custom LED signal marker progress PICS

[urban yan]

I really wanted to finish my bi-xenon and HID projector foglights with some LEDS, so here's a glimpse
of the next project. My buddy Greg's been hard at work retrofitting my signal markers with custom led
boards. The project is probably a few months away from being in my Jeep, but I though I'd share

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser02.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser05.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser06.jpg


The lights will be ready once we resolve the complication surrounding the lens texture. There are currently
3 different generations/versions of clear markers floating around (second photo). I wanted to go with the
original version because I wanted something with a texture close to that of the original amber markers and
taillights. The problem with those markers, unfortunately, is that they have a rectangular texture (not square)
which unevenly disperses the light. The second gen marker had horizontal lines, but again, it had too
many of those lines that dispersed the light badly.If you look at the first photo, you will notice how the
first and second gen markers allow some leds to shine brighter than others. The only solution now is to use
the third generation marker which uses a liquid clear lense.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/clearmarkers2.gif
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/clearmarkers1.gif

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

NICE!

[Slo-Sho]

Can you tell us how you achieved the Hi/Lo intesity?

[kennzz05]

well i thought i was hot shit with my led bulbs i hate you lol but ya rarely see anyone with leds at all so guess im somewhat unique would like to see pics of your fogs i also have hids but went for the single filiment ones ive been thinking of trying to frankenstein some projectors in some old crappy plastic backed headlights i have. butyour stuff looks good. i went with white bulbs for side and turn signals didnt know about all those other types of clear turn options there cool if ya could could you post where there available? thanks

[urban yan]

Can you tell us how you achieved the Hi/Lo intesity?
not sure, since these boards are being put together by my buddy. I'll ask him next time I catch up with him.



well i thought i was hot shit with my led bulbs i hate you lol but ya rarely see anyone with leds at all so guess im somewhat unique
haha. don't hate me. I'm not just doing this for myself; I'm doing this for all the XJs out there lol. If these markers work out properly I will get my buddy to give my tails the LED treatment, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. Right now we're still working out the kinks in these markers.. the goal is to keep things somewhat OEM. My buddy plans on vacuum forming an ABS plastic shell over the LEDs followed by a paint or chrome treatment (whatever looks more factory).



ive been thinking of trying to frankenstein some projectors in some old crappy plastic backed headlights i have. butyour stuff looks good. i went with white bulbs for side and turn signals didnt know about all those other types of clear turn options there cool if ya could could you post where there available? thanks
I remember seeing a guy retro Hella 90mm projectors into his XJ, but he completely ditched his headlights in favor of custom plates. I think he also had to cut into his header panel (which is allot of work for something that isn't really street legal). In the end it was easier (and probably the same price) to buy a bi-xenon kit like mine (Hella mini HID projectors are hella expensive)

Keep checking my tri-xenon thread.. I'll try to keep it updated with photos, advice, and merchant links
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=940046




.

[cjd_1986]

I have the 2nd Gen clear ones on mine /w orange bulbs no LED's though. :) I <3 them! Neighbor actually bought them for me for Christmas 2 yrs ago. I still have my old stock orange ones in a box in my closet if anyone needs them for a replacement? Used 3 of the 4 clear bulbs that were used in those for my break lights and stuff. Think I saw a post about that somewhere on here that someone was looking for some of the stock orange ones for a replacement. I'd gladly send 'em to u.

[urban yan]

Alright, here's another progress pic of the markers.. this time with the vacuum formed abs plastic covers. This is
the same process my friend uses to mold covers for custom HID retros (like the 350z projector retro in my WJ).

We're going for a near oem look, so don't pass judgment if you don't like them (yet). We're going to have the
covers painted silver first; if that doesn't look right than they're are off to the chrome shop. I'll keep everyone
posted.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-blk-sml01.jpg

[aparke4]

um thats awesome...

any plans on selling a few sets with wiring kit?

