3rd Brake Light -> LEDs
http://www.968engineering.com/chmslconversion.html
i think i can get 12V leds ... One of my business are semiconductors ..
we sell over 10 million led pcs a year ...
With 12V leds, you dont need resistors, and you can connect them parallel to the 12VDC without aditional mess ...
should be extremelly easy to do with 12V leds...
If there is enough people interested i could factory order them ...
But let me check if they can supply to me .
I think my factory/vendor has, as we currently sell a 12V red led , with intermitent capability. (Not suitable for this DIY of course)
let me ask and check out also the brightness.
can not be xtremelly bright , as this would be an issue more than an advantage.
will keep you posted ...
eloy
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a...T1-3/4-/1.html
These might be brighter
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a...T1-3/4-/1.html
But yes... I've had my light bar apart and put in new bulbs... they are just about the same size as 5mm LED's I wouldn't go any bigger than 5mm LED's. if they are 12V it would be a direct drop in replace for the bulbs. For $11 + shipping it sounds like a nice mod.
Nick
But, it won't be too bad, if i only have to add one or 2 diode (not LED, about 0.6V drop per diode, i think) to reduce voltage.
EDIT: Well scratch the TO-92 12V regulator idea. a regulator that small only could run 100ma ~4 LED's nowhere near the 24 needed. Still looking at options...
Nick
The Best Porsche Posts for Porsche Enthusiasts
BTW, LEDs must be superbright, and red (not white) - something to do with wavelength, spectrums and colours and the difference between the spectral output of incandescent bulbs compared to LEDs.
BTW, LEDs must be superbright, and red (not white) - something to do with wavelength, spectrums and colours and the difference between the spectral output of incandescent bulbs compared to LEDs.
Nick
I haven't devoted the time to exploring the pcar fix yet - I'd rather have LED's anyway.
Waiting for a resolution...
I used these - http://www.xenons.biz/products/ledwe...-dash-led.html They are red superbright 10K mcd 12v wedge types (with integral current limiting resistor and additional diode) and need to be 'adjusted' a little to replace the originals.
I'm not skilled at posting pictures and procedures but I took a few along the way. The whole job took me less than an hour.
Pop off the light cover, undo the 2 securing nuts, unplug connectors, move to bench. 2 screws looses the light assembly from the back plate, another 5 screws gets you to the bulb holding pcb. Gently ease the pcb (and bulbs) away from the front lens -
led01.jpg
LED used -
led02.jpg
Adjustment required. Gently unfold the wire 'legs' and use some small end cutters to nip off about half of the plastic wedge base. Much easier than it sounds. This is to set the LED height roughly the same as the original bulb height.
led03.jpg
Desolder original bulbs and replace with the modified LEDs. IMPORTANT - ensure that each new LED is orientated the same way along the board (ie - all 'resistor' legs of the LEDs in the same track). It doesn't really matter which track at this stage as the power connectors can be connected to suit. For information - the positive connection (brown) will feed the pcb track side where the resistor side of the LEDs are soldered. Picture of LED and original.
led04.jpg
Ready to reassemble.
led06.jpg
Back on the car (cover not fitted - away for paint).
led07.jpg
led08.jpg
I chose this way to achieve LED lighting because I couldn't get enthusiastic about cutting tracks, calculating series resistances, adding wires and resistors. These little babies are automotive-designed and have it all built in. Very quick and easy modification. Total cost was actually £34 shipped for 30 LEDs (so I've got 6 spares into the bargain). Just replacing the 11 dead bulbs (that initiated this quest) with Porsche originals may have cost the same but I think this solution is ideal.
Trev



