LED Tail Retro Advice/Suggestions (Pics)

[MTL-TSX]

So i have been working on my Led Tail retro for a week, and i wanted some suggestions.

I would like to make the following points clear:

- I only have a spare set of Passenger inner tails, so all work will be done on that for now.
- I know the taillight looks hacked apart, i will fix that
- I do not plan on leaving the perf board "look" on the final product
- For the sake of pictures i did not put the leds at full brightness
- I can make any design that would fit into that circle (about 7 1/2 CM diameter)
- I plan on making all 4 lights (both driver and passenger) into marker/brake lights (right now only one of the rear tails get brighter when we brake.
- Unlike the other tails you might have seen, these will be true dual brightness, as well as an inner circle lighting up.
- I will update this thread as i make new prototypes

So here are pics of my first design:

Tail lit up as marker light:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics053-1.jpg

Tail lit up as brake light:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics050.jpg

Tails off:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics055.jpg

Tails with lense off:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics056.jpg

I plan on making another design which has the same outer circle, but with a more full inner circle, perhaps with an led in the center.

What do you guys think? This design is not the same as the previously done led tails you might have seen, the leds are a bit more seperated and less are used.

I will post up my other design in a day or so.

[gerardo]

wow... :bowdown:

i praise your hard work and "DIYness", i cant wait to see the final product and what follows of the DIY. (i think it might look better without the inner circle) very impressive.

(wrong thread btw)

[chuson]

I have a set of extra inner + corner R/L tail-light, want to experience on it and let me have a deal from you.

[Carbon]

I like it. You must have been pretty bored to strat a project like this.

[shay654]

Nice job! :thumbsup:

[MTL-TSX]

I like it. You must have been pretty bored to strat a project like this.

Lol i actually been wanting to do this for quite some time, was just lazy before and didnt have a spare set.

Thanks.

[chuson]

MTL-TSX, my PM box is full. Please send your msg to my e-mail. super_jason_chu@hotmail.com

Thanks

[MTL-TSX]

Email sent.

New prototype should be up tonight, if not tommarow.

[MTL-TSX]

Can we move this to Lighting & electronics?

[MTL-TSX]

Here are some pics of a new design, its a bit more filled in with a center.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics014.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics016.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics009.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics004.jpg


Sorry the pics with both the inside and outside on didnt come out so good.

I must say again, i am either going to have the outer ring light up as marker lights but at less brightness and then the inner will light one i brake along with the outer at full brightness.
Or i am going to have both inner and outer light up at less brightness and then full once i brake.

Which design do you guys like?

[Peregrine]

Can we move this to Lighting & electronics?
done

[Peregrine]

I admire your persistance and design. The only problem is the housing now looks like shit. Did you find a good way of separating it and then resealing?

[MTL-TSX]

Well, the one you see is my first attempt, once i get a new set i will be more refined and precise with my "heated knife" cuts. Though i think i can salvage this housing by doing some multistage sanding and sealing it up with a clear sealant.

And thanks btw.

[Peregrine]

:thumbsup:

[TheProfessor]

Very cool, though will that be enough LED's?

[MemphisRheins]

I like the more filled in approach better, one of my personal problems ive had with the other led set ups that have been made is I just dont feel theres enough LED's there, this new set up would look great, especially if you run them all on partial brightness untill you stomp the brakes

[Jays98cobra]

im gonna second what memphis said...deff do the outside ring partial brightness and than the center full when braking...if this is easy enough and u master it let me know...i been looking for an economical way of leds in the tail lights...kinda like the g35 coupe look
jay

[MTL-TSX]

Very cool, though will that be enough LED's?


Honestly these leds are pretty bright, if i were to fill up the entire area it would blind the person behind me. even with these my eyes hurt when look at them.

I personally like my first deisgn with less leds but i am trying different designs, but i am limited because i am using regular perf boards, if i made my own boards i could do whatever i want.

[MTL-TSX]

im gonna second what memphis said...deff do the outside ring partial brightness and than the center full when braking...if this is easy enough and u master it let me know...i been looking for an economical way of leds in the tail lights...kinda like the g35 coupe look
jay

Thanks guys, I am not sure on the center 4 leds though (not sure if the + design will go good with once on the car), do you guys really like them?

Yeah i can either do all on (both inner and outer rings) on low brigthness then all on full brightness when i brake, or have outer on low brightness and inner off then when i brake both inner and outer at full brightness.

[Jays98cobra]

are u doing just the outsides or the insides as well? meaning inside lights with the reverse lights?
Jay

[MTL-TSX]

I plan on doing both the outer tails (on qtr panel) and the inner tails (on trunk).

I would like to convert the inner tails to brake lights as well though. I will also make LED reverse lights, but i may not use regular leds, i might use a luxeon for that, they are hella bright but produce a lot of heat.

[MTL-TSX]

My next Prootype:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics021.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics020.jpg

This one is a bit more complex so am not sure how long it will take me to finish the proto, let alone start it.

But once done, 45 led goodness, with a snowflakey design. If on full bright, this will burn the retinas of the person behind you :D

[Peregrine]

i lo... i lo... i lok it a lot! :)

[Jays98cobra]

u plan on doing this setup like ur talking about and it comes out clean and u master it let me know. ill buy them from u
Jay

[MTL-TSX]

Sure thing i will let you know. The only thing with this design is that it might get really hot in there, so i will need to do some heat testing.

Also i plan on etching my own boards so its easier to "mass produce"

[Jays98cobra]

very good keep me updated. worse comes to worse ill get a set off ebay and than send them to u to do up
Jay

[MTL-TSX]

Sounds good, i will let you guys know. Once i am done making prototypes, and can get some on the car for testing ill make a poll.

