I saw this at the Mall on some kids compact car, the parking lamps had aux. LED lights so the parking lamps were always lit. He said they aren't visible during the day or when the Factory lamps are burning. Also he said it would take something like a month to run down the battery, if the car wasn't driven. Has anyone had experience with these Aux. leds?

 

Sounds like less of a vehicle mod and more like a Jr. High science fair project, but it wouldn't be too hard.

You could probably get everything you need at Radio Shack for about $20 if you were handy, more if you weren't too good with wiring and soldering.

 

The LED's use very little power thats for sure. If you convert you turn sigs. you need to mod the flasher otherwise they flash so fast you would think they are on constant.

 

Since my first answer obviously hurt your feelings Aftr, I'll try again.

LEDs operate at very low draw, and are not lightbulbs. The difference being that you can hook a bulb up to a power source and it works: A 12V automotive bulb works equally well hooked to a 5A fused circuit or tapped directly to the unfused battery. LEDs generally are rated for 20-50 milliamps (mA). You have to get the power right or they don't work.

The cop-out $20 solution is to get a battery pack from Radio Shack that holds 2 D cells, a small "breadboard" that requires no soldering, a handfull of LEDs in the colors you want, a handfull of the right size resistors, 1 switch, and a spool of light gauge wire. String your wire to all the places you want the LEDs, and bring it all into the cab. Terminate your circuits to the board, insert the proper number/size resistors, and your switch. If you've done your calculations properly it should work, and be switched. With this type of install you can turn it off, which can be useful if you get hassled by a cop who isn't pleased by your "unauthorized exterior lighting", or you get tired of people saying "Your parking lights are still ON." The D cell batteries will last a long time, and you don't have to tap the vehicle electrical system. You can even put the whole mess in a snazzy electronics box if you're willing to part with a few more bucks.

The attached link has a step-by for getting LEDs to light.


If the link doesn't help you, ask the guy at Radio Shack (who probably lives for this kind of thing) to help get it right.LEDs

 

Well I found the web site that sells the kits, don't know if I'll do this. Was concerned about truck being hit when parked. I posting the web site because I have never seen LED lamps so cheap. http://www.superbrightleds.com The LED flashlights are amazing, I have an Attitude flashlight thats three years old with the original batteries, its even been left on overnight.

 

All the kits do is the math. It really isn't hard to calculate the needs of an LED if you wanted to do it yourself. If you went DIY with stuff from Radio Shack you could pick colors/brightness etc, and wire them all custom to any area you wanted them. One of the cooler apps I've seen done with LEDs is to install one near the door lock/keypad. A SEARCH would turn it up. The guy that did it was an aircraft mechanic and even included pics and a parts list.

Not the thread I was looking for, but it is a good one.

LED Door Handle