LED Taillights, Custom Made for the 914 Options

[Spoke]

I've wanted to convert my 914 taillights to LED for a while but never got around to it.

Finally I started working on the design of the taillights. This will be a single custom PCB for each side and will have all the LEDs and control circuits on it. One PCB will be used for both sides.

The plan is to remove the existing plastic reflector and bulb assembly and mount a custom board in its place. With proper standoffs, I should be able to mount the board using the same 2 screw holes that secure the reflector.

I'm trying to decide now how many LEDs to use for each purpose. Right now, I have 8 LEDs for the backup lights, 20 LEDs for the running/Brake lights, 24 LEDs for the turnsignals, and 4 LEDs for the side marker.

I've been observing modern cars with LED taillights and some use a few LEDs (like 8) and some a lot (+20).

I would like your opinions on how many LEDs you think would be good to use. On the board below, the LEDs are spaced about 0.7 inches apart. These will be medium brightness white LEDs. (I'll let the lenses provide the color).

The first cut at the board is shown below for the driver's side. The side marker LEDs will be right angle LEDs pointing out the side of the board. They can be seen on the extreme left side of the board.

If these work out, I could manufacture them for World members. One thing though, they won't be cheap. The LEDs are about $0.50 through Digikey and there are more than 55 LEDs on each right now. Plus there's 2 dc-dc converters for providing constant current for the tail/brake and turnsignal LEDs.

Cheers
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Spoke]

So these are brake lights only at this time? Turn signals upcoming, or can we buy two sets of these and convert all at once?

The board itself can be used as a brake or turnsignal as shown below.

I did this with the high power LED boards on my car. The brake PCB uses red LEDs whereas the turnsignal PCB uses amber LEDs to match the Euro amber turnsignal lenses. Same PCB, different LEDs. The turnsignal PCB also has side emitting LEDs to give light for the side marker.

The rev 2 5mm PCBs also have provision for side LEDs and should be a lot brighter than the side emitting LEDs I used on my car. These can be used for turnsignals too.

For Euro lens with amber turnsignal lens, I've ordered some amber 5mm LEDs in the Cree family and will build a couple of these to see how bright they are. If ok, I can offer those as well. I need to test them first.

For US lens with red turnsignal lens, red LEDs would be used for turnsignals. This would be just a build option as the bulb bases would be different than the brakes.

I want to take this a step further and make one board for both brake and turnsignal. This requires a lot of engineering to make sure it works. The existing inner housing would have to be cut out and other means of fastening the boards to be found.

The angle of the board would have to be the same as below so the brake portion would sit very deep in the housing. A divider would have to be included to keep the brake light from bleeding into the turnsignal light and visa versa. McMark is sending me a spare housing that I can experiment with.

[r_towle]

Should I bring some cash to Hershey for a full set of euro tai lights this year?

Rich

[Spoke]

Should I bring some cash to Hershey for a full set of euro tai lights this year?

Rich

Quite possibly, the timing is right; will have PCBs in 2 weeks. I gotta test the amber turnsignal LEDs first.

I did the amber turnsignal for my car with the high power LEDs and initially thought they weren't bright enough so I increased the current from 35ma for the red LEDs to 75ma for the amber LEDs. Whoa, the amber LEDs are way too bright at 75ma. They're blindingly bright. 35ma may have been ok.

Got to see the 5mm amber LEDs before making them available.

I need to get a good lux meter. Anyone have a suggestion for a good, affordable lux meter?

[r_towle]

No kidding, there is an app for that

Go to the apple app store or the droid google play store.

rich

[Zimms]

If you need another tail light housing, I think I have one I can donate to the cause. I'll check later today.

[effutuo101]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
I would prefer a longer board to handle both brake, running and turn.
saw some cool ones for the Mercedes G class on wheeler dealer last night.

[monkeyboy]

So these are brake lights only at this time? Turn signals upcoming, or can we buy two sets of these and convert all at once?

