Results 1 to 15 of 18

Thread: anyone did this mod?

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Member Since
    Feb 2003
    Location
    2001, Black, VX, 0781
    Posts
    974
    Thanked: 0
    Gotta love that translation, "The brightness of no defeat!"

  2. #2
    Member Since
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Former owner of 01 Ironman #0723, 01 Dragon #0590
    Posts
    952
    Thanked: 0
    I love Engrish. Those sites are full of it.

  3. #3
    Member Since
    Aug 2003
    Location
    1999,Silver,Vehicross,0928
    Posts
    1,087
    Thanked: 0
    anyone really knowledgable on resistors, capacitors, etc? i just bought 200 red led to do a brake light coversion(each led is 3.5v.....anyone know how i can calculate wat resistor to use....i use to remmeber this a few years back but i totally forgot it.....
    ________
    Alexahot
    Last edited by MZ-N10 : 09/05/2011 at 04:08 PM

  4. #4
    Member Since
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Former owner of 01 Ironman #0723, 01 Dragon #0590
    Posts
    952
    Thanked: 0
    Google "Ohm's Law +LED"

    There's a few good sites that will explain how to figure things out. You won't need any capacitors, but you will need good soldering skills. Also, you will have an issue with your flash rate (turn signals). That has been the single most frustrating aspect of the whole project.

    I suggest that you make a test bench (12v) from an old computer power supply, and get a breadboard (or two) from Radio Shack. This is where you can tune your resistor values for the correct brightness.

    Oh, forgot to answer the question:
    If the Vf is 3.5V, the supply is 12V, the desired current is 20 mA, then:
    12-(3.5+3.5) / .020 = 250ohms (two LEDs per resistor)
    12-(3.5+3.5+3.5) / .020 = 75 ohms (three LEDs per resistor)
    Last edited by mbeach : 05/05/2005 at 04:36 AM

  5. #5
    Member Since
    Jun 2002
    Location
    '99 Ebony Black VX, 0339
    Posts
    2,073
    Thanked: 0
    Here are some CLEAR 24 LED arrays that plug right into our stock sockets for turn and brake. RED LEDs do not work well going through the red plastic of the lens. http://www.autolumination.com/

  6. #6
    Member Since
    Aug 2003
    Location
    1999,Silver,Vehicross,0928
    Posts
    1,087
    Thanked: 0
    Quote Originally Posted by Tone
    Here are some CLEAR 24 LED arrays that plug right into our stock sockets for turn and brake. RED LEDs do not work well going through the red plastic of the lens. http://www.autolumination.com/

    yea ive seen those around...but they dont give the desired effect i want...i wanted to do a conversion liek the one they ahve at clearcorner.com(sp?) for teh 240sx(japanese 2way conversion or soemthing) i cant think of a stock car tat has it rite now...but something like the caddys sts...etc even if they dont work out well....it didnt cost me much, spent about 15 bucks on 200 clear red leds....

    oh and mbeach thanks man forgot bout this little thing called GOOGLE ....i think ill just bundle 3 of them together and avoid the whole resistor deal. and im not planning on doing the blinkers yet....

    1 last thing...if someone has the time...can u plz do a rough measure of the little rectangle tat the vx brake light is in(cant get to my own vx rite now)...not sure how else to discribe it...
    ________
    Volcano Vaporizers
    Last edited by MZ-N10 : 09/05/2011 at 04:09 PM

  7. #7
    Member Since
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Former owner of 01 Ironman #0723, 01 Dragon #0590
    Posts
    952
    Thanked: 0
    Caddies, FXs and some of the E46 BMWs (convertibles) use a special type of LED called the Luxeon Star.

    They are very bright and expensive surface mount LEDs. They also have a larger "footprint", and that's why there is so much space between the lights inside the housing.

    At least one company sells 'bricks' of Luxeon Stars, they come in 3 and 6 LED long strips that can be broken apart (like a chocolate bar).

  8. #8
    Member Since
    May 2002
    Location
    2000, Proton Yellow, VX, 0584
    Posts
    2,584
    Thanked: 10
    Quote Originally Posted by Tone
    Here are some CLEAR 24 LED arrays that plug right into our stock sockets for turn and brake. RED LEDs do not work well going through the red plastic of the lens. http://www.autolumination.com/
    I broke down and ordered a BUNCH of lights from here. As doing a prior post on similar replacements, I am impressed with these. The focal length of the side firing leds is different than the first LED's I tested as is the focal length of the forward facing. Thus, hitting the reflector of the housing more in a "Sweet Spot" making the whole thing much brighter than those mentioned in my first review.

    I replaced the brake/parking lights, F/R turn signals, F/R side markers, horn lights and the rear view mirror lights. I did get a replacement for the dome light but will not use it as it didn't put out enough light for my liking. I decided to match the color of the LED to the lens after experimenting with some super bright white LED's that I already had. I didn't care for the "purplish" underlying color the white LED's created as it seemed to wash out the color of the lens, especially the amber lens.

    My favorite part is the instant on, instant off of the LED's rather than the "ramp" of normal bulbs.

    The second favorite part is the price, these replacements are well within lower budgets compared to the ones in my first review however, their proces have dropped dramatically since that review.

    To make the turns work without having to change out flashers which doesn't always work, they also sell in line resistors to create a draw on the circuit comparative to regular bulbs.

    The only con is the LED's still do not produce the "Glow" of an incandescant but these are IMHO pretty darned close to the same brightness.

    I'll be able to show these off along with the new HID's in Moab and if there is enough interest, I may become a distributor for the company allowing for a good discount from what I already paid.

    Thanks! Tone!
    Scott / moncha.com

  9. #9
    Member Since
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Former 00' Kaiser #0804, 98 White 4Runner SR5
    Posts
    3,761
    Thanked: 0
    ah, that sounds awesome moncha. would like to do something a little more custom like that to my VX, considering that i just bought the HID kit for the headlights. See ya in Moab 2006 if not at a sooner meet. =)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
$lv_vb_eventforums_eventdetails