Yes? No? Maybe? (LED Tails)
07-13-05, 06:34 AM
#16
Pole Position
What kind of LEDs are those? I can't even see them in the pics... They aren't SMD's are they?
Make sure that whatever you install back there is bright enough for traffic use.
Also, the upper portion of the '97 tails is not very conducive to LED lighting. The reflector block is not as translucent as the rest of the lense up there so you will have a big nasty blacked out block right in the center of your light. When I was R&Ding mine I came to the conclusion that this was not going to work very well. Also keep in mind that at the corner you start curving inward and the LED output will do the same. Problem here is that your output needs to be perpendicular to the street (or parallel with the back of the car) so the people behind you can see your LEDs. Plus is just looks weird from the side as you'll only really see one or two dots following you around the car. This also applies to the turn signals. Solution is to aim each LED straight back if you design your own board. You can't do this with a prefabricated one.
Just some thoughts to consider. If you're cool with potentially ruining a light, go for it. I melted the CRAP out of a brand new tail light attempting mine.
Just be careful and do a lot of experimenting. Remember you are messing with legal and safety aspects of your car. Make sure it's good. 
Make sure that whatever you install back there is bright enough for traffic use.
Also, the upper portion of the '97 tails is not very conducive to LED lighting. The reflector block is not as translucent as the rest of the lense up there so you will have a big nasty blacked out block right in the center of your light. When I was R&Ding mine I came to the conclusion that this was not going to work very well. Also keep in mind that at the corner you start curving inward and the LED output will do the same. Problem here is that your output needs to be perpendicular to the street (or parallel with the back of the car) so the people behind you can see your LEDs. Plus is just looks weird from the side as you'll only really see one or two dots following you around the car. This also applies to the turn signals. Solution is to aim each LED straight back if you design your own board. You can't do this with a prefabricated one.
Just some thoughts to consider. If you're cool with potentially ruining a light, go for it. I melted the CRAP out of a brand new tail light attempting mine.
Just be careful and do a lot of experimenting. Remember you are messing with legal and safety aspects of your car. Make sure it's good.
07-13-05, 10:57 AM
#19
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by elscorcho
yo where you at 95 and northern autozone dude I saw your car sweet
Yeah that was me, one of my light went out so i bought two new ones, lucky because i made it there like at 8:56 and they were closing at 9...
07-13-05, 10:58 AM
#20
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by CleanSC
What kind of LEDs are those? I can't even see them in the pics... They aren't SMD's are they?
:
:
They are smds i was careful to find these, they are real bright i have some pics that I took at night.
thanks for the info on the lens.. not sure what i will do yet
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