DIY LED Signal (UPdates page 4 brake light)

[Limsteel]

After fixing up my DIY LED aquarium lighting... got a few spare so I decided to do up a set of LED Signal.

 

So went down to AhBoy Motor SuperMart and got a set of Carbon Fibre Mini Signal (Fake carbon Fibre).

 

So Did some calculations and heres the things done...

 

Step 1: Wired the 3 LEDs light together...

[Limsteel]

After connecting 3 LEDs together... attached 2 wires to the terminal. At the positive terminal connect a resistor with the proper rating and value.

[Limsteel]

Then take out the brand new signal light and remove the cover. Then remove the light bulb and connector inside... leaving the signal light empty

[Limsteel]

Put the connected LEDs into the casing

[Limsteel]

Inorder for the LED light to remain dry, rust-free and most importantly keeping it still during riding. stuff plastacine into the blank spaces.

[Limsteel]

after filling in the spaces, be sure to remember to adjust the lights. Else when you switch ON, the LED will look off ctr... Not very nice. When you satisfied with the position put back the cover.

[Limsteel]

Do remember to test the LED frequently... If not, when everything is ready, you don't get any light for them. A Duracell 9V Battery will do nicely.

 

End product:

[Limsteel]

ONE problem with this fellow is:

The signal will blink very fast. Due to the super low current required by the LED. Only 20mA (0.02Amp). The Signal relay will react as if ONE or No Signal light is working. By itself the Original light bulbs is very dim, but with 3 x 10,000 MCD LED it is going to be bright!

 

So total cost of this fella:

AhBoy Fake Carbon Fibre Signal $5 Each

10mm LED 10,000mcd ~$2 each

180Ohm (0.25W) $0.25 Each

Black and Red Wires, 1 feet ~$1 not too sure (I strip some computer power cable)

 

Tools needed:

Soldering Iron + Solder

Screw Driver

Wire Stripper and cutter

 

 

Hope this will help some guys here to move your hands abit!

 

Wonder How much will 1 set cost in the market? Anyone can enlighten...

[ozzarhomb]

is there such thing as a lower rating relay that can make ur LED blink at the normal speed?

[Limsteel]

You have to replace the original signal relay with a DIY blinker relay... have not touch on that... as I have no problem with fast blink.

 

Also forgot to mention, LED connection must be connected with the correct arrangement. + wire must connect to the +side (The Resistor Side). Else it will not light up.

 

Some would like to have the Front signal lights to remain on, looks more Garang. So All you need to do is install wire directly from the your Batt attached to a high ohmage Resistor Say 1000 Ohms (Value not verify, e.g only) to the +ve side. so it will light up "Dimly". when signal is turned on, it will blink with different intensity... No special circuit or LED required...

 

Enjoy yourself fixing this up. If you encounter any problem(s), do post here so Me or other DIY kakies can help out.

[marzocchi]

wah nice DIY !!!! might give it a try when i have the time..i'm uisng the same cheap signal light too~

[ozzarhomb]

wat type of LED is that? wat are the specs?

 

can be bought from sim lim tower wan issit?

[Naz]

Err how do u calculate the resistor ratings needed?

 

MCD is the power of the LED issit?

 

Sorry. S.B.N here. (Si Beh Newbie)

 

Oh yeah, bloody hell. The thing u are diy-ing is gonna cost me like $50 from yahoo auction cos I really intend to put this on my bike.

 

Thanks!!

[Limsteel]

I bought them from HK... but SimLim Tower got tonnes of them... Same price

 

They comes in a few sizes 3mm, 5mm, 8mm 10mm even flat type... The flat one is very bright and 1 will be enough (can use for those bigger Signal light case)

 

Also comes in many colour red, green blue, white (warm or pure white) yellow... So depends... If you signal cover is Clear NOT Tinted then you can get Yellow or Orange... If you signal cover is already Orange in colour then you can get Pure/Warm white.

 

Be ready to spend on a good soldering kit (cheap ~$10 or $20 for a butane operated one so you can work at void desk!) if you don't have one... tape or plastacine is not going to hold the wire in place...

 

goto http://limsteel.100free.com/led.xls for the calculating the resistor values and power rating...

[ozzarhomb]

Originally posted by Limsteel@Jan 12 2006, 04:21 PM

I bought them from HK... but SimLim Tower got tonnes of them... Same price

 

They comes in a few sizes 3mm, 5mm, 8mm 10mm even flat type... The flat one is very bright and 1 will be enough (can use for those bigger Signal light case)

 

Also comes in many colour red, green blue, white (warm or pure white) yellow... So depends... If you signal cover is Clear NOT Tinted then you can get Yellow or Orange... If you signal cover is already Orange in colour then you can get Pure/Warm white.

 

Be ready to spend on a good soldering kit (cheap ~$10 or $20 for a butane operated one so you can work at void desk!) if you don't have one... tape or plastacine is not going to hold the wire in place...

oh thanks, will consider doing it in my free time.

 

to you for sharing information!

[Naz]

Thank you too!

[Naz]

err Limsteel,

 

The voltage for the LEDs are stated on it or something?

 

If u put it as 3.5V, LED Current at 20mA/row, and 3-in-series, the resistance is stated at 75ohms.

 

U used 180ohms resistor values?

 

How come?

 

Thanks again.

[Limsteel]

Anyway the Excel file is only a guide.

 

I have spare 180Ohms (from previous Aquarium light Project) and when I connected them, it make no diff... So I use it. Off hand if you sub 180 ohm into the tables, my voltage drop per LED is 2.8V "if not wrong"...

 

LED voltage is about 2.5 to 3.5 volts, so as long as it lights up, 75ohm or 180ohm doesn't matter... If you load it at peak voltage (or above) and the required current it suppose to produce max light output (but who can tell, I do not have a meter to measure the light in MCD or Lumen)

 

Oh, just need to mention, do not connect the LED without resistor to the batt. The LED will be permt damage... Current = Voltage / resistor if R=0ohm, Current will be infinity thereby blowing your LED

 

Don't worry, the infinity current here won'y kill you

[Naz]

ok thanks again. will try it soon.

[E.V.ilyn]

if you placed a large resistor parallel the the leds you can proportion the current drawn to feed 10-20ma to the leds and say 200ma to the parallel resistor. so you draw ~220ma in total which maybe make the blinking better.

[Limsteel]

Yes it works, but waste current lah Don't like the Idea of Current flowing with no job done.

 

Futher more, the standard Bulb don;t just draw 220ma... The original Bulb that comes with the set is a 6w light bulb (draw about 500mA...)

[X-ilED]

Originally posted by Limsteel@Jan 12 2006, 06:13 PM

Yes it works, but waste current lah Don't like the Idea of Current flowing with no job done.

 

Futher more, the standard Bulb don;t just draw 220ma... a 6w light bulb will draw about 500mA...

hi there bro.. i'm seeing more and more diy fanatics ard.. i;m one too haha.. nice led sigs mod.. i have a signal mod too. using car winscreen washer cover. dunno if its the correct name though. pics tell a thousand words.

[X-ilED]

more pics

[X-ilED]

final product.. its suppossed to look discrete.. jus wanted to share, dun this its legal though

[X-ilED]

now, pics of the signals on my bike