| [GMCnet] LED Tail lights [message #367936] |
Fri, 10 December 2021 16:14  |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I'd like to make some custom LED taillights. I need some SMD LEDs that are the right color and bright and probably certified for automotive taillight use.
anyone out there have any knowledge of sourcing such beasts?
Everything else looks fairly straight forward
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View MN
76 exRoyale
MicroLevel
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] LED Tail lights [message #367944 is a reply to message #367936] |
Sat, 11 December 2021 07:43  |
 |
Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Keith,
Wrote this up last night and I guess I did hit submit.....
When you wrote "certified", I hope you aren't looking for SMD that are certified by DOT for the application. They don't do that. DOT posts some basic rules about apparent illuminated surface and brightness. As I recall (it should be in the books behind me, but I just got up a 8 on a Saturday morning and my brain is still in cold start mode), the important things are that the apparent area has to be like 4 square inches and tail lights should be 4 candle power and brake lights 36. This is all a kind of loosy-goosy rule, that comes around to what LEO thinks that they can enforce.
So, I don't believe that you are going to find SMD LED that the manufacturer certifies because they don't care. DOT won't say anything because specifications only apply to completed parts.
Is this for the coach or the "Dodge"? What ever, I want to see what you come up with.
Matt - going back to bed
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] LED Tail lights [message #367946 is a reply to message #367936] |
Sat, 11 December 2021 08:21 |
 |
RF_Burns
Messages: 2276
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Keith,
I tried installing a premade LED stop light assembly inside my '90's van light upgrade.
I had a spare broken tail lamp assembly for experimenting with. After cutting rear parabolic reflector I tried positioning the premade assembly inside against the lens. I found that the lens caused some LEDs to be bright while others were very dim. I thought maybe the LED lens and the GMC lens were interfering with each other, so I removed the LED lens. This worked better, but the effect was still there, the light was just not even across the lens.
Looking at the LED lens assembly there are "lenses" around each LED to focus the light. The OEM lens is designed to use a single point if light source along with a reflector. It seem to me that an LED panel would just not be compatible without designing a custom circuit board and careful positioning of the each LED behind the existing lens. That was more work than I wanted to put into it.
I ended up installing LED replacement bulbs and they worked great with the existing lenses. Much brighter and a crisper red colour.
I have seen guys with an LED panel glued inside, but didn't get to inquire as to the type of panel they used.
I'd like to hear what you come up with.
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] LED Tail lights [message #367947 is a reply to message #367936] |
Sat, 11 December 2021 09:21 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Why not just pop in a pair of GE Nighthawk 1157s and be done with it. $2.45 for 2 on my friend’s web site as he is a GE dealer. . No new flasher to buy and correct color temp and diffusion. Personally I like LEDs in factory applications but think they are tacky in retrofits.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] LED Tail lights [message #367949 is a reply to message #367936] |
Sat, 11 December 2021 12:15 |
GatsbysCruise
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
One thing I have found is the OEM tungsten bulb has a resistance that the flasher needs to make the bulbs blink properly.
When the LED lights are installed, that resistance is gone and the blink is changed, I think it stops blinking.
The HEAVY DUTY blinkers have a internal resistance for the proper blink and should take care of that problem.
Info courtesy: Burgan Amoco Station, Waukegan il
GatsbysCruise. \
74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] LED Tail lights [message #367950 is a reply to message #367936] |
Sat, 11 December 2021 12:20 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Another downside, if you drive a vehicle in winter, is ice over/ snow over happens more easily with LEDs
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
| [GMCnet] Re: LED Tail lights [message #367968 is a reply to message #367944] |
Sun, 12 December 2021 09:39 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Matt,
This would be for the GMC. I use certified loosely, spec'd, or recommended would be more precise.
I like the new style taillights, but I think they could be done better. I envision a led panel that covers the whole taillight area and has a good backup light.
Part of me also
So wants to be able display GMC for the stop function. Lol maybe not
I do understand the trouble flashers have with LEDs so I would supply an LED capable flasher
________________________________
From: Matt Colie
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2021 7:43:15 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: LED Tail lights
Keith,
Wrote this up last night and I guess I did hit submit.....
When you wrote "certified", I hope you aren't looking for SMD that are certified by DOT for the application. They don't do that. DOT posts some
basic rules about apparent illuminated surface and brightness. As I recall (it should be in the books behind me, but I just got up a 8 on a Saturday
morning and my brain is still in cold start mode), the important things are that the apparent area has to be like 4 square inches and tail lights
should be 4 candle power and brake lights 36. This is all a kind of loosy-goosy rule, that comes around to what LEO thinks that they can enforce.
So, I don't believe that you are going to find SMD LED that the manufacturer certifies because they don't care. DOT won't say anything because
specifications only apply to completed parts.
Is this for the coach or the "Dodge"? What ever, I want to see what you come up with.
Matt - going back to bed
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] LED Tail lights [message #367974 is a reply to message #367946] |
Sun, 12 December 2021 16:15 |
Jp Benson
Messages: 649
Registered: October 2011
Location: Fla
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
RF_Burns wrote on Sat, 11 December 2021 08:21Keith,
I had a spare broken tail lamp assembly for experimenting with. After cutting rear parabolic reflector I tried positioning the premade assembly inside against the lens. I found that the lens caused some LEDs to be bright while others were very dim. I thought maybe the LED lens and the GMC lens were interfering with each other, so I removed the LED lens. This worked better, but the effect was still there, the light was just not even across the lens.
Looking at the LED lens assembly there are "lenses" around each LED to focus the light. The OEM lens is designed to use a single point if light source along with a reflector. It seem to me that an LED panel would just not be compatible without designing a custom circuit board and careful positioning of the each LED behind the existing lens. That was more work than I wanted to put into it.
I saw a similar effect after installing two HF LED trailer lights in each rear tail lamp. It was much better with the HF lenses installed under the OEM lens. The HF smds' need the matching HF lens to focus the light. The OEM lenses interfere with the light pattern but the HF lights are so bright it doesn't matter. It was much effort but at the time the 1157 LED's sucked. Today's 1157 LED bulbs are really awesome.
Not that I desire to discourage anyone from being creative. There's always a better mousetrap.
JP
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
