Hey guys. I'm pretty new here but I have a cool idea. I want LED tailights and brakelights. I already went to Pep Boys and bought the LED 1157 replacements but they're too dim. I went to JDR.com and ordered 100 high brightness red LEDs. I'm gonna put about 50 of them in each lamp and hopefully it will be very bright. The brightness is almost comparable with a regular bulb with only 7 LED in there. I'm going for the look of the new Cadillacs and they way the lights instantenously go and off. I will let everyone one how it works and maybe even make up a litle article on how to do it. Did anyone ever think about or done something like this ?

------------------
1991 Z28

 

Yeah, I thought about that a while ago... didn't quite know how to do it though. Now that I know there is an 1157 LED replacement, I might just go for it. Let me know how it works out for you; I like the brake lights on those new Caddies too!

------------------
1986 Camaro IROC-Z
Code 23 Paint ("IROC Blue")
305 TPI w/ Auto Tranny
Grant GT Steering Wheel
New A/C Motor!

View my website, a work-in-progress

 

Well I went ahead and did it. I used a total of 49 LEDs in each lamp. I only did the brake lights since I only ordered red LEDs. They're brighter then the regular bulbs. I arranged them in a square pattern inside the light so it looks pretty cool too. I did have to take the assemblies apart so I can work inside the bulb cluster. I used a lot of hot glue! It worked out very nicely though and now all my friends want em! hehe

------------------
1991 Z28

 

Ok, since you are pretty new here, I have to let you know that is manditory to post pics of stuff thats cool like that lol

------------------
Third Gen Project
1989 305 tbi Camaro RS Red/Red
Ram Air II Hood
Centerline Champ 500 Rims
Edelbrock Open Element
MacEwen White Faced Guages

 

yea crucial,
those are the rulz unless your looking for trouble, ecspecially consideriung that ive been planning to do this,

shooowww me, and how much did you spend...?



------------------
91 FireBird 305 V-8
Edelbrock Catback, Custom Alarm. Fourth Gen Console. i have six cupholders. all for starbucks!
Go|)Created The Earth, And Then Turned Up The Bass.
Here's My Audio Install!

"Honda's FOR ME TO POOP ON!" -Triumph...

 

I already did this to my dash but I have been wanting to do this to my tail lights. I want to see how it turns out. Post pics

------------------
1989 Iroc-Z 5.7 350, Blue, T-Tops
Lightly Moded:
Headers, Rebuilt B&M 700R-4 tranny, Airfoil, K&N's
-- Blue LED backlight Dash
"Just some 17 Year old spending every dollar I make on my car."

 

I will get pics in the next couple of days. Dunno how it will turn out on the camera but we'll see I guess. The MAIN reason for doing is the fact that they turn on and off instantenously which makes em different. I'm doing my turn signals as soon my 400 orange LEDs get here (hehe), then I'll take pics of both, maybe even make a little video.

p.s. just because I only have a few posts doesn't mean I'm new I've been here since 98...

------------------
1991 Z28

 

JEGs sells LED 1157 replacements in their (nold on to something sturdy,,) import (sport compact) section for $11 a pop in case anyone cares. Not a bad price for the ease of just plugging them in.

------------------

• my Formula Homepage
• Collision P/Ns & Diagrams (Nearly complete now!)

The mind is like a parachute, it only works when its open

 

400 leds???

WOW. lol
im glad your getting pics, i would have gone crazy.

guys, go to the link in my sig, and then in one of the pages theres my already led effects page...

dont ferget to vote!
mm.... pics....

------------------
91 FireBird 305 V-8
Edelbrock Catback, Custom Alarm. Fourth Gen Console. i have six cupholders. all for starbucks!
Go|)Created The Earth, And Then Turned Up The Bass.
Here's My Audio Install!

"Honda's FOR ME TO POOP ON!" -Triumph...

 

crucial,

Did the 1157 LEDs at least come up equal to the original bulbs, or were they less bright?

There's also an LED brake light bulb on the market where all the LEDs come on and off in a "chaser" pattern, which I imagine would give each taillamp a cool flickering effect. I don't know if that's legal though.

 

Yes I did buy the 1157 replacements first. They only have about 8 LEDs in them. All you can see from behind is a very dim red circle. My friends were always complaining that they couldnt see my brake lights when following me, so that's why I decided to do it right. Now everybody asks me how I did it

------------------
1991 Z28

 

It does take a lot of patience to assemble all the LEDs, but I can get one tailght done in about an hour taking my time with it. I'm an electronics engineer and soldering is like second nature for me so I can solder em toghether REALLY quick

 

Are you dropping the voltage from 12 volts to around 3v (What red LED’s run off) using resistors?

------------------
1989 Iroc-Z 5.7 350, Blue, T-Tops
Lightly Moded:
Headers, Rebuilt B&M 700R-4 tranny, Airfoil, K&N's
-- Blue LED backlight Dash
"Just some 17 Year old spending every dollar I make on my car."

 

No. I'm putting 7 LEDs in series. That drops the voltage and current to the right levels for each LEDs. I figure 13-14Volts divided by 7 is about 2 volts and about 25 mA for each LED.

------------------
1991 Z28

 

wow, that sounds kinda confusing.... so, does anyone wanna make some and send em to me.... hahahahaha....
i'm kiddin...
but i would like to see some pics.... sounds really cool

 

Are you also running the sets of 7 in parallel?

Do you happen to have the resistance numbers for each LED?
Also.... just out of curiousity, do you happen to know off hand how many amps are comming to the tail lights in a normal situation?

------------------
http://kiztope.50megs.com
92 Pontiac Firebird Formula 5.7/A4
K&N, nothing else yet!

92 Rs 3.1/T-5
Beautiful car, several mods, but now I am turning attention to the 'bird!

AIM : Theonekiztope
ICQ: 8787542

"Maybe one day life will take a turn. When it does Lean into it!" Leon Calrinsky (98)

 

I'm running 7 LEDs in one "pack", then use about 12 of these in parallel to make a nice 82 LED cluster. I dont need any resistors. I just recently finished doing the turn signals. I will try to make a small video of how they work. Pics would be worthless since it's the instant on and off effect that really sets LEDs apart.

------------------
1991 Z28

[This message has been edited by crucial (edited September 29, 2001).]

 

how much did this Proj cost ya?

 

Bout 40 bucks.

 

this is kinda 3rd gen unrelated but was wondering if someone can help me.My buddy has a 87 BMW and installed leds in his braklights.Now when he pushes his clutch his brke lights go on,but when he pushes the brake no lights come on.Any ideas anybody

 

1. You're 4 years late.
2. It's an entirely different topic.

Just start a new thread.