|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193170 is a reply to message #193167] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 12:52   |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
That's sharp looking, Kerry. The oblong/rounded corner look fits the design of the coach better than the original.
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193185 is a reply to message #193164] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 16:02 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 12:14 |
If there is interest, I'll describe how I made them.
|
I'm sure there will be interest. Perhaps even sales opportunity as this type of metal work may be easy for you but some of us have trouble drilling a round hole without machine tools.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193188 is a reply to message #193185] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 16:26 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| midlf wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 16:02 |
| Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 12:14 |
If there is interest, I'll describe how I made them.
|
I'm sure there will be interest. Perhaps even sales opportunity as this type of metal work may be easy for you but some of us have trouble drilling a round hole without machine tools.
|
I found the details in the photo album:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6252-led-taillights.html
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193192 is a reply to message #193164] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 17:31 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks guys. I found a small LED driving light that will fit on my other test piece. I'll install and test it tomorrow.
In case you are wondering why the inboard light seems brighter than the outboard light it is because of the slight curve in the panel. If you move a bit to the left, as in the passing lane, the outboard light would be at its brightest. I could fix that but I kind of like it like that I think.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193195 is a reply to message #193192] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 17:42 |
mojoe
Messages: 319
Registered: November 2012
Location: Monroe, NC
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Kerry, What would you take for the generation II tail lights you replaced?
Thanks j
Joe Kemenczky..
1975 Eleganza ll " Odie " 75,000 miles..
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." - Mark Twain.
.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193197 is a reply to message #193195] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 17:46 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| toyomojoe wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 17:42 |
Kerry, What would you take for the generation II tail lights you replaced?
Thanks j
|
Joe I'm going to hang on to them and probably prototype another idea I have. They are not in that good a shape anyway. The Jims sell new ones pretty cheap.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193202 is a reply to message #193188] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 18:27 |
|
|
It is hard to tell from the pictures, but do these lights incorporate
the federally required reflectors in them? One of the things that get
the clear tail light crowd in trouble with John Law is that they do NOT
have the minimum required reflectors incorporated in the lenses.
On 12/17/2012 2:26 PM, Steve Southworth wrote:
>
> midlf wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 16:02
>> Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 12:14
>>> If there is interest, I'll describe how I made them.
>>
>> I'm sure there will be interest. Perhaps even sales opportunity as this type of metal work may be easy for you but some of us have trouble drilling a round hole without machine tools.
>
> I found the details in the photo album:
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6252-led-taillights.html
>
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Terry Taylor
'74 ex-Eleganza SE
San Lorenzo, CA
http://www.n6mon.org
http://dldesignstore.com
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193203 is a reply to message #193164] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 18:33 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I'm gonna hack a one of those into the GenII housings.
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
|
|
|
|
| Re: Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193207 is a reply to message #193164] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 18:41 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Here is the side view that shows the slight curve.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_0061.jpg
And an inside view showing the HF lights.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_0071.jpg
The rubber gasket is designed for a thicker material than the 1/16" aluminum so I'll probably lock it in place with some silicone on the back when I get ready to install permanently.
Tom Whitton (GMCEAST) had a great article about making a new taillight and described how to adapt the LED wires to a broken out 1157 base. It is a pain to solder the wires and expoxe them in place but it works. I've found a source for store bought base and pigtails. If they are as advertised, I'll post the link.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_0081.jpg
Below is another prototype with room for a long thin backup light. I found a light tonight that may work...we'll see.
The process is called hammerforming. For limited use a plywood or MDF form can be used.
Simply trace the outline you want on the wood and round over the edges. I used a roundover bit on a router table but you could do it by hand.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_512.jpg
A smaller piece of material is screwed to the hammerform as a clamp.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_513.jpg
The aluminum is clamped by drilling and putting 4 sheet rocks screws between the two pieces of wood.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_514.jpg
This is what the sandwich looks like. For this panel, only about 1/4" of overhang is required.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_515.jpg
Here I am gently hammering the metal over the form...hence the name "hammerform". To get the metal to round down over the corners, it has to shrink. As you hammer it down, it pops up a 'tuck' in the curve, you then hammer directly on the tuck and it drives the metal into itself causing it to shrink.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_516.jpg
This is a finesse process, not brute force. Eventually the metal will shrink and fit tightly over the form.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_518.jpg
The metal was then marked for a 1/4" lip (arbitrary decision on my part) and trimmed with tin snips.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6252/D_520.jpg
Working a hammerform is the simplest technique in metal shaping. It's actually much more difficult to cut the oval hole. As soon as I get the actual size nailed down, I'll make a template that I can use with a drag tip on the plasma cutter. The plasma is a bit messy but will be very fast (read that less expensive if I decide to sell some of these).
