Just made a minor tweak to the tail lights:


Before:


After:


Slightly closer up:



All LEDs are working, just depends on the angle you look at it. Not bad for a few quid.

If anyone wants some to wire in, they are 12V SMD LED rings, 60mm. They fit perfectly, so don't order any bigger.

Cool, how do the mount inside?

I used a few dibs of hot glue on the face of the LED ring, and stuck it to the red plastic to ensure a bit of distance from the ordinary bulbs (don't want anything melting in there!)

Main filament of ordinary bulbs come on when brakes are operated.

The angled nature of the tail piece means the LEDs aren't dazzling anyone.

So, do these LED rings come on as running lights as well as the normal bulbs?

Could you take 2 pics for me, im tempted to do this mod:
-With the brakes on
-The inside of the plastic lens
Thanks

Quote from: vinny on August 30, 2012, 03:52:17 AM
So, do these LED rings come on as running lights as well as the normal bulbs?

Could you take 2 pics for me, im tempted to do this mod:
-With the brakes on
-The inside of the plastic lens
Thanks

When running, just the LED rings are on. When braking, both LED rings and the main filament of the running lights come on.

Will take pics when I can, got my motorbike test tomorrow and its chucking it down atm.

I think these are the rings I ordered: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-60mm-BMW-Angel-Eyes-15-SMD-LED-Ring-Car-Light-White-401-/370560551039?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item564721487f

Red ones are available too for nearly half the price, would be interesting to see how well they work.

When using LED's you actually want the same color as the lens they will be shining through if it's not a clear lens. With a red LED shining through a red lens, little of the light is filtered because it's already the right color (wavelength). With a white LED shining through a red lens, all colors (wavelengths) of light have to be filtered except the red. Essentially, you will have a brighter light if you use the correct color LED for your lens.

Make sense?

Quote from: Worm on August 30, 2012, 09:54:23 AM
When using LED's you actually want the same color as the lens they will be shining through if it's not a clear lens. With a red LED shining through a red lens, little of the light is filtered because it's already the right color (wavelength). With a white LED shining through a red lens, all colors (wavelengths) of light have to be filtered except the red. Essentially, you will have a brighter light if you use the correct color LED for your lens.

Make sense?

That is quite true. Same applies when using LEDs for your indicator lights.

Red is the most common LED. Using red is therefore more efficient and uses less current for the same resulting brightness. White LEDs are really ultraviolet LEDs coated with a phosphorescent layer like inside fluorescent tubes that converts UV to white light. That makes them less efficient, then you filter out all but red for the brake light.