LED Brake Lights

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by Tremelune

Can you elaborate? I can't imagine why an LED bulb would be dimmer on the same wiring.

Originally Posted by darrin

Tremelune

I believe he's referring to the light being dimly lit when the brake lights are NOT supposed to be illuminated. Spoke has addressed this issue (earlier in this thread) by adding a resistor to the led brake light to cause its current draw to more closely correlate to the original incandescent bulb.

You believe correctly. I was referring to two of of the three LED lamps (CHMSL and right brake) being dimly lit with ignition-on (or ignition-off and battery maintainer plugged in) and the brake pedal NOT applied.

Also, can folks post up the Amazon link for the LED compatible turn signal relays? Please and thank you.

[spoke]

Originally Posted by famoroso

I'm interested in the whole shooting match for an '88 USA Carrera (with cruise control!) with standard amber front & red rear lenses & non-tail CHMSL.

I've read the entire thread. Is there a "kit" available yet? Front turn signals, all three brake lights and V2 rear side marker / running lights? Did I miss anything?

I had tried the Philips units and my CHMSL and right brake lamp suffer from the dimly lit while ignition-on problem. See pic below. I returned them. Interestingly enough, the same problem manifests ignition-off, when the Porsche battery maintainer is plugged in. I assume it's also because of the CC system. As an aside, the power windows work, ignition-off, key out, door open when the battery maintainer is plugged in.

Thanks

We have brake and 3rd brake LED boards now. Front turnsignal boards are at the fab; be about 2-3 weeks till we have those. Rear turnsignals are probably out in Feb-March.

Why are just 2 brake lights lit? Do you have an LED in the unlit driver side brake? If so, are you sure it lights up for brakes?

One '88 911 owner just installed a set of my brake and 3rd brake LEDs and his CC doesn't work. Still trying to figure out what's going on. I thought we worked through the CC issue.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by spoke

We have brake and 3rd brake LED boards now. Front turnsignal boards are at the fab; be about 2-3 weeks till we have those. Rear turnsignals are probably out in Feb-March.

Why are just 2 brake lights lit? Do you have an LED in the unlit driver side brake? If so, are you sure it lights up for brakes?

One '88 911 owner just installed a set of my brake and 3rd brake LEDs and his CC doesn't work. Still trying to figure out what's going on. I thought we worked through the CC issue.

Yep. This is why I was kinda waiting on yours and I thought I would run the Philips in the interim.

Yep. All three brake lights have Philips LEDs in them. I'm not sure why my issue is having issues!

[spoke]

Originally Posted by famoroso

Yep. This is why I was kinda waiting on yours and I thought I would run the Philips in the interim.

Yep. All three brake lights have Philips LEDs in them. I'm not sure why my issue is having issues!

And all three brake lights work even though it appears the CC is keeping 2 of them on?

I have a 3rd brake light being returned from an '88 with CC. I could divert it to you if you wouldn't mind trying it. It has a ballast resistor that I thought was enough of a load to stop the "dim 3rd brake" syndrome and be compatible with CC.

I thought we had this CC thing wrapped up but apparently there may still be issues. PM me if you're interested.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by spoke

And all three brake lights work even though it appears the CC is keeping 2 of them on?

I have a 3rd brake light being returned from an '88 with CC. I could divert it to you if you wouldn't mind trying it. It has a ballast resistor that I thought was enough of a load to stop the "dim 3rd brake" syndrome and be compatible with CC.

I thought we had this CC thing wrapped up but apparently there may still be issues. PM me if you're interested.

Yes, all three Philips brake light bulbs work / worked with key in Position 1 or 2, with the brake pedal depressed.



I disconnected the CC ECU and the Philips brake light bulbs no longer light dimly, brake pedal unapplied, with either A) ignition-on or B) ignition-off with the battery maintainer connected. So, that should confirm that mine is a CC related issue.

I did find something else. Ignition-off, battery maintainer connected and brake pedal depressed resulted in about 1/2 brightness brake lights, all three bulbs, and they were flickering. Apparently, providing +12V to the cigarette lighter energizes all manner of electrical circuits and awakens some unforseen 1988 gremlins. Aye carumba.

Also, can anyone post up the Amazon link for the LED compatible turn signal relays? Please?

[Uwon]

Originally Posted by famoroso

.

I did find something else. Ignition-off, battery maintainer connected and brake pedal depressed resulted in about 1/2 brightness brake lights, all three bulbs, and they were flickering. Apparently, providing +12V to the cigarette lighter energizes all manner of electrical circuits and awakens some unforseen 1988 gremlins.

I would hazard to guess that the issue would go away if you hook up the battery maintainer directly to the battery terminals.
Johan

[spoke]

I wonder too if the cigarette lighter is switched power with the ignition switch.

The flickering observed may well be a 50/60Hz frequency. The maintainer may be outputting a full or even half wave rectified voltage so it is a series of voltage humps and not pure dc.

[spoke]

It's LED Christmas at Spoke's house. Met up with my assembly guys today. These are 911 square and round brakes, 911 3rd brake, 914 brakes, and 914 rear amber and red turnsignals.

[Rleog]

Ahhhh, more toys.

I have my '87 Carrera brake and 3rd brake LEDs in; they're great.

Patiently waiting on the front turn signal/ running lights.