I'm on the schedule to do a Metal Shaping 101 seminar at the Dothan rally next year. If anyone is interested, I can make one of these during the seminar or later. And folks that are interested can try their hand at it. It's not magic.
I'm not sure what the final configuration of the lights will be. If the lights I found today put out enough light to be useful when backing up, I can put them between the two red lights or below. Also not sure if I will polish the aluminum (I hate polishing aluminum) or paint it. I'm thinking paint at this point.
Anyway, that is the process.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193210 is a reply to message #193202] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 18:45 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| n6mon wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 18:27 |
It is hard to tell from the pictures, but do these lights incorporate
the federally required reflectors in them? One of the things that get
the clear tail light crowd in trouble with John Law is that they do NOT
have the minimum required reflectors incorporated in the lenses.
|
Don't know but I'm pretty sure there are reflectors surrounding the bulbs. These things are a bjillion times brighter than the single 1157 bulb that is OEM equipment on our coaches.
I can't imagine a LEO complaining about them.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
[Updated on: Mon, 17 December 2012 18:45] Report message to a moderator |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193219 is a reply to message #193216] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 19:19 |
armandminnie
Messages: 864
Registered: May 2009
Location: Marana, AZ
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I bought some LED replacement bulbs a while ago and tried them as just replacement bulbs but they were lousy. Not bright enough. Since I owned them I was just going to leave them in but when I turned my headlights on - if I remember correctly - my turn signals quit working. I never bothered to try to figure out why, probably a grounding problem. Also, there may be a problem with the electronic cruise control not disengaging. That can be circumvented by using Emery's wiring method (I did it but I don't remember what it was).
Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II TZE166V103202
visit my gmc blog
click here to visit gmcws.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193252 is a reply to message #193216] |
Mon, 17 December 2012 23:43 |
mickeysss
Messages: 1476
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
they may work great in a trailer hitch hole type light.
mickey
77 palm beach
455
anaheim ca.
On Dec 17, 2012, at 5:08 PM, Kerry Pinkerton wrote:
>
>
> armandminnie wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 18:52
>> ...would like details on what you had to do to make them electrically compatible. Did you have to add a resistor or anything?
>
>
> Armand, I did nothing except twist the two red, black, and white wires together and solder into the 1157 base. I'm electrically challenged so someone else will have to tell us if we need to do anything extra. Ken B or Ken H perhaps.... I can measure any resistance needed.
>
> My 'thinking' was that if these were designed for trailer lights, they'd be compatible with most wiring harnesses which would imply that they would be OK without anything else. At least that is what I assume. :roll: 8o 8o 8o 8o
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Prototype LED new design tail light assembly [message #193257 is a reply to message #193213] |
Tue, 18 December 2012 03:59 |
 |
mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| armandminnie wrote on Mon, 17 December 2012 16:52 |
They are DOT approved and they are currently on sale. I would like details on what you had to do to make them electrically compatible. Did you have to add a resistor or anything?
|
As they are "Harbor Freight submersible boat lights" they are already designed to work on 12v.
IE: No resistors or anything required to make them work.
If you do not like this style, I suspect there are other styles around.
Also:
-- Being (DOT approved) trailer lights they should have reflectors already, but if they do not, reflectors can be placed elsewhere. Like on the bumper with the to-be-added back-up lights. Reflectors of some kind are a must... imagine a completely dead batteries, stalled engine at the bottom of an unlit off-ramp... on a dark night. I do not have to imagine, just remember. It happened to me in my '73.
-- To ensure safety, some electronic cruise controls need a GROUND through the brake light bulbs and will not ENGAGE with LED bulbs. (This is due to high resistance (low current) of LED's compared to filament bulbs.) Having many LED bulbs (like Kerry) might give enough current to allow the system to work just fine. But if not, there are other methods of wiring.
-- Having the lights on a curve and "covering" different parts of the road behind you is a very good "unexpected feature" that you should try and duplicate in any follow-on units. LED light normally have a narrow "beam" pattern. One of the reasons they do so poorly in "replacement bulb" applications that use reflectors. (Like OEM and "gen 2" tail lights.)
Good work Kerry. I have been thinking about doing something about the tail lights... but so far I have been more thinking than doing. 
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
