I'm working on a project, and I need a solid light bar. Not a LED strip, because I don't like the look of seeing each individual bulb. More so like a Halo or angel eye light. I want the light to be straight, like a bar. The "bar" needs to be about the same thickness of the 5th gen Halo. Any ideas on what to use? I will be sure to post pictures when I am done with this project.


Any ideas?

 

LED + Diffuser panel. This is what laptops use to get even lighting. They are edge lit.

 

I know a similar effect can be accomplished using and acrylic rod with grooves cut across the diameter and about half way through. You would have to cut a groove every other 1/16 of an inch and then you can light it from the ends with leds. Do a google search of home made angel eyes. That would be my first idea.

 

Thanks thirdgen89GTA. I am looking up diffuser panels now, but am having a hard time finding something for an led strip. Looks like exactly what I need tho.


-Benc1, thanks for the idea. I am going to research that aswell!

Keep the ideas coming guys. Thanks!

 

You are going to want something closer to a frosted piece with a reflective backing. The light will bounce off the backing and diffuse through the frosting. It will create a very uniform light source. You'll need to edge light it, because any kind of direct lighting will show up. You may need more than 1 LED at each end.

Look into a frosted acrylic tube, be it solid or hollow.

Something like this, but cut in half. Do that, back the flat end with something reflective, as well as surround the LED portion in someting reflective and it should direct the light. The quality of the material will determine how uniform the light appears. The longer the strip though, the less uniform it will be in the center.

 

Thanks for the further input.

I am thinking of getting a frosted acrylic tube, like you said, then placing an LED at each end. Then place a reflective backing behind the tube, to get the maximum light output.

The problem is that I want them to be very visible during the day. Like the 5th gen halos and bmw angel eyes. I'm just not sure that the 6" acrylic rod, with an LED at each end will be as bright. I'm not making halos, but the halos are a direct comparison to the light output I want.






Maybe I can use an actual bulb, like the Hella lights. I would be able to possibly make a "coupler" that directs light and attaches the bulb to the tube. Then use one on each side. But I'm sure that will possibly melt the acrylic. They get HOT.


This bulb is a full size bulb, roughly 1-2" long.

 

Why not try cold cathode?