FAQ---LEDs

[68w/sbc406]

well with work being slow this last week i figured i would start playing with my idea for LED side markers. i have the back ones done and now i just need to figure out how to make the front blink dim to bright. here is pictures

[GMCMAX]

Another thing to make them blink would be to run the power through a normally closed relay, and use the turn signal to open and close the relay.

[68w/sbc406]

well do to the PMs i have recieved i will go into more detail about LEDs.

A diode only lets current flow one direction. A Light Emitting Diode is just a diode that gives off light. the current only flows from positive to negative. the positive lead of an LED is the longer lead.
All LEDs have an operating voltage. the ones i bought had an operating voltage of 3.2v-3.6v. there are 12v LEDs available. LEDs also are available in different sizes. i know of 3mm, 5mm, and 10mm
LEDs are ratted in milli-candela (mcd) the higher clamed number the brighter the light emitted. the LEDs i bought for the reverse lights are 50,000 mcd.

For resistors for LEDs that operate on 3.2v-3.6v you shouldnt go any lower than 470 ohms, and shouldnt go any higher than 1000 ohms. the less ohms the brighter the light, more ohms = less light. BUT with lower resistance means higher current and shorter life. so pick a resistor that will give you plenty of light but not give your LED a short life span. you can buy one high wattage resistor for all your LEDs on your LED board or you can put the free 1/4 watt resistors on each LED, your choice.

A little lesson in electronics, when you wire in parallel each load gets voltage equal to the source. but if you wire in series (and the loads are equal) then the voltage gets divided by the number of loads EX. if you wire 4 LEDs in series on an automotive system where the voltage is 12v-14v then you divide by 4 and have a voltage at each LED would be 3v-3.5v.

now for the task at hand.

For the backer boards for the LED panels i used counter top laminate, cut to the shape of the side marker/reverse light and drill your holes (3/16 for 5mm) for however many LEDs you want (i put 16 per side marker and 24 per reverse light)

when all the holes were drilled i put in the LEDs and soldered them together, then insulated with hot glue (you could also use liquid electrical tape).

Finally i mounted them on the truck

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=226179

[IvelDesigns]

great post.

by using hot glue, what are the chances it will melt in the summer day heat?

[68w/sbc406]

i live in oregon, it doesnt get that hot over here. but i am sure the melting point of hot glue is higher than the hottest day we will ever have ( since i got a blister on my finger from getting hot glue on it)

[68w/sbc406]

Originally Posted by PumiceMan

I agree - those look awesome.
Where do you get the material for the laminate backing?

all i used was some counter top laminate left overs i found at a job i was working at. if you notice it has a nice 'butcher block' pattern that is very stylish. if it were exposed i would have actually got a solid black color

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Looks nice.

To make the front's blink, you could double the lights and have half hooked up to the signal and half to the lights.

thats kinda what i am thinking. running 4 in the middle and have them hooked to the turn signal wire.

Originally Posted by GMCMAX

Another thing to make them blink would be to run the power through a normally closed relay, and use the turn signal to open and close the relay.

what i am trying to do is constantly have power but the voltage change from parking to blinker to effect the brightness of the LED. now i just have to figure it out.

thanks for all the complements.

[68w/sbc406]

Originally Posted by Boise69

Seriously though... would you consider selling sets once youve perfected them?

they wouldnt be cheap and they wouldnt get done fast either. i would rather give step by step directions so you coulld do it yourself. they only reason i have the time to play with it now is i did not work last week.

well here are what i came up with for the front lights

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/ben68c...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v4...v?t=1168808927

[68w/sbc406]

Originally Posted by Boise69

Well personally i never look for cheap, i like paying $$$ for things that i cant create myself. But if youre thinking of selling the plans, please put me down for a set. I really like what youve done there.

i would suggest new lenses. and at GMCpauls they are 11 bucks a piece. and i have to buy 80 LEDs to get enough for all four (with 8 extra of each color) at 6 bucks for 10 and you are into these 92 bucks raw cost(not counting shipping) and it would probably take 6-8 hours for me to make them all up in my kitchen. so if i did sell them, you would probably be looking at minimum 150. and i wouldnt be able to give you a date i could have them done do to work and a 1 year old. right now i am only able to work on them while he is sleeping.

[68w/sbc406]

i used a resistor for each LED because i got those resistors with the LEDs. you can go out and buy a higher wattage resistor so you would only need one then.
As for the front there will need to be diodes on the wires feeding the resistors so it wont back feed. i dont have my truck here but i do believe parking lights and turn signals are on different fuses. is that clear as mud?

PS. WERE GUYS ABLE TO SEE THE VIDEO WORK OF THE FRONT SIGNAL???
PSS. sorry for it being small