My LED tail light design so far. Opinions?

[tekdeus]

I was originally planning to try a full-bar LED design like this rendering:

but as I've started putting it together, I'm liking the sleek look of just 4 thin horizontal bars going across the length of the tails. I'm really considering this easier design for both looks and time saved, but now I'm also wondering if I should attempt to continue the pattern into the center lens with a single line along the top. What do you guys think of these designs? Should I just stick with the 4 lines in each tail, and leave the center, or go for a crazy super-long/wide look by including the center lens? Would this look cool, or would it look too much like a spaceship and get me more attention from cops, compared to having it look a bit more like a high-end OEM car?

 

[johnathan1]

Four lines looks really good! I think they would look good just lighting up the tails and not the center...but it could look nice going throught the center piece...i'd have to see it.

 

[tekdeus]

Hopefully HT5SSilverSupraT will chime in. He did that amazing first photoshop rendering!

 

[PROJECT N00b]

The rendering reminds me of vegas.

 

[plaaya69]

I also think the 4 lines would be very nice but do you plan on putting any leads for the turnsignals or the back up light?

Also if you did do with something like the first picture(crazy super-long/wide look) I would also think it would be nice if you could change the leds to make patterns, words or some sort of design.

 

[willfish]

very nice ?


group buy ? :naughty:

Will

 

[tekdeus]

I also think the 4 lines would be very nice but do you plan on putting any leads for the turnsignals or the back up light?

Yes, I am doing the amber turn signals like in the first rendering. 3 bars with 2 rows each to light up the clear parts, and I've got some ultra-bright white LED's for reverse lights, in the stock location.

 

[ForceofWill]

Your's is pretty much how I am going to do mine. I would do the 4 lines, then run the top line across the middle piece, but keep the middle wired to the brakes only. Don't have it turn on with the headlights. 2 rows per bar is nice for the turns too. Are you going to leave all 4 on always with the headlights? Which ones are you going to have come on so people can tell you are on the brakes at night?

For safety's sake you might want to run the 4 across like you are now, and those would be the ones on with your headlights. Then run another 3 lines in the spaces to come on only with your brakes.

 

[tekdeus]

My dimming/switching PWM circuit lights up all the red LED's together, and I can adjust the brightness of both modes (stop & tail modes). I'll just make the brakes super bright, so it should be a safe contrast.

 

[tekdeus]

Okay, here are 2 rough renderings of what I'm thinking of. Opinions?

 

[johnathan1]

I like the first redition, makes the car look like a Vector.

When's the group buy??

 

[plaaya69]

^ This one is nice because the center panel lights up.

 

[figgie]

too much

just keep it simple (and bright) and that should be it.

 

[Facime]

definately fill the center section. Ive always hated the fact that the center is just a passive reflector and not a light housing. My only question for you is how do you plan to take off the reflective paint on the inside of the center section?

 

[supraman7mgte]

i think it might look better if the led's just flood the red lens area.
but then the problem of gettting it to work with the Toyota'a elc. system is another question. are you going to use load resistors?

 

[OneJoeZee]

too much

just keep it simple (and bright) and that should be it.

Yeah...

Not feeling it.

Looking at the back of the car, It looks like a scrolling marquee. I might expect the lights to say "STOP" or something.

 

[willfish]

i think that would look bad ass this my tails....:biglaugh:

Will

 

[born2drv]

i think it it looks great, the center section in 89+ would look much better lit up as well, if you can do it.

keep us posted!

 

[SupraDreamPDR]

too much

just keep it simple (and bright) and that should be it.

+2, dont light up the center part... makes it look like there is too much going on.

 

[BorHor]

i think it might look better if the led's just flood the red lens area.

What he said.