[seanyb505]

x2^ I would buy some if they look snazzy

[XJ01-08]

These might make a good solution to my where to put strobes up front dilema, just need a led flasher

[NCjeepgirl83]

Wow those look really neat! I'd like a set!

[urban yan]

Ok. Here's another update. The liquid clear lenses arrived, and the abs plastic was painted silver. I think the
markers look good, but I'm betting they'll blend in better when they're chromed (I have a chrome grill, and
my bi-xenon headlights are chrome as well). The only major problem with chrome is that it will add $40 to
the project cost. So.. any opinions?

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-silver-sml01.jpg

[NCjeepgirl83]

I like the way the clear ones look, but it's your car, so it's your choice really.
That's just my .02 cents. ;)

[urban yan]

I was referring to chroming the abs plastic covers.. NOT the clear lenses. Currently the covers are painted silver (in the above picture), but I find the color is too dark. If I get the covers chromed, I'll have less contrast between them and the LEDS... right now you can pretty much count how many LEDS were used in my retro.


.

[XJ01-08]

go get some chrome spray paint, they have it at Wal mart

[urban yan]

Chrome paint isn't what it's cracked up to be... I tried it once on my rear license plate light cover with lousy
results... and the stuff smells like hell.I spent enough on this project... it's almost too late to back down on
professional chroming.



.

[hollyxj]

Alsa paint mirra chrome paint just as good as chrome, but requires a gloss black paint with a cc before applying a little bit of a pain in the ass but it works

[XJ01-08]

The krylon chrome paint i bought from wally world worked fine for me looked shiny and it smelled like regular spray paint to me

[Ben824]

wish i had a set of those. did u do the same to the markers on the side?

[urban yan]

No. I had my side markers professionally shaved-off, but I added a set of Hella oval markers further down the header. Here's a picture of the Jeep to give you an idea. BTW. I still don't have my LED boards. My buddy was taking them to the chromers, and he got t-boned (one of the boards broke, so he has to redo it); thankfully he's ok.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/Nov2007-01.jpg

[Ben824]

oh ur that guy huh? haha i recognize ur jeep from over at jeepforum ive been doin some research on doin an HID conversion and evrytime i search it comes back with about 8 references to ur thread or an HID thread u posted in. wish i had the dough to go the route u went with urs but im gonna have to settle for a decent set of H4 housings and the bi-xenon kit with a single bulb which will work well enough for me and a buddy of mine gave me a set of projector housings for halogens bulbs off a QX4 he said they are oval shaped gonna see if i can make them work as fogs. it would be really awsome to have those LEDs in my markers too. i would love to have LEDs in the tail lights too!

[urban yan]

oh ur that guy huh? haha i recognize ur jeep from over at jeepforum ive been doin some research on doin an HID conversion and evrytime i search it comes back with about 8 references to ur thread or an HID thread u posted in. wish i had the dough to go the route u went with urs but im gonna have to settle for a decent set of H4 housings and the bi-xenon kit with a single bulb which will work well enough for me and a buddy of mine gave me a set of projector housings for halogens bulbs off a QX4 he said they are oval shaped gonna see if i can make them work as fogs. it would be really awsome to have those LEDs in my markers too.
I gave some pretty good advice on a low-buck/ PROPER hid installl here
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4849087&postcount=9,
but I'd love to see a QX4 install.


. i would love to have LEDs in the tail lights too!
oh, I'm not saying anything ;)




.




.

[Ben824]

well then ill have to keep checkin back then to find out. but yah if i can get these QX4 lights in then ill put up pics. they are some pretty cool lookin lights. one of them is missing the little plastic piece that the H4 bulb goes into and i dont have the wiring clip so i have to go junkyard hoping to find these pieces off a nissan or infiniti

[urban yan]

lol. well I know a little something about Nissan projectors in Jeeps.
Infiniti FX Bi-Xenons - Top
350Z Single Beam HIDs - Bottom

btw. check ebay for projectors.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/HIDcomparison01sml.jpg




.

