LED Brake Lights

[PabloX]

[spoke]

I have 12 LED brake sets in assembly or finished. Shipped a couple of sets already. If you're interested, check out the FS: ad:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/872507-fs-led-brake-pcbs.html#post8687001

[Jonny H]

Spoke, looks like you have put considerable effort into those LEDs.

I have a question concerning the difference in light output between the tail and brake. Bright brake lights are great but the tail light must be kept substantially dimmer so that the difference is apparent when seen from behind.

Many LED bulb offerings make both tail and brake brighter meaning that the brake light is LESS obvious to following traffic. These are an accident waiting to happen, particularly on motorcycles. In the UK, there are currently no LED lamp solutions that meet approvals. The cheap ones on ebay are lethal, barely no distinction between brake and tail.

Also, how are you regulating the LED current and dealing within internal and ambient temperature variation?

[universeman]

I just received and installed these on my 82SC. I did have to fiddle with the sockets (cleaning, and prying up the copper to get a better contact resistance.) Of course that is a problem with my car, not the product.

The lights are very very well made. Everything seems well thought out. The pinch clips are an ingenious solution to keeping the unit in place. Easy to install.

They seem quite bright in the day, but I have not looked at them yet at night (it's 4pm here.)

When brakes are applied slowly, they appear to go through the lower setting first (50msec or so) on their way to "full bright". When brakes are applied quickly, they don't seem to do this.

It does seem obvious that there is a big difference between tail and brake, from that limited test.

Overall I am very happy with the look and value of these LEDs! Good job, Stoke!

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by spoke

They look interesting. Have you tried them out?

I just ordered a pair of these to evaluate them.

I got them a few weeks ago. Much better than OE and easy install. I'm sure they are not as bright as the OP's stuff but still pretty good.

[spoke]

Originally Posted by Jonny H

Spoke, looks like you have put considerable effort into those LEDs.

I have a question concerning the difference in light output between the tail and brake. Bright brake lights are great but the tail light must be kept substantially dimmer so that the difference is apparent when seen from behind.

Many LED bulb offerings make both tail and brake brighter meaning that the brake light is LESS obvious to following traffic. These are an accident waiting to happen, particularly on motorcycles. In the UK, there are currently no LED lamp solutions that meet approvals. The cheap ones on ebay are lethal, barely no distinction between brake and tail.

Also, how are you regulating the LED current and dealing within internal and ambient temperature variation?

The LED current is regulated with series resistors. The brake current for each LED is 20ma and the running light current is 4ma each.

Showing in pics or clips of the brightness comparisons of lights is very difficult. The best way I've found to show light comparisons is to video the reflection of the light off of a surface like a garage door like below. This is my 930 with an LED brake PCB on the driver side and the standard dual filament bulb on the passenger side.

The video starts out with running lights then brake applied and removed. The difference between running and brake lights is quite striking.

[spoke]

Originally Posted by universeman

I just received and installed these on my 82SC. I did have to fiddle with the sockets (cleaning, and prying up the copper to get a better contact resistance.) Of course that is a problem with my car, not the product.

The lights are very very well made. Everything seems well thought out. The pinch clips are an ingenious solution to keeping the unit in place. Easy to install.

They seem quite bright in the day, but I have not looked at them yet at night (it's 4pm here.)

When brakes are applied slowly, they appear to go through the lower setting first (50msec or so) on their way to "full bright". When brakes are applied quickly, they don't seem to do this.

It does seem obvious that there is a big difference between tail and brake, from that limited test.

Overall I am very happy with the look and value of these LEDs! Good job, Stoke!

Jason,

Good to hear they went in well. Not sure why they would seem to go full bright slowly as there are no electronic components to cause that. Likely it is the brake switch closing slowly and its resistance falling as it fully closes.

About the socket in the car, after years of use, the sockets get oxidized and an LED solution like this does not have the loading to electrically break through the oxidation like a filament bulb would. Thus the socket must be cleaned very well.

Here's a bulb from my 930 when I put in LEDs. At first the LEDs wouldn't light up at all. Jiggled the PCB pigtail and the LEDs would flicker. It took me 3 times cleaning the sockets before the LEDs would light reliably.

[Reiver]

sent you a msg, would like a set

[RDM]

Originally Posted by Reiver

sent you a msg, would like a set

Me too.

[geoterra]

+1

[spoke]

All the boards from this run have been sold. I'm waiting for feedback from this current group to see if everything is ok for function and fit. Then I'll make a larger run.

[universeman]

Update: Brightness of brake vs tail light is very very good at night. Safe to say the brake lights are near "blinding" level if you look right at them, which given the small surface area Porsche decided to devote to brake lights, is a good thing.

Cleaning the sockets is critical. I ground mine with a Dremel, both the rear contacts and the barrel. I had to work on the sockets a bit to get the LEDs to stay lit after install (they'd light when laying on the bumper, but I'd install them and no dice. Took 3-4 tries.) Wonder if/how that might become a problem down the road as corrosion rebuilds.

