DIY LED brake lights. Need help.

vr2turbo

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With brakes applied.


Just with lights on, no brakes applied.


I decided not to post up the way i finished my project because it's kind of hazardous. It's not that waterproof.

If anyone wants some tips and tricks, can PM me. I will see if I can help out.
No brakes applied also got light?
 

stupidcar

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No brakes applied also got light?
Upper 2 rows are for tail lights.
Brake lights are the lower ones.

Where u tap the wires?

I'm not good in wiring but u put in fius or not (in case short circuit)
Fuse is the taillights one, no additional.
Open the trunk. Take those side carpet off. And find those wires that are connected to the rear lights.
Use a multimeter to test. Just do it randomly. Mine got 6 pins, you will get it eventually.

Anyways, I failed this project. I calculated 13V but actually need to use 15v as the voltage.
My lights are still on but the resistors are burning off.
 

vr2turbo

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Upper 2 rows are for tail lights.
Brake lights are the lower ones.



Fuse is the taillights one, no additional.
Open the trunk. Take those side carpet off. And find those wires that are connected to the rear lights.
Use a multimeter to test. Just do it randomly. Mine got 6 pins, you will get it eventually.

Anyways, I failed this project. I calculated 13V but actually need to use 15v as the voltage.
My lights are still on but the resistors are burning off.
Change the resistors? New project.....:biggrin:
 

cvkit17

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Upper 2 rows are for tail lights.
Brake lights are the lower ones.



Fuse is the taillights one, no additional.
Open the trunk. Take those side carpet off. And find those wires that are connected to the rear lights.
Use a multimeter to test. Just do it randomly. Mine got 6 pins, you will get it eventually.

Anyways, I failed this project. I calculated 13V but actually need to use 15v as the voltage.
My lights are still on but the resistors are burning off.
Need 15v as in the voltage is too high or not enough?
 

me2kimi

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breadboard was designed to hold electronic parts and soldered...

one face plastic...another face got copper strip for soldering...



another type of bread board is cucuk2 type...just insert the leg...and good to go (self locking port)
Here is the breadboard with the cucuk-cucuk type. I have post it earlier.


Another trick for better solder is to use a solder paste or solder flux. It will be very easy to use this when soldering. Please watch this video.

[youtube]3Z8CzB4BYJA[/youtube]
 

stupidcar

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Change the resistors? New project.....:biggrin:
Yeap. New project. Now I'm just doing one strip. Really need to find a good case first.

Need 15v as in the voltage is too high or not enough?
I mean my leds are using 3V ma. So I need to resist 12V. 15-3=12.
I think My car is really producing 14.5V. Resulting my resistors to burn after just a few mins.
Another miscalculation.

Here is the breadboard with the cucuk-cucuk type. I have post it earlier.


Another trick for better solder is to use a solder paste or solder flux. It will be very easy to use this when soldering. Please watch this video.

[youtube]3Z8CzB4BYJA[/youtube]
I have nvr thought of using flux being I'm doing some small solderings only.
But damn! Thats really really easy. Thanks.
 

levin818

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From what i can see from the picture, you connected 4 LEDs in parallel, then series a 100ohm 1/4W resistor for current control. Right?
It is not wrong to connect in this way but you need a high wattage resistor to handle the power dissipated by the resistor.
Assuming your LED's forward voltage is 3V, battery voltage is 13V.
Voltage across the resistor is, 13-3 = 10V
Power dissipated at the resistor is (10)(10)/100 = 1W
It mean, minimum requirement for the resistor's wattage is 1W. Reliable manufacturer usually use 2W to increase the reliability.
Your resistor is only 1/4W, sure burn!

---------- Post added at 11:35 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------

To light up 4 LEDs with 13V supply, a more suitable (efficient) way should be connecting the LED in series, like what TitanRev does.
You will greatly reduce the heat/power dissipated at the resistor compare to parallel connection.
 

stupidcar

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Bro, can put the image size bigger? Thanks for clearing things up. Why are u not more active? Haha
Anyways, I thought using parallel setup is better? And also power are evenly spread?
Because i tot if series, one bulb die, hard to diagnose the faulty ones.
 

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