upgraded to LED brake lights

[xXGTBspecXx]

upgraded to LED brake lights heres pictures of the difference.
oem bulbs
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/01/IMG00209-1.jpg
28 LED 1157 bulbs (minor modification to fit)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/01/IMG00214-1.jpg

[Huffer]

The only difference I can see is that your inner brake light is now working...?

[oskar_subaru]

The only difference I can see is that your inner brake light is now working...?

and that horrible usdm side light thing. :razz:

[slaytalera]

The only difference I can see is that your inner brake light is now working...?

and that horrible usdm side light thing. :razz:

i like that side light thing

it does look brighter but id like to see a side by side comparison

[T_F_E]

It should use a lot less power to. you should put up diy

[Grafton]

yeah i have been looking for good LED lights bc if this little tidbit

Instant-on LED technology gives a full-intensity red signal 200 milliseconds faster than bulb-type units, giving the drivers behind you 20' more reaction time (at 60 mph) for optimal safety.

so where did you get yours?

[GreenLeggy]

Hi all,

Not to jack the thread but I wasn't sure starting another would've been any better so...

I've recently done this mod too...(thanks xXGTBspecXx for the motivation)

So far, I've replaced the brake bulbs in the hatch mounted brake/tail lights.

I live in Vancouver BC and went to Lordco an autoparts store. I found a set of bulbs (can't remember the brand right now) but their bulbs are cylindrical not square, so I didn't have to modify anything. Just a direct replacement. I only did one set of bulbs because these bulbs cost me $37 for two. So they're pricy.

I noticed a big difference in the way they light. The original bulbs were not as bright and took longer to light-up than the ones at the corners. Now, these light up first and are brighter than the corner bulbs. So, eventually, I will be getting corner-brake lights and reverse LED bulb-replacements.

These LED bulb-replacements come in Red, Amber and pure-white (not bluish) I was thinking of geting amber for the turn signals but have decided against it since the turn signals will probably flash too fast. (they do make a resistor kit to slow down the flashers again but its 15.00/corner)

When I get the next set of bulbs, I'll take photos of the packaging and hopefully before and after photos. And hopefully a couple of before and after videos so you can get an idea of the speed at which these light up.

Juan

[hellaGT]

Nice, I could use brighter reverse lights so I can actually see where I'm goin and not just light up to show that I'm backing up...

[99SUS SFD]

I've thought about it, but since they don't put out hardly any heat, they don't melt snow off of tail lights. It's a problem for us for nasty driving as well as for the police with their LED light bars. They have to constantly clean them off in snow storms.

[scubydu]

Nice, I could use brighter reverse lights so I can actually see where I'm goin and not just light up to show that I'm backing up...
I thought this too. So I installed led reverse lights. They SUCK! I don't know if I just got crappy ones or if its just because thats the way they are, but my lights look really bright standing behind the car, but do nothing for me to see while backing up. I think its because they only shine straight out. Maybe if you could get some multi-directional ones??
my 2 cents.
I do however love my led license plate lights

[99SUS SFD]

That's the problem with LED's, they're very directional. You're probably better off with keeping regular bulbs in the reverse lights.

[T_F_E]

Or just mounting some fog lights on the back of your car

[GreenLeggy]

Hey All,

The ones I'm planning on buying for my reverse lights are multidirectional...

They have a round borad at the top and aout sixl little boards around the entire perimeter of the cylinder each litle board has about 8 LEDs witht he top one having, I believe 7 in a circular pattern. That should send enough light to the reflector to make it at least as effective, if not a litle more than the stock bulbs. I'll keep you posted on the outcome...

As soon as I get my tow hitch I am going with T_F_E's idea too. I alredy have all the lights I need - small, rectangular drivign lights for the lower fascia, low profile drivging lights for the rear and a nice set of fogs to fit in the original spot...I'll try to take photos of all the installs but back to the topic at hand.

LED lights will not work well if they do not direct any of the light to the reflector. Yo would only be able to see its effects if yo are stnding directly behind it, or rather in front of it.

[jey]

Nice, I could use brighter reverse lights so I can actually see where I'm goin and not just light up to show that I'm backing up...
I thought this too. So I installed led reverse lights. They SUCK!

You should check out Daniel Stern Lighting - http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
I installed some reverse lights from them and they provided a huge difference in terms of lighting things up. People complain that it's blinding when I'm backing up...

[99SUS SFD]

So what'd he hook you up with?

[jey]

"Narva-Speziallampen" lights.

[aznguy0087]

http://www.superlumination.com/
this is a good place to get some LED got some from here before, a bit pricey

[1-3-2-4]

Nice, I could use brighter reverse lights so I can actually see where I'm goin and not just light up to show that I'm backing up...

I did that for my JDM tails but I did a retrofit and not a drop in replacement.. however i blew the LED driver because of a short curcit.. just too lazy to have the guy send another driver to me.. they are $30 a pop...

the LED is rated for about 800 lumes at 2.8A both are mounted to heatsinks..

the downside of everything was it blew right when I was setting my camera up to show the output.. I do have a spare 1A driver just in case something funny happens.. the driver is mounted to a heatsink which has a 40x40 mm fan which spins at 23,000 rpms (loud) but it moves more then enough air to keep it cool should I ever need to back up for more then 1 min.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4728/jdmled2.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1969/dsc8788.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/4285/ledreflect.jpg

lol i'm like reason and buying all this shit before getting the car lol should be next month providing this person keeps their end of the deal..

I have another LED project ready but for that I need to have the car in front of me because it requires splicing some wires but the LED are not cheap at $10 for one :(

*edit

all the above shots are with the 1A LED driver and before anyone else says "why not run 55W bulbs or fogs for that" my goal is to have as little power draining as possible since my ham radio equipment will already be enough every time I key up.

Also for fun I stuck one of the LED's (SSC P7) behind the tail light of the JDM center garnish just to see what a white light behind a red lens would look like (I heard you should use red) it was not bad very bright but you don't have the Fresnel lens in front like the amber turn signal and rear reverse light. And if I'm correct this part also acts as a brake light so they dim when the headlights are on as well? If that's the case I'd have to build a dimming circuit for that and that's a PITA

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7702/forfun.jpg

[xXGTBspecXx]

excuse my language but HOLY SHIT I WANT THAT whered you get them??

[1-3-2-4]

excuse my language but HOLY SHIT I WANT THAT whered you get them??

The SSC P7's? I got mine from BestOfferBuy.. they all ship from Hong Kong.. be warned these LED's are $19 EACH took me a loooooong time to decide if I wanted to try it or not...

they have to HEATSINKED!!! just one min on the the heatsink is at 58C during testing I was hitting temps of 67c

you can get it from here

http://www.bestofferbuy.com/SSC-P7-CBin ... aign=gbase (http://www.bestofferbuy.com/SSC-P7-CBin-LED-Emitter-with-21mm-Heat-Sink-Base-36V37V-p-7323.html?currency=USD&utm_source=gbase&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=gbase)

Or here it's a little cheaper..

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12721


btw that light i stuck in the brake light which really went in the reverse light lol it's a little too bright for brake lights... I was just more or less checking do I really need the pricey $10 each LED's or stick with the white BIN LED's

Any other questions just ask.

[GreenLeggy]

Hello all,

I've finally replaced the filament bulbs with LED's.

I've done a how-to on the DIY forums:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=13555

Here are a couple of photos of the LED bulbs I used.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

All I can say is that they are red-er...still nice and bright, no less bright than the OEM...

[tonizdravkov]

hello guys!
look what i found on the youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KXR5BnM4TE
i like it very much.does anyone now how to do it?
thanks.