For now here's a pic of all the leds i have to play with:

Can you guess around how many?:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics023.jpg

Mind you not all are red, some are blue some are amber.

[Peregrine]

still, I have a feeling that should be enough :) for your project

[Flash24]

1500???

[chuson]

1000 exact?

[MTL-TSX]

Haha Nice guesses, in total i have around 2460 of that 420 are blue, 420 are amber and the rest are red (some of different viewing angles)

Each tube has 60

[RaCeR4LiFe022]

yoo im starting to like this DIY! good luck with the new design! looks goood!

[MTL-TSX]

I will be etching my own board for that last design, schematic and board layout are done, now i just need to do the actual transfer to copper board and then do the chemical business, then solder the leds and test the mofo :)

[j0z0d34th]

im psyched for you

[MTL-TSX]

Board etched, now just need to drill the holes and then solder the leds.. Drilling is the hard part.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics025.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/pics024.jpg

[Peregrine]

good job :)

[Jays98cobra]

wow pete looks like we got a mini u on the board...competition ;) LOL
Jay

[Peregrine]

it's about time :) We need creative minds!

[MTL-TSX]

Hehe thanks guys!

I have drilled the holes and cut the board to size. Now i just need to solder everything. I do work everyday and go to the gym afterwards so i only work on it at night and week-ends. But i should have working pics tonight.

[MTL-TSX]

Could someone/everyone post a design they would like to see?
I want to see if there is anything else i can prototype or what else might look good.

I can't seem to think outside of the "box" when designing a new one, it somehow ends up looking like the old ones.

Thanks

[chuson]

^
Those fxxker has finally ship me back my tail-light, soooo, I'm ready to take mine off to you. My problem is, I don't know how to take it off without taking off the bumper...

[MTL-TSX]

^
Those fxxker has finally ship me back my tail-light, soooo, I'm ready to take mine off to you. My problem is, I don't know how to take it off without taking off the bumper...


Hmmm i think i read somewhere here or the other forum about how to remove the tails without taking off bumper but i could be wrong. Check the DIY section, theres one for the JDM tail install.

I have a friend who is in T.O untill tommarow maybe i can arrange to have him pick them up but i don't know his schedule.

[pizzaman555]

^
Those fxxker has finally ship me back my tail-light, soooo, I'm ready to take mine off to you. My problem is, I don't know how to take it off without taking off the bumper...

Just pull the bumper off it only takes ten minutes not sure of any other way to pull the tails out.

[Jays98cobra]

Could someone/everyone post a design they would like to see?
I want to see if there is anything else i can prototype or what else might look good.

I can't seem to think outside of the "box" when designing a new one, it somehow ends up looking like the old ones.

Thanks

base it off the G35 or the TL...make rows side to side? Hows that?
Jay

[MTL-TSX]

The G35 design is more or less what i have in my first two.

How bout this one i just made quickly:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/MTLer/Led2.jpg

[Peregrine]

IMO, that's too much. I like just a thick perimeter, like G35 has.

[MTL-TSX]

agreed

[Peregrine]

I mean, don't go by what I said, it's just MO, but if you like what you showed us, that's good. Who knows, it may actually look good once it's done. So do what you think will look good.

[baudit2]

I think that one looks great. I'd say go for it.

[Jays98cobra]

i like that with the outside being the parking lights and the inside being the brakes when lit up...kinda wham at the people behind ya, ya know and plus takes into account sun going down and people driving into it and can see it when there being blinded by the sun...thats the tough part the safety aspect ya knwo

Jay

[MTL-TSX]

Hehe don't worry i am not only doing what you say, its just that i do want these to appeal to people other than me so that is why i am making multiple designs. I have one more design up my sleeve which i think i might really like. Once i am really tired of making designs i will poll the ones i have.

Jays98cobra, i know what you i did want an outer andinner one at first but if the pattern is more filled then i would most likely just have all on but dim for park lights, then all on brigth for brake.

Thanks for the input guys.

[Jays98cobra]

hey as long as there dimmer for parking and bright for brake and u can see the huge contrast thats all that counts...cause on my old motorcycle i had a Rear LED tail light and i changed it cause it was all lit for parking and when u hit the brake u couldnt really see a drastic change...but than again that was early technology leds and than i changed it to a newer led unit and there was a huge diffrence!
Jay

[Flash24]

it would be pretty cool to have the Acura "A" as the center of the brake light...just an opinion...u guys may think its stupid

[Sarasotasun]

I'd personally like to have some led tail lights that look kinda like the Lexus RX hybrid. Here are a couple examples:
http://sarasotasun.net/RXshots/RXrear1.jpg
http://sarasotasun.net/RXshots/RXrear2.jpg

[Jays98cobra]

yea those are cool lights but were not doing clears...were retrofitting stocks...hey see if we can make the inners brake as well, next to the reverse lights
Jay

[MTL-TSX]

I plan on doing that actually (original post :D), i am going to have all 4 lights (the red ones) act as brake lights.

Been very busy lately, work, GF issues and sisters wedding coming up soon etc.. but i promise i will have some more prototypes done soon.

Trying to do the easy things at the moment, changed my door lights back to blue, and im trying to LED my 3rd brake light, but i can't seem to get it off.

[MTL-TSX]

Ok Guys i have been away for quite some time now, and honestly lost interest in making these (lost interest in modding my car all together) but im bored now i think ill start it up again!

Keep you posted

[tsx4life]

hey when your done with your project maybe u can sell them ?...nice job dough ...

[chuson]

lol... you know I have all 4 tail-light waiting in here...

[Jays98cobra]

that works for me. Any words on this being done? totally forgot all about this till now
Jay

[Jays98cobra]

bump

[MxD0CxB]

is this still goin???? lol