[aparke4]

well whenever u get a production set of the led turn signals put me on for a pair

[urban yan]

well. the abs pieces finally got chromed. Stay tuned.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-chrome-01.jpg

[flexinxj]

i have been wanting to do this for sometime now. yours look great so far! put me on the list, i want some!!!

[Nomercy]

looks pretty freakin awsome. would like to see a set of smoked lenses on them.

[urban yan]

Well... the project is getting closer to completion.
Here's some pics

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-chrome-sml02.jpg




.

[tcm glx]

Those are sweet...where can I get a set?

[Begster]

That is really looking good. Where did you or your friend get the LED's and the boards? I've been looking to do something along these lines for taillights.

[lancey3]

Update?

[urban yan]

My buddy's MIA right now. I threw him an email last week and again today, but no luck. I know he's been super busy -- trying to make some extra loot for a new car ever since his lude got tboned.

[urban yan]

UPDATE: More project hiccups
The markers in the first post had to be scrapped because the wiring was incorrect. Sadly that means
we'll need new vacuum formed bezels to fit the new boards. Anyways, here are the pics of the new boards:


http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser07.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser08.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser09.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser10.jpg

[besthaticouldo]

thats still gonna be pretty damn sick when hes done...i cant wait to see it.

[aparke4]

when you to the point of production - put me down for a set! thats great with the piggyback molex connector which should make for an easy install electrical wise

[keebler]

What is the cost up to without the hicup.

I am so down for a set too.

[urban yan]

UPDATE: abs plastic
The plastic just got molded around the led boards. Now it needs to be trimmed and chromed before the markers get assembled.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser12.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser13.jpg

[NickThePyro]

Any price estimates? Im interested

[urban yan]

I know allot of guys have-been asking about the price, but I don't want to get into costs until these LEDS are finished, and actually working properly. There's still allot that can wrong... unfortunately.

[#1 Moses]

Very nice work And I think I get carried away some times LOL Keep us posted you guys have talent.

[KillerCOM]

any thoughts about 1st gen cherokee's. something like this would be killer on my 'manche.

[urban yan]

any thoughts about 1st gen cherokee's. something like this would be killer on my 'manche.

It depends on the texture of your lens. If the texture is square than you're good to go for a retro.
If it has a rectangular texture than it will disperse the LED light unevenly (and ultimately defeat the point of doing the retro).

[urban yan]

I just got a pic of the new shrouds done in black chrome. My buddy told they might look black in the picture,
but they actually look like gun metal black in person. He said the pictures can't describe the real look of the
finish. Hey I waited a year for these things, I can wait a bit more to see them in person lol

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-blkchrome-01.jpg

[BlueGerbil]

Two sets for a pre-97 Cherokee, please! :patriot:

[REDXJ4FUN]

wow those look great and they should be bright as hell.

[aparke4]

sweet! lemme know when you got a set for my 99!

[Talyn]

Ita about damn time!! Looks good though.

[Timmy2XJS]

name your price and ill take a set for my 88!

[urban yan]

Look what arrived today!!! I have to say black chrome is damn-near impossible to photograph.
It always comes out looking like high-gloss black when it's really more like a tinted mirror.


http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-blkchrome-home02.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-blkchrome-home03.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-blkchrome-home04.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-blkchrome-home05.jpg

[Timmy2XJS]

hell yea man! wow! i love em.

[Talyn]

Looks good... now make the rest of the front match.. or install your supercharger...

[urban yan]

Looks good... now make the rest of the front match.. or install your supercharger...
what supercharger? lol

[swbooking]

Nice work, those look awesome.

[DCB]

Price? they look great!

[John(XJ)Jeep]

They look really nice. Quick question here since it looks like no one has asked. Are these marker lights serviceable? I only ask because if I were to make something like this and a LED burnt out it would drive me insane and I have to change it out. I know that LED's have a long life and the possibility of them burning out is very little but there is still a chance though.

