My first build thread LED REVERSE LIGHTS!!

[724x4a/cchevy]

Ok, this is my first build thread, so bear with me. After seeing 68w/sbc406's build up of LED sidemarkers and reverse lights, I decided to build my own. I bought a lot of 100 led's off ebay for about 13 bucks give or take.... Because i dont know how to make these LED's blink yet, i decided to go simple and create a pair of reverse lights. I started by cutting a piece of translucent plastic (from a busted storage tote), I made a grid spaced 5mm apart. Then drilled out every other square. This is what it looked like when i was done.
After PM'ing 68w/sbc406, he suggested i wire the LED's up in series of four so that i wouldnt have to put a resistor on every single led. I think there are 28 or 32 led's in each reverse light so this idea came in really handy.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I did not build mine but I have a set in my blazer..

[724x4a/cchevy]

After wiring up the rows of LED's in series, i tied each row into columns parallel. Thus each row gets the same voltage. I soldered them so that they met in the center row.

After i finished wiring the leds up, I busted a perfectly good light bulb and soldered the leads of speaker wire to the pos and neg leads. I filled the empty socket full of epoxy.

[724x4a/cchevy]

Then i soldered the bulb/speakerwire to the back of the LEDs and used hot glue to secure the soldering just like 68w/sbc406.

[72CSTC5]

Well, quit teasing us, we are waiting.

[724x4a/cchevy]

Then i put them in and tested them out!!! They are MUCH brighter than the originals. The only bad thing about this, you're only half done...........

[724x4a/cchevy]

And as far as the parking lights, I took the easy way out I went to a swap meet in columbia MO last weekend and bought two 6inch oval amber trailer lights (only 5 bucks each!!!). They WORKED PERFECLY!!! Fit right into the factory lenses and looked great! I used pretty much the same process as the reverse lights, but i had to solder another wire to make it blink, and then swap the two positives since i got it wrong the first tim

[724x4a/cchevy]

If you have any other questions, just PM me and i will do what i can to answer them.
Justin

[TierAngst]

When do you start mass producing

[franky69c10]

nice

[724x4a/cchevy]

thats just it, the only downside to these is the fact that they are kinda time consuming the payoff is definately worth it though.

[68w/sbc406]

lookin good. here is the diagram. i found diodes at a local electronics store that look liked what i needed. nothing specific. there isnt as big difference between the flashing as i would like so i would probably change the resistor values to 1500 ohms for parking lights and 750 for blinker. it should work, but i dont know since i havent done it. but if it does work it will give you a greater difference between park and blink.

[Mrboson1]

nice work

[SmokeShow]

Thats amazing how well they work!! Be great to see some brake, running and turn signals done the same way. Sweet mod for sure!! Good job.


C-ya

[724x4a/cchevy]

i bought 100 red leds last night going to start working on brake lights before too long...prolly next weekend. Stay tuned!!

[68w/sbc406]

i am probably going to buy ECEs version of the brake lights. 160 leds per side. the amount you would spend in LEDs to get 320 would only be 50 bucks cheaper, plus then you have to solder.

[bouncytruck]

I just put in the LED tail lights offered by musclerodz.com. They are great! Very bright and the LED's are part of the lens so the lens maximizes the light produced by the LEDs. At $49.00 pair, you can't beat the price.

[724x4a/cchevy]

This is my idea for brake lights. Instead of using all the lights as both turn and park, i split them up into rows of either turn or park. Im not sure how this will look, but im going to give it a shot.

[724x4a/cchevy]

looks like a freakin 2year old drew that.....
A lot of 100 red leds is only 7.50 About half the price as the white ones. I have a b-day comming up and i told one of my friends that's what they could get me for my b-day was some more red ones im goin all out. prolly put 60 led's per side, im not sure probably more, i need to draw it out more to scale to know how many will fit. I may go with 10mm leds for these brake lights. They are about the same cost as 5mm and cover twice the surface area. I forgot to bring a housing assembly with me from home, and I dont have one here at the dorm to measure off (college life)

[68w/sbc406]

the width is the same (or close to) as the reverse lights. so you could stagger rows of 4 on the tail lights like you did on the reverse lights. you just have to find out how many rows will fit

now these are sexy

[724x4a/cchevy]

holy cow is that musclerod's setup that he's selling for 50 bucks? dang that would be a helluva deal if it is. thats easily 40 bucks worth of LED's.

[68w/sbc406]

no. those are from ECE $199.00

[724x4a/cchevy]

little rich for my blood...i could almost buy another set of tow hooks for that

[68w/sbc406]

i got a 2wd, so no need for tow hooks

[bouncytruck]

I've heard there were some issues with the 160 blub versions, but I'm not sure if it was the ECE or what the issue is.

The musclerodz set up is bright. they are the larger LEDs (I know nothing about LEDs or wiring stuff like this) but they are at least 3 times brighter than the 1157s. There's more pictures in this thread - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=tail+lights