LED Brake Lights

[7783911]

i ve replaced every light except new (waiting) turn signal with Spoke products and cant say enough about how great they are. even my new fogs actually light the road !

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

Spoke,

Take a look at this teardown video of an LED Traffic Signal light.
https://youtu.be/hRbnK4cDXPY

Do you think a plastic Fresnel lens could be created to go between your LED brake light board and the red tail light lens to better distribute the lighting like on these traffic lights? Seems like it would be a major enhancement to LED brake lights for our air-cooled Porsches.

[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by Hi_Fi_Guy

Spoke,

Take a look at this teardown video of an LED Traffic Signal light.
https://youtu.be/hRbnK4cDXPY

Do you think a plastic Fresnel lens could be created to go between your LED brake light board and the red tail light lens to better distribute the lighting like on these traffic lights? Seems like it would be a major enhancement to LED brake lights for our air-cooled Porsches.

I think a fresnel lens would be rather difficult, and using one would do the opposite of distribute the light; they are designed to focus the light output in one direction. Think about a light house and its (relatively) small light using a fresnel lens with a focus point out to sea.

This may be an advantage with brake lights, but those same lights are also the tail lights which work better if the output isn't focussed in a certain point and are more visible from many directions. I think if one wanted to distribute the lighting further, the middle lens in that traffic signal light would be the better solution. Using something like a piece of a fluorescent light lens cut to size would be more appropriate and likely work well for that application.

Be sure to show us all how it looks when you try it out!

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

Maybe I misunderstood that part of the video. It sure looked like that lens took the small, concentrated spots of the LED lights and spread the beam out to a much larger area.

[spoke]

Originally Posted by Hi_Fi_Guy

Spoke,

Take a look at this teardown video of an LED Traffic Signal light.
https://youtu.be/hRbnK4cDXPY

Do you think a plastic Fresnel lens could be created to go between your LED brake light board and the red tail light lens to better distribute the lighting like on these traffic lights? Seems like it would be a major enhancement to LED brake lights for our air-cooled Porsches.

Thanks for the link. Quite interesting how this version of LED traffic signal is designed using high power LEDs like I use on foglights. I use Cree XPG3 whereas the traffic LEDs are made by Luxeon. These high power surface mount LEDs have a very wide dispersion of light. Something like 125 degrees to 1/2 power. Thus light is spewing out at virtually all angles. The Fresnel lens is perfect for gathering all that dispersed light and channeling it towards the oncoming traffic.

The LEDs I use for brakes and turnsignals are low power 5mm through hole LEDs whose packages include a lens. That lens limits the light dispersion to about 30 degrees so not sure if the fresnel lens would help.

To your point about using an additional lens, I have been wondering if the most effective way to provide a bright running and brake/turnsignal light is to project light directly into the person behind you or to make the lens of the car appear very bright or dimmer.

Kind of like shining a flashlight in your eye. You are a bit blinded by the light and if the light changed intensities it's difficult to detect the differences because of the glare of the direct light.

I've noticed on the LED sidelights on my 930 that they don't look as bright or distinctive with the plastic diffusers installed.

It would seem that it would be better to have the surface of the brake/turnsignal lens just absolutely glow instead of providing something like red or amber LED flashlight. I might try adding a second diffuser to the brakes and/or turnsignals of my 930 to see if the lights look brighter throwing out less glare.

I bought a 2x4 panel of the plastic diffusers for fluorescent lights at HD. It would be simple to cut a small piece and put it in front of the brake or turnsignal boards and observe the difference.

[bweiss1]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

Just ordered the rear lights and third brake light sets from spoke. Been concerned for years about someone rear-ending me because the stock lights are fairly dim by today's standards.

Just did mine too and the fog lights. Big improvement and fairly straightforward.

[spoke]

Originally Posted by Hi_Fi_Guy

Maybe I misunderstood that part of the video. It sure looked like that lens took the small, concentrated spots of the LED lights and spread the beam out to a much larger area.

The concentrated spots you refer to is the glare from the direct LED light into your eye. It's overwheming and sometimes hurts. You don't see all the other light not directly aimed at your eye. When the lens is placed in front of the LEDs that other light is now aimed at your eye and the direct LED light that previously hurt your eye is also diffused and less bright. The lens gives a more even light pattern the whole lens.

This is what I'd like to do with my LED boards; make the light more diffused and seem brighter.

