Raptor's LED Taillight Retrofit
#1
Raptor's LED Taillight Retrofit
I'm getting tired of the crappy light output my aftermarket LED taillights put out. Running lights are okay, but the difference in brightness from running lights to brake lights makes me feel uneasy about traffic behind me when I look at Cadillac or other OEM LED housings. Also, the chrome looked cheesy and even with my niteshade, it doesn't match the truck at all. So, I decided to pull my OEM housings down from the cobwebs and bring them back with a bang. The plan is to paint them black (Harley-Davidson style) and add a chipboard of self-made PCBs of superflux LEDs to them. The reverse light will retain my V-LEDs 60-SMT 3156 bulb.
Now:
First off, I knew I want performance when it comes to LEDs. I had many choices, LiteOn Piranhas, Osram, Agilent, Cree's, Philips Lumileds or Luxeons, and many more. Since I am so fond of Philips products, I set out on their name. A few minutes of searching and I found what I wanted, and for a good price too.
Philips Superflux Lumileds (P/N: HPWT-DH00-G4000)
Viewing Angle: 70 degrees
Output 4.2 lumens (EACH) @ 70mA
Color: 620nm (red/orange)
Base: Sq. 4-pin 0.2" grid spacing, PCB
Price: $15 for a tube of 60
My controller is a PWM with an integrated voltage regulator on a PCB printed by a well-known guy in the LED industry (azDave), and his products are fantastic. This PWM is specially made for 12vDC output on tri-wired, negatively-grounded vehicles. It can handle up too 400 superflux LEDs and with a little modification, 800 more. The two Sharp voltage regulator handles from 0-20vDC and converts it to 12.3vDC for a safe, and long LED life. The potentiometer also is able to adjust the running lights brightness.
My wiring diagram (still shopping for PCB):
Main light and marker light array:
Lets begin! I have quite a bit of electrical hardware, but to be sure I wasn't scouting the garage for some measly piece, I bought this at Wal-mart, for $15! (The case, all the other stuff is relative things I pulled from the garage)
My old housings:
Whenever I attempt a mod that is new to me, I always have to learn as I'm doing this. And since I always mess up somehow on the first one, I'm retrofitting the pax side before I do the drivers side. Opened up:
Oxidation has gotten to the chrome and darkened it a bit. As you can see when I have a complete housing paired next to the red lens:
But that's okay- it will all be getting painted gloss black anyways. Here is the general layout of my PCB/LEDs:
Since I'm getting a set of 60, that 30 per housing, and since I have side-markers (see below) that leaves me about 28 to lay out, so I'm probably going to do a 4x7 setup. And, they will be caddy style. So the two nearest columns will be at ~40% intensity for running lights. And for brake/turn, all four columns will go to 100% intensity.
Perf board (2), for trim and fit. I might be painting these as well, to blend in better.
So as of right now I'm awaiting arrival of all my products (including the 5000K 50W replacement bulbs from TRS, pics will be available in my realignment thread upon arrival). Next week I'll start my CHMSL.
Stay tuned
Now:
First off, I knew I want performance when it comes to LEDs. I had many choices, LiteOn Piranhas, Osram, Agilent, Cree's, Philips Lumileds or Luxeons, and many more. Since I am so fond of Philips products, I set out on their name. A few minutes of searching and I found what I wanted, and for a good price too.
Philips Superflux Lumileds (P/N: HPWT-DH00-G4000)
Viewing Angle: 70 degrees
Output 4.2 lumens (EACH) @ 70mA
Color: 620nm (red/orange)
Base: Sq. 4-pin 0.2" grid spacing, PCB
Price: $15 for a tube of 60
My controller is a PWM with an integrated voltage regulator on a PCB printed by a well-known guy in the LED industry (azDave), and his products are fantastic. This PWM is specially made for 12vDC output on tri-wired, negatively-grounded vehicles. It can handle up too 400 superflux LEDs and with a little modification, 800 more. The two Sharp voltage regulator handles from 0-20vDC and converts it to 12.3vDC for a safe, and long LED life. The potentiometer also is able to adjust the running lights brightness.
My wiring diagram (still shopping for PCB):
Main light and marker light array:
Lets begin! I have quite a bit of electrical hardware, but to be sure I wasn't scouting the garage for some measly piece, I bought this at Wal-mart, for $15! (The case, all the other stuff is relative things I pulled from the garage)
My old housings:
Whenever I attempt a mod that is new to me, I always have to learn as I'm doing this. And since I always mess up somehow on the first one, I'm retrofitting the pax side before I do the drivers side. Opened up:
Oxidation has gotten to the chrome and darkened it a bit. As you can see when I have a complete housing paired next to the red lens:
But that's okay- it will all be getting painted gloss black anyways. Here is the general layout of my PCB/LEDs:
Since I'm getting a set of 60, that 30 per housing, and since I have side-markers (see below) that leaves me about 28 to lay out, so I'm probably going to do a 4x7 setup. And, they will be caddy style. So the two nearest columns will be at ~40% intensity for running lights. And for brake/turn, all four columns will go to 100% intensity.
Perf board (2), for trim and fit. I might be painting these as well, to blend in better.
So as of right now I'm awaiting arrival of all my products (including the 5000K 50W replacement bulbs from TRS, pics will be available in my realignment thread upon arrival). Next week I'll start my CHMSL.
Stay tuned
Last edited by Raptor05121; 04-27-2011 at 10:18 AM.
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If you want to complain, to complain to the FMVSS and ECE since they are the one who legalizes these (GMC Arcadia, all Cadillacs, Nissan Murano/Altima/GT-R, and just about all European vehicles).
But in short to answer your question- yes
Last edited by Raptor05121; 04-26-2011 at 08:30 PM.
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Take it to the shop.......Here's my payapl MONEYBAGS@jacka$$.com
Seriously I'm not that great at it either. I need to get a set of LED tails for my truck and get them professionally done argh! I agree with you though, your truck doesn't look right with that Cherry Red taillights. That's why I tinted mine, to get rid of that cherry red tails
Seriously I'm not that great at it either. I need to get a set of LED tails for my truck and get them professionally done argh! I agree with you though, your truck doesn't look right with that Cherry Red taillights. That's why I tinted mine, to get rid of that cherry red tails
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