[DCB]

Good question. Replacing them in some cars can be rather expensive.

Peace

[aparke4]

sweet any chance for a production run? i would buy a set

[NickThePyro]

sweet any chance for a production run? i would buy a set
.

[urban yan]

Price? they look great!
Well. These markers cost me roughly $200.... that included new signal markers, various parts, chroming, and shipping. I asked my buddy if he wanted me to send business his way, and he told me he's going to stick with headlight retrofits. He said these projects are too time consuming, and too difficult for him to assemble. Having said that, I'm sure he could be coaxed into making another set if someone really wanted one badly enough (but I'm sure the price would be higher).


They look really nice. Quick question here since it looks like no one has asked. Are these marker lights serviceable? I only ask because if I were to make something like this and a LED burnt out it would drive me insane and I have to change it out. I know that LED's have a long life and the possibility of them burning out is very little but there is still a chance though.
The bad news is they'd have to be sent back and disassembled to resolder a new LED on the board. The good news is that LEDs last for a very long time.

[zluster]

Well. These markers cost me roughly $200.... that included new signal markers, various parts, chroming, and shipping. I asked my buddy if he wanted me to send business his way, and he told me he's going to stick with headlight retrofits. He said these projects are too time consuming, and too difficult for him to assemble. Having said that, I'm sure he could be coaxed into making another set if someone really wanted one badly enough (but I'm sure the price would be higher).



The bad news is they'd have to be sent back and disassembled to resolder a new LED on the board. The good news is that LEDs last for a very long time.

Why not just a kit of the parts? I can sling a soldering iron, I can't make a PCB.

[urban yan]

I'm sure he could hook you up with the boards (in post #34) if you asked.
Drop me a PM if you're really interested.. I'll give you his email address.

[Talyn]

Any action shots yet?

[urban yan]

It was pissing rain all day, so I didn't install them yet, but I managed to take a decent
pic of the black chrome finish. It's a really strange color... sometimes it looks like gloss
black, sometimes it looks like chrome.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/LEDteaser-blkchrome-home06.jpg

[Crusher16]

DROOL

[aparke4]

DROOL

ya - i might be tempted to order a set we will see - that is just too cool

[urban yan]

well there's a problem with the boards

Here's an action shot of the driver's side marker (it works like a charm)
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-avi-drivers.flv

but here's what's happening with the passengers side marker.
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-avi-passengers.flv

and depending which socket I use... i get this very uncool flashing HID foglight effect lol
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-avi-passengers-fog2.flv

I just emailed my buddy to see what he can do.

[Talyn]

Sux about the board. But.. the flashing HID fog effect? Is that when you have the turn signal on? Fogs on or off?

[urban yan]

Sux about the board. But.. the flashing HID fog effect? Is that when you have the turn signal on? Fogs on or off?
turn signal on. fogs off.... and that only happens when I use the other 3157 socket.

[XJRocket]

turn signal on. fogs off.... and that only happens when I use the other 3157 socket.

WTF, over?

[urban yan]

yeah, the passenger-side board was wired incorrectly. The LEDs are over the place.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/dead.jpg

[96TNXJ]

well thats just cool lol

[SonicCougar99]

I apologize for the bump, but I have a question. I'm pretty good with LED wiring on a board, where did you get the lens covers from? If I was able to get the covers and a set of junkyard turn signal assemblies for the back, I could probably put something together fairly simply. BTW, this would be for a pre-97 XJ.