Thanks

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by spoke

It's LED Christmas at Spoke's house. Met up with my assembly guys today. These are 911 square and round brakes, 911 3rd brake, 914 brakes, and 914 rear amber and red turnsignals.

Are you going do 944 as well??

[Caledonian]

Fitted mine today, and although the comparison pic does not show a huge difference I can assure you there is.

Mr Spoke was very accommodating, and posted the LEDs to my hotel when were in Orlando on holiday (saved $$$$ on postage to Australia).

The quality and simplicity of fitment was excellent, recommended and very good value for money!

[scotricker]

pm sent

[deputydog95]

Are the front and rear turn signals out yet? Been away from this thread for a while.

[famoroso]

Still looking for some Amazon links to the different turn signal flashers. Anyone?

[spoke]

Originally Posted by famoroso

Still looking for some Amazon links to the different turn signal flashers. Anyone?

You can pick up EP36 or EP26 at your FLAPS for less than $15. These are pin-compatible but not necessarily fully function compatible.

What I mean is flashers will flash the exterior lights but the 911 sometimes uses the 4th terminal for different secondary functions. Flashing the exterior lights will work for EP36 and EP26.

These pins on EP36 and EP26 are function compatible:

49: 12V power in
49a: Flasher out; LED compatible
31: Ground

Its the 4th terminal sometimes called K or C or C2 that the 911 uses either to flash trailer lights or the tachometer turnsignal indicators.

EP36 only has 49, 49a, and 31. EP26 has 49, 49a, 31, and K/C/C2. The EP26 units that I looked at the K/C/C2 terminal was not connected to anything internally.

Bottom line is either EP36 or EP26 will flash the exterior lights. Worst case is you might need to rewire the common connection of the tachometer turnsignal indicators. Depends on your year 911. I did not have to do anything on my 930. I think I'm using EP26.

The 914 uses the 4th terminal to drive the common connection of the tach turnsignal indicators. To rewire, make a pigtail like below.



Here the pigtail is connected to the dash indicators.



The pigtail is connected to the ground on the tach. The 4th flasher terminal is not needed now.



This is the schematic for my '86 930. Notice the 4th terminal is called C and goes to a Trailer Turnsignal Indicator Lamp. I have no idea what that is. I'm using EP26 now. The original flasher would hyperflash when I replace the rear or front or both exterior turnsignals with LEDs.

[Hams930T]

Originally Posted by famoroso

Still looking for some Amazon links to the different turn signal flashers. Anyone?

I am using this flasher in place of my OEM flasher relay. This will provide the proper time delay for the turn signals.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/flashers-load-resistors/cf13gl-02-led-bulb-electronic-flasher/782/836/

I hope this is helpful and what you're looking for.

- Chris.

[famoroso]

Thanks for posting up flasher relay options. I know the items are available at my FLAPS. The thing is, my FLAPS isn't so L. Mail order is easier. I'll search one out though.

Anyway, I experimented with the Spoke LED in the 3rd brake light. Both with the ignition-on and with ignition-off + battery maintainer plugged in.

I'm happy to report that the Spoke LED 3rd brake light fixed the problem. I haven't had a chance to drive the car yet and confirm cruise control function, but from a static standpoint, my issue appears to be solved.

I was going to take before & after pictures, but only the "before" worked as the "after" was too dark.

Here's the before...



You can imagine the "after" as a black image.

Thanks everyone!

[spoke]

Originally Posted by famoroso

Anyway, I experimented with the Spoke LED in the 3rd brake light. Both with the ignition-on and with ignition-off + battery maintainer plugged in.

I'm happy to report that the Spoke LED 3rd brake light fixed the problem. I haven't had a chance to drive the car yet and confirm cruise control function, but from a static standpoint, my issue appears to be solved.

Great to hear. Will be curious to see if your CC still functions.

We did some tests on 2 other cars and found the 300 ohm ballast resistor on all brake and 3rd brake boards was enough to be compatible with CC and keep the LEDs off when the brake is not applied. Had one gentleman who had issues with CC so not sure if all is fine yet. Still learning all the fine details about the CC operation.

[spoke]

Front turnsignal boards for '74-'89 cars are in. I'll build a couple this weekend to get things going.

There's 2 configurations for these front turnsignals.

All Amber LEDs (Can use amber or clear lenses):
72 amber LEDs
+ Running lights: Amber LEDs on dimly
+ Turnsignals with Running lights OFF: Amber turnsignal LEDs flash off-bright-off-bright
+ Turnsignals with Running lights ON: Amber turnsignal LEDs flash dim-bright-dim-bright
+ $125/pair

White Running LEDs + Amber Turnsignal LEDs (Requires clear lenses):
24 white LEDs; 48 Amber LEDs
+ Running lights: White LEDs on brightly; Amber turnsignal LEDs off
+ Turnsignals: White LEDs turn off; Amber turnsignal LEDs flash off-bright-off-bright
+ $145/pair

Price does not include shipping.
CONUS shipping: $10
Canada shipping: $25
ROW shipping: determined at purchase

PM me if interested. Should be able to start shipping in 2 weeks.





Here's how the LED boards mount inside the front turnsignal lens.





One of the boards mounted on my '86 930 with clear lenses. The clear lenses are available here on Pelican.

[Rleog]

PM sent. Thanks.