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

Spoke, check out this page where Marelli shows some of the different types of lenses and diffusers they employ for various OEM automotive lighting solutions. Might be some inspiration here.

https://www.al-lighting.com/technology/rearlighting/

And this company who manufactures Fresnel lenses for automotive brake and tail light systems

Fresnel lenses for automotive light guides in moulded PMMA - Gaggione

This company makes lenticular diffusers as well as Fresnel lenses.

https://www.edmundoptics.com/c/fresnel-lenses/730/

[Canada Kev]

I had thought about using some frosted film like that which is used on doors and windows to create privacy glass, adhered to the inside of the lens. Then try some of the fluorescent light diffuser material between that and the LED board. The side of the diffuser board that faces the LEDs also may make a difference in the look. Or doubled up. A combination of some or all of those things might work well. or not. The actual tail light lenses will also likely make a difference. I don't know, that's where the experimentation comes in to play...

I've not been motivated to start that little project as I'm pretty happy with the lights as they currently are.

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by bweiss1

Just did mine too and the fog lights. Big improvement and fairly straightforward.

Yep, I'm going to do the fogs and front markers/turn indicators next.

[Reiver]

Fantastic service and product support.

I've had Spoke's brake lights for some time now and one side became a bit on/off, when I say some time I mean a few years.

I messaged that I'd like to purchase one side as a replacement.

He responded that he would provide two new boards complete if I'd simply mail the other used ones back to him....he asked for nothing in return.
THAT is standing by your work.

Honestly I think I should reimburse him for this given the time lapse.

Thanks Jerry for a great product and back up. Way beyond the norm.

[PabloX]

Originally Posted by Reiver

Fantastic service and product support.

I've had Spoke's brake lights for some time now and one side became a bit on/off, when I say some time I mean a few years.

I messaged that I'd like to purchase one side as a replacement.

He responded that he would provide two new boards complete if I'd simply mail the other used ones back to him....he asked for nothing in return.
THAT is standing by your work.

Honestly I think I should reimburse him for this given the time lapse.

Thanks Jerry for a great product and back up. Way beyond the norm.

Definitely top notch customer service.

[spoke]

Just received this pair of 911 brake lights. These are pretty old as they are purple in color which I got from OshPark.com back in 2015. The 911 owner got these from a friend who originally purchased the LEDs but unfortunately totaled his 911 so passed on the lights to a friend.

The wires had taken a beating and one became detached from the board so I replaced all the wires and plugs.

One other adjustment made on this set of brake lights is to reduce the intensity of the running lights by removing a couple of resistors.

I'll be applying the reduction in running lights on the 911 and 914 brake and red rear turnsignals. If anyone wants to reduce the intensity of the running lights, it is easy to do if you're handy with a solder pencil. If not, I'd be glad to do the adjustment for you no charge. You pay shipping to me and I'll pay shipping to you.

[Kraftwerk]

I am interested in the tail lights give me the details, what you need in a PM . Ok?

[David]

Slowly making progress on 3D printed housings for Spoke's LED's. The next printing should be ready for road testing. The housing is just sitting in place in these pictures. When the 2 bolts are in, it's pulled up tight in the fender.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by David

Slowly making progress on 3D printed housings for Spoke's LED's. The next printing should be ready for road testing. The housing is just sitting in place in these pictures. When the 2 bolts are in, it's pulled up tight in the fender.

Love it! The only thing I'd ask is that you consider some provision for a diffuser over the side marker.

Honestly, with the side marker on and no diffuser, the light was so bright it felt like I constantly had a car in my blindspot due to the amount of light reflecting off of the road surface. Also, the diffuser hides that LED cluster, making the lamp more aesthetically pleasing by day.

[Scbrindley]

Originally Posted by spoke

Just received this pair of 911 brake lights. These are pretty old as they are purple in color which I got from OshPark.com back in 2015. The 911 owner got these from a friend who originally purchased the LEDs but unfortunately totaled his 911 so passed on the lights to a friend.

The wires had taken a beating and one became detached from the board so I replaced all the wires and plugs.

One other adjustment made on this set of brake lights is to reduce the intensity of the running lights by removing a couple of resistors.

.......

These are my boards and I'm happy to report they are back in the car and working great! I can't speak highly enough about Spoke's customer service, truly a class act.

I figure, "while I'm there" I should change some other bulbs to LEDs. My car now has LED turn signals, brake lights and side markers. The third LED light in the middle of the rear windshield will go in this week (hopefully).

Thanks, Jerry, for making such a quality product!

[RWebb]

Nice, David

[famoroso]

Anybody see these Dansk plastic rear light housings?

https://www.jpgroupclassic.com/product/?id=1695350670

[Kraftwerk]

A German company was selling (white ) plastic housings awhile back but would only ship domestically, or else shipping was so expensive it made it too costly ( for me ). Not sure if they were ABS or what, but they would have to be strong, since the rear wheels like to toss rocks at them. I like the idea, what's the price?