LED tail light designs (pics)

[Kalos]

Hello all,

I am working on an LED tail light retrofit. I am still uncertain about the specific LED layout, so I thought I would post some photoshop ideas and see what everyone thinks. Please feel free to post other pictures or inspiration that you may have. The picture I used is from Tekdeus' build thread (I hope you don't mind, Tekdeus)....

Solid diffuse light on each side:

Solid diffuse light on the sides and extending to the center section for extra width:

Fully lit, diffuse tail lights:

Double bar lights:

Double bar from end to end:

Double bar with lit center:

Circles:

Comments/Ideas?

I think I like the one with the bars the best so far, somewhat reminiscent of an Aston Martin...

Oh, and here's a pic of the PWM I'm working on:

 

[dubsupra209]

looken good i like the double bar with lite center...

 

[RazoE]

I like this design the most..

the only problem is getting around the key-hole issue...

 

[Kalos]

Hmm, forgot about the keyhole...

 

[hvyman]

Fully lit, diffuse tail lights. my vote.

 

[gotsomegetsome]

"how to" post!!!!

 

[kamikazemkiii]

I like the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
circles are pretty cool too

 

[Scruggs86.5T]

I like the double bars with center lit.

 

[tylerjacobsen85]

circles FTW

 

[figgie]

To much red. The dark lines are the "amber" turn signals?

That might be a bit to bright specialy at night.

How are you doing the headlights on/brakes dimming? resistor or PWM based?

 

[bhmsupra]

circles FTW

 

[PROJECT N00b]

Circles

 

[tomquacky]

my car came with led reto fit let me see if i can find the vid of it

 

[tomquacky]

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee118/pipemitten/?action=view&current=Video_101807_001.flv

 

[Kalos]

Thanks for the video, interesting design. I'm surprised so many people like the circles...

 

[Poodles]

The circles won't come out that clean.

 

[Kalos]

The circles won't come out that clean.

Maybe, maybe not. Tekdeus was able to get a remarkably clear pinpoint design by placing his LEDs very close to the surface of the interior of the lenses. I think the same could be done in a circular design, and if you built an inner frame you could prevent the light from bleeding out of the circle. The thing that gives me the biggest pause when it comes to a circular design is the small, square reflector design in the center of each lens. It would take a very exact design to keep that from scattering the light.

 

[Poodles]

he also dodged the refector part, which the circles will hit.

 

[Kalos]

Right. They'd have to be lined up in the small gaps in between the reflector.

 

[hvyman]

there is one guy on here that did the led conversion with 4 rows of leds and went inbetween the turns that looked really good. i think if you did that and incorporated the center section that would look really good.