Newbie needing help...If possible!

[Rossay]

Hi,

I reguarly lurk here but recently came across a bit of an issue so thought i'd join and see if anyone could help.
I cant find an 'Electrical' forum so hope this will do...


Basically (ahem), I am changing the rear side lights on an older car to LED strip lights. The problem i face is that the bulb for the side light is the same one for the brake, And from what i can tell, The led isnt going to get brighter when i brake, if anything it will go pop.

So hopefully someone on here who knows would do me a good favour of telling me how i go about using the same LED strip for both brake and side lights.

Im not very clever when it comes to electronics and i thought this would be easy (Thought wrong). So please, Any info on how to do this, Use simply terms for this thicko haha.


Any help appreciated.

Chris.

[farrendahl]

Rossay said:

Hi,

I reguarly lurk here but recently came across a bit of an issue so thought i'd join and see if anyone could help.
I cant find an 'Electrical' forum so hope this will do...


Basically (ahem), I am changing the rear side lights on an older car to LED strip lights. The problem i face is that the bulb for the side light is the same one for the brake, And from what i can tell, The led isnt going to get brighter when i brake, if anything it will go pop.

So hopefully someone on here who knows would do me a good favour of telling me how i go about using the same LED strip for both brake and side lights.

Im not very clever when it comes to electronics and i thought this would be easy (Thought wrong). So please, Any info on how to do this, Use simply terms for this thicko haha.


Any help appreciated.

Chris.

I can give you only one piece of advice, it is a piece of advice that will be echoed by many.

DON'T DO IT

That is all

[Rossay]

Hi,

Iv seen it done before and it looks good and does the job in safety terms.

Can i ask why you suggest not to do it?

Thanks

[ewenm]

2 strips of LEDs? Sidelights on = 1 strip lit. Brakes on = both strips lit.

[Rossay]

ewenm said:

2 strips of LEDs? Sidelights on = 1 strip lit. Brakes on = both strips lit.

Im not sure i have the room for two strips but this might need to be the way.

Even though there is juts one supply to the bulb , Can i still determin which is which ( I.e The supply for brake and the supply for side light).

[Rossay]

Just looking back over this, Im NOT fitting R8 style front side lights.

Im putting LED strip lights behind the old REAR cluster to brighten them up for night driving as they are shockingly dull and are going to cause an accident.

[marshalla]

If you look carefully, I think you will find that the single bulb has TWO filaments - one for rear light and another for brake lights. You need to replicate this to stay legal.


Has anyone ever hit you from behind ?

No ? Then your rear lights are fine already.

[Rossay]

marshalla said:

Has anyone ever hit you from behind ?

Yes, Hence the change.


Thanks for your help

[Rossay]

I split the lights today, So just waiting on the led strips coming.

[hairyben]

Rossay said:

ewenm said:

2 strips of LEDs? Sidelights on = 1 strip lit. Brakes on = both strips lit.

Im not sure i have the room for two strips but this might need to be the way.

Even though there is juts one supply to the bulb , Can i still determin which is which ( I.e The supply for brake and the supply for side light).

Dual filament brake/tail lamp has two contacts on the end, one for each function, sleeve is ground. the bayonet pins on said sleeve should be polarised so you can only insert it one way to prevent it working the wrong way round ie bright tail dim brake lights, but always check...

[swampy56]

You can buy duel led bars, brake and side light , http://www.customdynamics.com/Light_bars.htm
They are a good company, I have used them many times.

[Rossay]

swampy56 said:

You can buy duel led bars, brake and side light , http://www.customdynamics.com/Light_bars.htm
They are a good company, I have used them many times.

Sorry, Only just noticed this.

I had a look but they dont do flexible and thats what i need im afraid. And i would still need to wire them directly. Thanks for your help though.

I had a play about and when i connect the test led to the circuit, Its on with the side light but when brakes are applied it goes off. Confusing.

Need to keep playing til i can find how to have a bright strip and a dull strip or even have one that gets brighter.

Pickle my head lol.

[balls-out]

Rossay said:

swampy56 said:

You can buy duel led bars, brake and side light , http://www.customdynamics.com/Light_bars.htm
They are a good company, I have used them many times.

Sorry, Only just noticed this.

I had a look but they dont do flexible and thats what i need im afraid. And i would still need to wire them directly. Thanks for your help though.

I had a play about and when i connect the test led to the circuit, Its on with the side light but when brakes are applied it goes off. Confusing.

Need to keep playing til i can find how to have a bright strip and a dull strip or even have one that gets brighter.

Pickle my head lol.

Are these lights designed to be both rear and brake? if so they should have connectors for both. If not then you will have to do some clever stuff. Whilst you may be replacing 'one' bulb there are 2 'lights' or filaments in there.
To make a single LED dim for lights (so brake light may it brighter) you will need to introduce some extra resistance.
try here http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/LED-Bulbs-12V/

Edited by balls-out on Monday 26th April 08:59

[Rossay]

Hi, Yeah it's a twin filament bulb it will be replacing.

It's one strip of enclosed LEDs so would I need a resistor for each led in the tube or would one per strip work?

Thanks