Fitment and everything else is superb. 100% happy with the product! (Just recommend you create and include an install sheet in case your n00b customers haven't seen your YouTube video - at least point them to it in the box somewhere.)

[mytoy]

Spoke;

Will these fit the 964 tail lights as well? Or do you have sets for the 964?

[Neel]

Originally Posted by universeman

Update: Brightness of brake vs tail light is very very good at night. Safe to say the brake lights are near "blinding" level if you look right at them, which given the small surface area Porsche decided to devote to brake lights, is a good thing.

Cleaning the sockets is critical. I ground mine with a Dremel, both the rear contacts and the barrel. I had to work on the sockets a bit to get the LEDs to stay lit after install (they'd light when laying on the bumper, but I'd install them and no dice. Took 3-4 tries.) Wonder if/how that might become a problem down the road as corrosion rebuilds.

Fitment and everything else is superb. 100% happy with the product! (Just recommend you create and include an install sheet in case your n00b customers haven't seen your YouTube video - at least point them to it in the box somewhere.)

Jason, I got mine, but I haven't installed them yet.. After I clean the socket, I will use Dielectric grease in the socket for good contact and hopefully head of any future possibility of a problem...

[Lyle O]

Hi Spoke, lights look great. How do I get on the list for a set from your next run? Are you keeping track? Should I PM you every few weeks? Will you have a website? Like you, I was rear ended a few years ago, and I can't get these puppies installed fast enough. Please let us all know how to get in the queue...
Thanks. Lyle.

Oops, just saw the link to the FS section in post #122.

[Rleog]

Got Spoke's boards. Here's my installation and comments:

The kit:




Plastic of the tail light lens had bonded to the tail light housing of my '87 Carrera. Be careful in prying it off. I was pleased to find the housing fairly clean and free of corrosion. Though the bulb base looked good, I sanded the socket housing with 400 grit paper and coated the LED "bulb" base with a fine film of dielectric grease. Spoke can weigh in on this. It may be overkill.






Framework set:







The kit instructions mention backing off the "clips" so that the clip peg is flush with the circuit board. Do this for all four corners of each board:




Once you've seated the board onto the plastic framework pegs, sequentially tighten each of the "clip" Allen screws to secure the circuit board in position. I initially looked for a piece of the framework for the "clips" to fasten onto, then realized that the "clips" secure the board via friction fit against the light housing as you tighten each one of them. Either that, or I've completely missed the boat here, and Spoke will tell me which boat to catch later.

[URL=http://s142.photobucket.com/user/Rleog/media/image.jpg6_zpsr99hovwg.jpg.html][/URL

It's day time, I'm alone, and exposure compensation doesn't allow easy comparison of tail light vs brake light, so I haven't posted pics of the active LEDs. Spoke has.

The kit seems very well thought through and my installation seemed straight forward. Is the kit necessary? Obviously, everyone decides that on their own.

[Neel]

Originally Posted by Rleog

Got Spoke's boards. Here's my installation and comments:

The kit:




Plastic of the tail light lens had bonded to the tail light housing of my '87 Carrera. Be careful in prying it off. I was pleased to find the housing fairly clean and free of corrosion. Though the bulb base looked good, I sanded the socket housing with 400 grit paper and coated the LED "bulb" base with a fine film of dielectric grease. Spoke can weigh in on this. It may be overkill.






Framework set:







The kit instructions mention backing off the "clips" so that the clip peg is flush with the circuit board. Do this for all four corners of each board:




Once you've seated the board onto the plastic framework pegs, sequentially tighten each of the "clip" Allen screws to secure the circuit board in position. I initially looked for a piece of the framework for the "clips" to fasten onto, then realized that the "clips" secure the board via friction fit against the light housing as you tighten each one of them. Either that, or I've completely missed the boat here, and Spoke will tell me which boat to catch later.

[URL=http://s142.photobucket.com/user/Rleog/media/image.jpg6_zpsr99hovwg.jpg.html][/URL

It's day time, I'm alone, and exposure compensation doesn't allow easy comparison of tail light vs brake light, so I haven't posted pics of the active LEDs. Spoke has.

The kit seems very well thought through and my installation seemed straight forward. Is the kit necessary? Obviously, everyone decides that on their own.

I was wondering the same thing about the install... TTT for a well thought out LED set up...

[spoke]

Here's the first prototype of front turnsignal LED boards. These are designed to fit inside the front turnsignal lens.



The front turnsignal bucket is angled a bit towards the outside so the LEDs have to be mounted at a angle to point directly in front of the car.



The fit inside the lens is perfect. Pinch clips like used on the rear LEDs secure the board to the lens.



The LEDs can be seen through the lens. The tape is a guide pointing towards the front of the car.



Finally the fit in the car. The LEDs are off in the pic although the flash has caused them to reflect.

[A horse with no name]

Hey Spoke, have you made any for the '3rd' brake light;if so how much are they?
Thanks!

[universeman]

The turnsignal lights look great!