Custom Plexiglass/LED taillight

[quiktaco]

So I have this idea in my head for a really awesome taillight.  I'm just wondering if anyone has ever tried anything like this and also what everyone thinks.

It would be maybe about 5-6 layers of 1/4" plexiglass with 1/4" space between each. There would be 2 led's to light up the end of each piece of plexi for the riding lights, and rows of leds (maybe 5 per row) between each layer of plexi for the brake lights.  Sound like it would be cool?  oh, also, each layer would be a little shorter, so it is angled at the back.

I know I could make it to work right and look good, the wiring for all the led's would just be hell to solder up.

[GeeP]

Let's see a drawing.

Do you have a good router?

[quiktaco]

I have all the tools I'd need to do it.  Wouldn't be that hard actually.  I'll try to draw something up, and post it tonight

[Lukewarm Wilson]

something like this?
http://www.photodump.com/lukewarm/Image029.html

[quiktaco]

no, it would be the ends of the plexiglass coming out toward the back of the bike.  I guess I'll have to draw something up.  I have a 96, so the taillight section is a lot more square, so I think it lends itself more to what I'm thinking.

[bubba zanetti]

I have a fair idea of what you're thinking of doing and reckon it'd look good, you'd just want to make sure that they lit up ok before you rode it in traffic.

Would you shape the ends to match the shape of the body work?

[quiktaco]

Yeah, I'd definatly make sure they light well enough.  I used these on a car brake light before and they were plenty bright, so I think it will be fine.  And yes, I think I'll be following the body lines to make it flush with the rear, so it slopes in.

[quiktaco]

Hopefully this worked.  First time uploading a picture.  So, this is what I was thinking.  rows of LED's toward the surface (30 total) for the brakes.  The 2 LED's in the rear of each piece of plexi to light up the edges of them for the riding lights.  (so the riding lights would look like 6 horizontal lines, the length of the whole light.

[bubba zanetti]

What about doing them vertically?

[quiktaco]

That might be another idea.  I think virtically would be to hard to make though.  It would probably look pretty good though.  What does everyone think about how it is this way?  Think it would be worth doing?

[GeeP]

Interesting idea  (Good illustration too)

Wouldn't it be a good idea to bond some spacers between the light segments so it isn't as fragile?  Then you could fit the brake LEDs in the spacers, which would be 1/2" or so back from the running segments.  Just a thought... 

Otherwise, I like it.  If you build one be sure to post up pics.  If you don't build one, I may have to pull out my up spiral pattern bit and hack up some templates.   

[quiktaco]

Yeah, I was going to put in spacers that the forward LED's would attach to.  Just didn't include it cause I only had about 5 minutes to CAD that up.  I think I might end up building this.  It might be a bit, cause I want to get the bike running perfect first.

[galahs]

Good concept,  but as mentioned worth testing to see how bright they are.

[Oklahoma_Mike]

I have seen that setup (or ones like it)on cars and such(a few concept bikes) and as you say they look good. Bit of work, but end result should be awesome. I agree that vertical would be BA, but requires twice the work.

[starwalt]

I kinda see where you are going with this but, you may have to split it into L and R or the light from one side will bleed into the other. It can still be clear plexi, just have a thin black layer to separate L and R.

The wiring for the turn LEDs would work with a pc board. I don't see why the brake LEDs have to be toward the back edge. Just put them all on the same pc board and control them from there.

PC boards aren't that bad to make and software has been around for years for layout.

Keep thinking! Great project! Nice illustration.