i just kinda tested a bunch out haha. But what are you trying to do? make them fully functional? If so give me a second to find the wiring diagram, and specs on the diodes.

check this out. He used variable resistors which is a good idea, so you don need to worry about fiddleing around with resistors. This circuit makes the inner nights work as brake, park, and signal lights

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/show...8&postcount=62

Highbeamz

I don't know the "true" specs of the lights I bought as I got them off Ebay from a China vendor, and they give no information. I'd think they're somewhere around the 150mA @ 12VDC load, it's a 48CM strip with 48LED's, and I'll probably be shortening it to 30 or so to fill up the full circle of the tail light. They are the bulb style, not the SMD. I think the specs would be similar to the ones on Superbrightleds.com.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/WFLB.htm

I plan to wire it as a running light and a brake, so I'll wire to the running lights and add a resistor/diode to that line, and run the brake light from the 3rd brake light as I don't want them to do the turn signal.

If you need any more info I'll see what I can dig up. Like I said, I can fiddle with the resistance, but I have no idea on what I need for diodes, or even 100% sure WHY people are using them? As a safety?

Highbeamz

Well I got pretty much all of this figured out. The only problem is as I tried to bake the tail light to get the sealant off, it melted the god damn clear part for the reverse light, it's sunken in.

All I can say is thank god I have a spare set of lights. ****. Not sure if I'm going to try baking them now.

jschatte

that sucks! its a pita to get the sealant out.

Highbeamz

Yeah, I think I'm going to get another set of inner lights before I go screwing with them again...maybe the VHT nightshades had something to do with it melting, but I'm not sure. Still pretty fricken stupid.

EmperorJJ1

iTrader: (5)

im using a few 1a diodes for my headlights. i dont remember how many but ill assume 2 per light. working good so far they were just whatever ones i could find at the shop

LTBALTBMX

Ok, My setup is pretty much identical to what you want to do. The diodes were 1N4004 but any diode would be fine if I'm correct. The resistors I used were 500 Ohm variable. Anything higher would be pointless. I have mine set at halfway for my liking. They way I got rid of the silicon was using a hair dryer to heat the sealant nice and warm. Be careful not to overheat it. A good way to prevent this from happening is to use one hand to hold the housing while handling the hair dryer with the other. I doubt you'd be able to do significant warpage to your lenses before pain kicks in . Once it is nice and warm, you'll want to pierce the sealant at 1 point and 1 point only. This will be the most difficult step. Just keep working at it with a sharp flat head screw driver. Once you have done this, pry up the sealant slightly and blast a shot of wd40 into it. Reheat your sealant then start prying parallel to the sealant bead. This should not take too much effort.

This is how mine turned out:


The key is to take your time with this. I spanned this project across 2 weeks and it's definitely worth it. If the sealant becomes stubborn while prying, its time to reheat. Also, a shot of wd 40 now and then while prying seems to make the job a lot easier.

If you're really crappy at handy work, you could always ship me your LED strips and housing and a wad of cash and I'll take care of the dirty work for you.(Seriously, I'm a bit short of sucking dick for money)

Also, if you (or anybody for that matter) would like, I can scan the schematic for my setup.

Highbeamz

Well I figure it will make a good winter project. I did some research and I'm using 1N4001 Diodes (I think, lol) and they'll work well. I found the right resistor too, so once I get another set of inner tails I'll get started again.

LTBALTBMX

Follow my tips you idiot.

NCC-2000

Where the **** did that come from? Some help you are if you're just gonna blast people for no good reason. Nobody has to do things exactly the way you did.

08G5GT2.4L

Wow wtf?...


x2^^