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LED 3rd brake light (got it working)


D_Venable
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So the past couple of days I've been working on making a circuit board to run LEDs in my 3rd brake light. I started with laying out the board on the computer (I used Adobe Illustrator) used Press-N-Peel Blue transfer paper to transfer it to the copper clad board the came with the circuit board etching kit from Radio Shack, etched it, then soldered the components onto the board, and soldered the plug off my parts car so it's direct plug in.

 

http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF5723.jpg

http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF5722.jpg

 

I used 3/16" fuel hose to span the gap that's left from where the original housing used to be

http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF5721.jpg

 

and installed

http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF5720.jpg

http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/DSCF5719.jpg

 

couple days of trial and error, consulting with my father on resistor size and other factors I overlooked, and couple of test boards later, I have what you see above.

 

Derek :party0009:

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Just give me some time, this is a circuitry test for the taillights. Only thing is the taillights won't have the red lenses.

 

Derek B)

 

also, what's funny, the 3rd brake light turns on a fraction of a second faster than the tails currently, it's a big enough difference you can see the delay.

Edited by D_Venable
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Welcome to the club!

 

Modified 2003 Ford Taurus high mount brake light:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/sfbmx88/host/LEDlit2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/sfbmx88/host/LEDlit3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/sfbmx88/host/LEDlit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/sfbmx88/host/brakeLIGHTS.jpg

 

What do you use the transistors for?

Edited by SFBMX88
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those actually voltage regulators hanging off the back. LEDs last longer when they have a more consistent voltage going to them, so I have 6V regulators, and 22ohm resistors powering 2 series of 2 LEDs run in parallel.

 

Although they produce a small bit of heat, I feel that this will help prolong the life of the LEDs

 

 

I swapped tail lights with a rusted reflectors set with slowquest today, so hopefully I'll start hacking into the housings to make room for my circuit boards tomorrow (have only opened up the passenger side tail light so far, and thinking of making a short how-to video with the other one)

 

LED tail lights, here I come :driving:

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Hey D,

Is there a part number i need to get these from radio shack (Radio shacks part number), or are these named product?

Im considering doing this and any help you could give me would be sweet.

 

G Money

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I only bought the etching kit and the resistors from Radio Shack. I ordered the LEDs from www.superbrightleds.com and the voltage regulators came from www.Digikey.com. I forget where I got the transfer film at the moment though.

 

If you want part numbers, or anything else (I'll share the Illustrator file) pm me, and I'll be glad to share.

 

Derek

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  • 2 weeks later...

OK, sorry this has taken me a while (just got a good internet connection at my apartment in Minneapolis)

 

Here's the list:

 

www.superbrightleds.com

x16 (qty) RL5-R5015 $0.20

 

those are the LEDs themselves, 5000mcd, 15 degree viewing angle. behind the stock lense, the viewing angle is a non-issue

 

www.digikey.com

x4 (qty) MC7806CT-BPMS-ND $0.35 each

 

these are the 6-volt voltage regulators that are hanging off the back of the board (hanging off the back to move all heat as far away from the LEDs themselves)

 

techniks.com/

x1 Press-N-Peel Blue 20 sheet pack (smallest amount they have) $33

 

this is the transfer film I used, it HAS to be printed on a laser printer, as inkjet printer ink will not resist the etching chemical (ferric chloride)

 

Radio Shack

x1 (qty) PC Board kit $15.99

x1 (qty) 22 ohm 1/2W 5% Carbon Film Resistor pk/5 $0.99

 

the PC Board Kit contains enough board material to make 4 3rd brake lights.

 

you only need one of the resistor packs, as they contain 5 resistors, you only need 4

 

And here's a jpeg of the board image, but it's NOT to scale, the image should be 38mm x 100mm.

 

I would also suggest making it wider than the 100mm I have it. I'm FAR away from my car, otherwise I'd grab that measurement for you all. if you make the board wider, you won't have to make the mounting tabs that I did, I didn't think of that when I made it.

 

http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10030/3rdBrakeLightBoard.jpg

 

Derek

Edited by D_Venable
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