<VV> LED tail lights, one last time.....

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

tail>---->|------/\/\/\/\/\/--------|----LED-----/\/\/\/\/\/------->ground
            D1       50 ohm      |   +      -    10  ohm
brake>--------------------->|----|
                               D2                                     
 
Since I can't send an attachment, I hope the borders and margins turn out  
OK... 
 
 
You need:
1- Luxeon 3 watt Star, either red or red orange. 
2- Diodes, 3 amp, 50 volt. Radio Shack has these. 
1- Resistor, 10 watt, 10 ohm
1- Resistor, 10 watt, 50 ohm
 
Connect the 10 ohm resistor to the negative end of the LED, and the other  
end become ground.
Connect the 50 ohm resistor to the positive end of the LED, and connect the  
other end the silicon diode, pointing away from the taillight wire, with the  
other end connected to the taillight wire. .
Connect the end of the diode with the band to the positive end of the LED  
(pointing toward the + end of the LED), and the other end to the brake/turn  
wire. 
That's it! 
The LED will draw it's max rated current of 1100 mA (yes, these run at over  
1 amp!) when you hit the brakes, and about 200 mA when the taillights are on,  
and  the diode will bypass the taillight resistor when you hit the brakes! 
Make sure the resistors aren't against anything they can melt. 
Well, almost. You'll need to find a flasher that'll work properly on the  
lower current. They're out there, and are used on the cheesy LED brake lights. 
 
You can also use an amber Luxeon lll, and do the same thing with your front  
lights! 
LXHL-LD3C is the 3 watt red.
LXHL-LH3C is the 3 watt red-orange
LXHL-LL3C is the 3 watt amber
 
See the Luxeon link to choose what you want. They also do ordering online.  
One other word of caution: The back plate of these LEDs is NOT electrically  
insulated. As such, make SURE it is electrically insulated from the body. 

Have fun! 
 


Maybe... Not sure they would look right... BUT, if you want  to stick just
ONE LED inside the stock taillight, that will be SURE to  be bright 
as hell,   see:
_http://www.lumileds.com/products/family.cfm?familyId=8_
(http://www.lumileds.com/products/family.cfm?familyId=8)
At  190 lumens for the red-orange, and 140 lumens for the red, these  will  be
insanely bright, and still have just ONE LED per light. Remember  these  lumen
values are ALL in the color you want, so, the lens  should barely reduce  the
brightness at all, unlike a white  bulb.