[hubs97xj]

Look like your standard clear turn signals.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-01-JEEP-CHEROKEE-EURO-CLEAR-CORNER-BUMPER-LIGHTS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a15Q7c66Q3a 2Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q 3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem19b4598ae 5QQitemZ110399949541QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPa rtsQ5fAccessories#ebayphotohosting

[urban yan]

^ that version had too many lines for the retro, so we went the 3rd gen markers. I posted a pic on the first page.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/clearmarkers1.gif

[urban yan]

Well I got the markers back today, and I'm ready to call this project a failure. The LEDs are worst after the repair (if you can believe that). Moreso, the guy won't try repairing them again (he's given up). My only hope would be to ask the guy working on the LED tail light project to repair them (if that's at all possible). Here's a video breakdown of the my problems.


DRIVERS SIDE - parking lights are off - LEDs are very dim, middle LEDs don't work.
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-DRIVERS-parkoff-no_middle.flv

DRIVERS SIDE - parking lights are on- LEDs are dim, middle LEDs don't work
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-DRIVERS-parkon-everything_works.flv

PASSENGERS SIDE - parking lights are off - 2 right LEDs don't work
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-PASSENGER-parkoff-2_on_right_do.flv

PASSENGERS SIDE - parking lights are off - drivers side flashing 0 passenger side LEDs (the ones that didn't work before) are woking
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-PASSENGER-parkoff-2_stay_on.flv

PASSENGERS SIDE - parking lights are on - 2 right LEDs won't turn off
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-PASSENGER-parkon-2_on_right_alw.flv

PASSENGERS SIDE - parking lights are on - 2 right LEDs won't turn off, but now the 3 additional LEDs on the bottom don't work.
http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/?action=view&current=LED-PASSENGER-parkon-all_over_the_p.flv




.

[DanMan2k06]

Dang that sucks. I was pretty pumped to see these things actually work. I dunno how it could have gone so wrong? I mean LED's can cause some funky things if you directly replace halogen's with them, but in the end it's a polarized + and - ... I might have to do a little R&D.

[redneckboarder]

man that sucks those would look really nice...any idea what went wrong? bad circutry or something else?

[urban yan]

Everything is squirrely with this project. These markers were set-up to use only one of the 3157 sockets (you leave the second one empty). You had to watch for polarity when you plugged the markers into the socket or nothing would work, and if you used the other socket - the foglights would flash. Personally, I'm at a loss, and I'm out a fair chunk of change (when you consider the return shipping, customs, and exchange rates).

All I can do now is wait for John (the tail light guy) to get back to me. Maybe he can help.

[Talyn]

I would have sent them to John instead back to that original clown. Are the parking lights suppose to be dimmer than the flasher, or should the flasher be the same brightness, but just flashes?

[urban yan]

The LEDs are brighter when the parking lights are on. They're extremely dim (flashing or otherwise) when the parking
lights are off. I had no idea that was going to happen; they're not bright enough in daylight with the parking lights off.

I didn't know John when I shipped the markers back for repair, and I wouldn't-have met him if it wasn't for all the drama
this guy caused me. I spoke with John after I posted those vids; he'll try to repair the markers, but he also said he may
have to start this project from scratch. Considering he's busy with our tail lights I doubt this project will see completion
anytime soon. Anyways here are the last two pics of the failed project. Hopefully I'll be able to revive this thread
in the future with some good news.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Lights/Broken02.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Lights/Broken01.jpg

[NCjeepgirl83]

Man that just sucks! I was hoping everything would work out well in the end, and was thinking of getting myself a pair of all went well.

[o-gauge-steamer]

Just curious... Why a 6 ohm resistor? Usually, I use a 1K to current limit the LEDs. A 6 Ohm will cause a rather large voltage drop.

[urban yan]

I dropped John an email to ask about the resistor.

Actually, he had the boards completed in August except for one LED that refused to light no matter what he tried. He has another guy looking over the boards for some input right now. I can tell you that we're both convinced this project's cursed.

[urban yan]

oh my bad, If you're referring to the last pic, that's not a current limiting item. It's a load equalizer to eliminate flasher problems and having the leds lit at all times.

[Talyn]

Just curious... Why a 6 ohm resistor? Usually, I use a 1K to current limit the LEDs. A 6 Ohm will cause a rather large voltage drop.