The board itself can be used as a brake or turnsignal as shown below.

I did this with the high power LED boards on my car. The brake PCB uses red LEDs whereas the turnsignal PCB uses amber LEDs to match the Euro amber turnsignal lenses. Same PCB, different LEDs. The turnsignal PCB also has side emitting LEDs to give light for the side marker.

The rev 2 5mm PCBs also have provision for side LEDs and should be a lot brighter than the side emitting LEDs I used on my car. These can be used for turnsignals too.

For Euro lens with amber turnsignal lens, I've ordered some amber 5mm LEDs in the Cree family and will build a couple of these to see how bright they are. If ok, I can offer those as well. I need to test them first.

For US lens with red turnsignal lens, red LEDs would be used for turnsignals. This would be just a build option as the bulb bases would be different than the brakes.

I want to take this a step further and make one board for both brake and turnsignal. This requires a lot of engineering to make sure it works. The existing inner housing would have to be cut out and other means of fastening the boards to be found.

The angle of the board would have to be the same as below so the brake portion would sit very deep in the housing. A divider would have to be included to keep the brake light from bleeding into the turnsignal light and visa versa. McMark is sending me a spare housing that I can experiment with.

I want a set of US Brake and turn signals, but I am happy with them just the way they are. I do not want to modify the housings or cut anything.

They honestly look great to me, and it's reversible if you every want to.

[zymurgist]

Should I bring some cash to Hershey for a full set of euro tai lights this year?

Rich

Quite possibly, the timing is right; will have PCBs in 2 weeks. I gotta test the amber turnsignal LEDs first.

I would be down for a set also! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[cary]

I'm in for a set.

[clapeza]

I'm in for a full set, brakes and US spec turn signals, once they're available.

[CptTripps]

You know I'm in for a set. Not sure what I was planning will work, so this is an awesome backup.

Well done!

[rnellums]

I would like a set!

[JRust]

I'd like a set of both. Euro & US versions. I like the separate boards for each. Thanks for doing this. Glad to see it coming to fruition (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[Spoke]

This video and pic are with the 5mm rev 1 board with the Cree LEDs. These are the LEDs which will be on the rev 2 boards. This board has 51 LEDs whereas the rev 2 boards will have 56 LEDs.

The light output is quite good with good dispersion. Like many LEDs, the light is very directional. This is why it is important for the board to be mounted 90 degrees from the centerline of the car. We want all this light pointed directly at cars behind.

The first couple of blinks are the brake lights. The last flash are the taillights. The car is about 6 feet from the garage door.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gewM-W8bQ9M


Here's a pic of the taillights from behind the car. That's also an amber LED board on the left side with the LED taillight.

[Chris H.]

Looks great. I want a set of brakes and us spec turns signals. Happy with them just as they are as separate boards also, I don't need them on one board.

[Spoke]

Rev 2 boards have been shipped from the fab house. I should have them by midweek. Also ordered all components and empty bulb bases. Assembly should start by next weekend. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blowtorch.gif)

I rigged the 5mm rev 1 board to my 930 to see how much improvement in light output over the standard bulb. Board didn't fit so I aimed it as close as possible to the rear of the car and put the taillight lens in front of it.

Looks like a good improvement over the 1157 bulb in the 930. If you have sound on you can hear the 930 idling. Sounds much better in person. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think I'll use the same 56 5mm LED pattern like the rev 2 boards for the 911. Gotta figure out a way to secure the board in the 911 brake housing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPmOGq8RjH8

[rnellums]

I am in for a full US spec set!

[kid914]

I must have missed the price....?
looks very tho (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Spoke]

I must have missed the price....?
looks very tho (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

$90 + shipping.

Update: more materials arrived.

BAY15D are for the brake light.
BAY15S and BAY9S for the turnsignal.

[r_towle]

Will I need to modify the turn signal housing?
I never heard your conclusions on that....