D_Venable Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEVILStarion Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 good job! tail lights next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 looks great D is mine in the mail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logikfive Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Very cool. Though, I think even more LED's to fill out the lens would look better, but even so... Very nice. I plan to do something similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasQuest Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 That would look awesome with matching taillights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted July 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 (edited) 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 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 July 14, 2008 by D_Venable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasQuest Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Yeah I've seen newer cars from the factory do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin88ESiR Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Yeah I've seen newer cars from the factory do that. Good mod. I will be doing something similar using LED strips in the near future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFBMX88 Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 (edited) 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 July 30, 2008 by SFBMX88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 so there is only 3 of us huh? http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10199/P6220018.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starquest86 Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted July 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xavier_87conquest Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 those are the little details that make our car's more cooler! great job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted August 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 (edited) 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 August 10, 2008 by D_Venable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starquest86 Posted August 11, 2008 Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 sweet, thanks man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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