LED tail light conversion, clearcorners.com style. Ideas on how to?

[tekdeus]

I'm really liking the way clearcorners.com has done their LED conversion(pics below). Any ideas on the best way to go about building something like this? I haven't had much luck finding suitable parts other than here: http://www.custom-led.com/

I know the lens must be heated to dissasemble, but do you build your own board, or assemble pre-made strips? Anyone else tried this out?

 

[starscream5000]

I haven't tried it, but I'd say assembling the strips will be the easiest way. There should be some electronic guys on here that can elaborate on how you need to solder everything up and what resistors you will need... You may want to try custom making a flat pannel molded to fit inside the tail light assembly and attach your LED's that way so they are all level with each other. Either way, you should save shit loads of money compared to buying one that's already assembled .

 

[supra90turbo]

If you end up getting some made, I'll gladly send you a set of my taillights to have done as well. This is one of the things that I want to do before I get my car on the road.

 

[figgie]

sorry

easier said then done. It CAN be done (as seen) but knowledge of electrical schematics design is critical and a must.

There is a reason the prices are as steep as they are. Takes time to make the layout correct

 

[ValgeKotkas]

What's wrong with the normal bulbs?

 

[figgie]

What's wrong with the normal bulbs?

nothing at all.

The advantages of LED though are numerous

quicker to light. (meaning the moron that is tailgating in back might actually have a chance in hell of not rear ending you).
Longer life (10,000 hours give or take).
Less energy consumed.
BRIGHTER when built correctly.

 

[jetjock]

I agree. Cooler, better response time, longer life, less current, etc. Not only for everyday use but special apps too. A few months back I built and installed a multi-channel color organ on a neighbor's kid's car for all his exterior lighting. By changing all exterior lighting to led (Luxeons in the rear) it made a world of difference in response time. Quite a show when dark and with good music. Not something I'd do on a car but he loved it.

 

[ValgeKotkas]

^actually quite good advantages... but for that price I'll risk with my normal ones:icon_roll

 

[figgie]

^actually quite good advantages... but for that price I'll risk with my normal ones:icon_roll

well that like any electronics... since it is just being adapted for that type of useage. Prices are going to be staggering.

See that cars that come OEM with LED tail lights. To replace ONE is around 1000 USD.

 

[MKivSupra_Rob]

nothing at all.

The advantages of LED though are numerous

quicker to light. (meaning the moron that is tailgating in back might actually have a chance in hell of not rear ending you).

With the speed of both lights turning on and the average human response time we're talking nanoseconds here.

Longer life (10,000 hours give or take).

It may be, but the cost of a 2$ bulb compared to all of those LED's, not to mention how easy it is to just change a bulb, where as the LED's are annother story

Less energy consumed.

Sure they use ~90% less energy, but there are 2 bulbs on when running, where as there are many many more LED's, so 90% or not, its using roughly the same.

BRIGHTER when built correctly.

too bright, looks stupid

IMO anyways, sure LED's have their purks but these guys are using way to many and its going to be blinding. The amount of energy your alternator makes easily makes up for a few tail lights. Just the cost of buying htose online/making your own alone isnt really worth it to have some blinding tail lights. Evenly dispursed would look cool but in those pics they look orange and VERY un evenly dispursed

 

[ValgeKotkas]

Blindnig'd be very bad in the night Talking about reaction time....

 

[KeithH]

well that like any electronics... since it is just being adapted for that type of useage. Prices are going to be staggering.

See that cars that come OEM with LED tail lights. To replace ONE is around 1000 USD.

I can get the 2007 Solara taillights (LED) for my 2006 Solara for just over $200 - for the pair.

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

Looks so cool. I want this.

 

[suprastanger507mgte]

Looks so cool. I want this.

Those tails cost close to 1500 Dollars I think.

 

[figgie]

With the speed of both lights turning on and the average human response time we're talking nanoseconds here.

bub not sure where you are getting facts. It takes roughly about a couple ms for an incandenct light bulb to come to full brightness. if it takes the LED 1 ms to come on that gives a person a 3 ms time which is right around the limit of 2 ms reaction time average.

It may be, but the cost of a 2$ bulb compared to all of those LED's, not to mention how easy it is to just change a bulb, where as the LED's are annother story

actually not that much differet if built with replacement in mind Most of the ones you see are replaced as a unit, so no quick release of the LED.

Sure they use ~90% less energy, but there are 2 bulbs on when running, where as there are many many more LED's, so 90% or not, its using roughly the same.

actually they run on 5vdc and its amerage draw per each one is a hell of a lot less. It is NOT roughly the same, as a matter of fact you would need three times the amount of LED to consume the same amount of power.

too bright, looks stupid

too bright? no such thing, you are either seen or not.

IMO anyways, sure LED's have their purks but these guys are using way to many and its going to be blinding. The amount of energy your alternator makes easily makes up for a few tail lights. Just the cost of buying htose online/making your own alone isnt really worth it to have some blinding tail lights. Evenly dispursed would look cool but in those pics they look orange and VERY un evenly dispursed

cost is actually cheap, as each led cost about 10 cents a pop. 1 dollar for the luxeons which require less of to make (see Infiniti and Nissan for Useage). Keep in mind with the alternator that it is a feedback based unit, ie if the voltage drop it will increase the field which increases drag on the motor

 

[SilverSupraT]

Those tails cost close to 1500 Dollars I think.

Anyone who wants these: send me your core lights and I'll do it for $1k :biglaugh:

 

[jetjock]

The entire thing was less than $200 including the tail light mod. Just another reason for learning to do things on your own. I dunno where he's getting Luxeons for a buck though. Guess I need to stop buying them new although they'll be much cheaper as soon as Cree LEDS become more common. Too bright? In 1989 I replaced my 3rd brake light with a xenon flash tube and a timer. Now that was bright. You can never be too bright, at least when it comes to brakes.

 

[theKnifeArtist]

i wanna see that on the car.
theres no way i would spend the money for that.
rebuild engine....taillights...rebuild engine....hmm..

 

[LilMissMkIII]

Damn they look HAWT!!!

Wish i had the time (and patience) do do something like that...

 

[annoyingrob]

I actually DID build some LED turn signals in my 91.

The easiest way to do it is get a prototyping board, and cut it to fit the housing, then solder the LEDs onto it.

When I built mine, I used orange, and red LEDs, so that they could also light up red with the brakes.

Edit: Ok, I made a video just to show you guys.
http://members.shaw.ca/annoyingrob/Supra Vids/taillights_sm.avi