LED Brake Lights

[rdimarco]

I will take a set too. thanks.

[Tremelune]

Originally Posted by spoke

They look interesting. Have you tried them out?

I put one on my vintage motorcycle with super weak power output. It's brighter than an 1157 from every angle.

[Alexm930]

Subscribed!!

[Tremelune]

Oh yeah, here's my review:

Philips X-treme Vision 1157 LED taillight bulb

[spoke]

Originally Posted by Autoban

I see you are in Allentown, PA. Are you coming to the Hershey Swap Meet this year? If you do, can you bring a set for me to purchase?

Juergen

Hey Juergen,

Yes, I am planning to bring a couple of sets of 911 LED brake lights to Hershey. I'm bringing some 914 front and rear LED board sets as well.

[spoke]

Originally Posted by Tremelune

Oh yeah, here's my review:

Philips X-treme Vision 1157 LED taillight bulb

Nice evaluation. Thanks. Always like to see what's available. When I get my Philips set I will evaluate them WRT to the 1157 and the LED boards I'm working on. I have a light meter which is perfect for this analysis.

[Arne2]

One of the things that concerns me about some of the LEDs I've seen is that the difference between tail and brake is not as great as an incandescent bulb. Both are typically brighter, and the response time is much better, but I'd like to see better difference between the two functions, especially in our Porsches where the tail and brake lights share a section of the light. I actually much prefer separate single circuit lamps - tends to make it more obvious when the brakes are applied.

[RSBob]

Spoke has a quality product and has great sales and a following on 914 World.

I opted for a less expensive alternative which I am more than happy with but it isn't as nice a product as Spoke's. https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/s-series-bulbs/1157-led-bulb-dual-intensity-45-smd-led-tower-/814/ In red.

Update, I may add to add resisters since my brake warning light is on and cruise is not working.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread already in progress

[spoke]

Originally Posted by Arne2

One of the things that concerns me about some of the LEDs I've seen is that the difference between tail and brake is not as great as an incandescent bulb. Both are typically brighter, and the response time is much better, but I'd like to see better difference between the two functions, especially in our Porsches where the tail and brake lights share a section of the light. I actually much prefer separate single circuit lamps - tends to make it more obvious when the brakes are applied.

Understood. It is sometimes difficult to see the difference between the brake intensity and running light intensity. The 3rd brake light is sometimes the only way to tell the difference.

I've tried to make the difference between brake and running light quite obvious. I run the brake LEDs at about 20ma and the running lights at about 4ma. The difference in intensity is about 5:1 as observed in the graphs in the first post.

There is one aspect of LED brake/tail lights that should be of great concern: heat. I don't know how the LED towers and other products handle the heat. I've tested my 914 and 911 brake boards for long periods (hours) with brake lights on at 14V to determine the temperature rise. I burn about 4W on a 3.5 x 2.5inch 914 board with a 25C temperature rise. I don't know how Philips burns 2W on such a small fixture.

The 914 LED boards at brake intensity operated at 14V runs about 20-25C above ambient. The 911 LED boards run about 30C above ambient.

A critical temperature for LEDs is about 100C. At this temp wire bonds and P-N junctions fail. It is important to stay below this temperature. I estimate my boards will stay well below 100C. Even at 110F (43C) (Arizona guys?), these boards will only run at 43+30 = 73C. Well below the critical 100C.

Many trucks and trailers run LED tail and brake lights now. I've seen some starting to fail where a couple of the LEDs are out. Maybe this is due to heat or vibration.

Of course LED failures are not only the domain of aftermarket truck lights. Check out this Nissan I was following. Just one of the LEDs is out on this vehicle. How do you replace this LED? How many of these LEDs have to fail before this vehicle will not pass state inspection? How much would it cost to replace this LED display?

[Autoban]

Originally Posted by spoke

Hey Juergen,

Yes, I am planning to bring a couple of sets of 911 LED brake lights to Hershey. I'm bringing some 914 front and rear LED board sets as well.

Great, I meet with a bunch of Pelicans at the Crab Cake Shack at noon every year. We can meet there if that is OK.

Juergen

[joe payne]

I have a set of the Phillips Extreme Vision LED's. I'll try to put them in this weekend and see what's up. Designed in Germany/Made in China..

[redturbo911]

Interested keep us posted.

[Uwon]

Subscribed. Spoke, your boards Look really good. I'm planning LEDs for my RST build but am concerned, as expressed by Arne, about the apparent lack in differentiation between tail and brake mode with some 1157s. Joe, do post your finding, please, hopefully with some picks.
Johan

[spoke]

Got a couple more boards in with some adjustments made from the first set. I still forgot to put some holes to attach the wire "handle" on the board. The handle is necessary to position the board and to remove the board if needed.

I will build up these boards and offer them to a few folks.

Some have asked if these are plug-n-play so I made a video of the installation of the board. In the video you'll see a plastic frame that I made with my 3d printer. These will be provided with the board as well as a 7/64 inch allen wrench to secure the board.

It took less than 3 minutes to install one side.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by spoke

Got a couple more boards in with some adjustments made from the first set. I still forgot to put some holes to attach the wire "handle" on the board. The handle is necessary to position the board and to remove the board if needed.

I will build up these boards and offer them to a few folks.

Some have asked if these are plug-n-play so I made a video of the installation of the board. In the video you'll see a plastic frame that I made with my 3d printer. These will be provided with the board as well as a 7/64 inch allen wrench to secure the board.

It took less than 3 minutes to install one side.

SWEET, but with 3 911s & 3 914s, that could get a bit pricy..

[merlinfe]

I'd be interested in a set.

[Rleog]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

SWEET, but with 3 911s & 3 914s, that could get a bit pricy..

At 6 min per install, buy one set and switch it around.

[Uwon]

Spoke,
I'd be interested in a set too.
Johan

[DocHop]

Spoke,
I would like to order a set as well.
Peter

[spoke]

Anyone going to Hershey this weekend? I have 3 sets of 2nd generation prototypes to sell. Would really like to see these installed in 911/930 to make sure they fit well.

Thanks for all the feedback. Once I have the feedback that these fit on other's cars, I will do a larger run.



Also working on a rear turnsignal LED board. I should have the first prototypes this week. This one is really wild. It has LEDs pointing in all directions. For US spec turnsignals (red), it will replace the side lights and will light gently with the running lights to give the 911 a larger visual footprint at night.