The resistor value should be calculated for the leds in use based on voltage drop, number of leds, and leds current rating.

[el_roy1985]

Would have been a great product, had it worked out properly. Wonder what exactly is causing the lighting problems. Would think wiring a bunch of LEDs together would be pretty straight forward. Then after they are all wired and working, just have the other things to figure out like a dim setting for the parking lights and full brightness for the blinker. Must be something I am missing.

Messed around with LEDs before, but never actually made a blinker out of them.

[DanMan2k06]

What kind of LED's are you using? Brand-wise that is. Some superflux LED's just suck right out of the box. I've always had good luck with bestofhongkong.

Have you considered doing a PWM setup? Seems like at this point it would be MUCH easier than trying to go off of the Jeep's stock turn system. I'm almost convinced some of your issues have to be in quality control or bad wiring, but who knows...

[urban yan]

It's teaser time folks.
There's a couple glitches we still need to iron out, but we're getting closer.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/2011-led-wip01.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb146/urban-yan/Jeep/2011-led-wip04.jpg

[willsmysticcobra]

awesome. Good to see you have not given up!

[urban yan]

I have four years sunk into these markers. I'm convinced they're cursed, but I refuse to give up... even if it takes another four.

The original version was destroyed in a car wreck (the builder was taking it to the chromers when he got t-boned). The second version had burned out LEDs (among other BS). This, latest version, literally got lost in the mail... they had to hunt down the parcel, and reship it. It also dims when I turn on my headlights, and the left signal indicator light stays on permanently (except when I actually use the left turn signal that is).

[DanMan2k06]

I really don't understand how these things can be so botched time after time. It all comes down to power and ground. You're using a pulse width modulator correct? And from the countless things I've dissected in my heep I've found Chrysler's wiring diagrams are pretty easy to read. NOT correct at times, but understandable.

[urban yan]

These things are getting "botched" because they're more complicated than you give them credit to be. Having said that, I can PM you John's email address, and you can discuss the schematic with him. I'm sure he can hook you up with a set of led boards in return (or at least sell you a set close to cost).

[davidson99XJ]

um thats awesome...

any plans on selling a few sets with wiring kit?

if so i would be VERY interested in a black set.....

[Talyn]

LEDs are a bit more complicated than power and ground. Things like resistors, led voltage, etc. And it gets especially complicated with many LEDs and making them flash and/or dim.

[DanMan2k06]

^ I understand it can get complex, but you can implement tools that essentially do this for you. Adjustable pulse width modulators are perfect for this. Takes out a ton of the resistors and much less soldering. Get your max milliamps and forward wattage figured out, and leave the "dimming" to the strobe effect of the pulse width modulator. Set the duty cycle of the PWM for how dim you want them to be during turns and you're in business. Much easier to just buy a premade microcontroller than it would be to actually assemble and solder an entire board. It gets even easier when you use 'snap' LED's and some custom acid washed printer circuit boards. Design your circuit, snap in the LED's in the proper series, and hook it all up to the controller.

You can even keep the stock "back and fourth" turn function where the front signal flashes and alternates with the one on the side of the header panel. Just put a few blocking diodes in the power feeds so the current can't backtrack.

If this were just a few LED's it'd be a snap. But with dozens of them like in this project, you're right, it can get really confusing trying to regulate and feed them all. Most PWM's can handle around 1.5 amps max, which is where you have to do some calculating. If all the LEDs in the array pull less than that at the design current then you can use it without further regulation/modification.

This thread has been deceased for a while, I'm gonna have to go back to the beginning and re-read it to get up to speed again.

Edit: Alright just re-read the whole thread. I see the boards were indeed custom printed, but with those LED"s all whacked out the way they are they seem to just be wired in wrong on the boards. Poor planning or printing? I have no idea. I'll get with some buddies and put together a schematic, and hopefully I can find the time to slap together a demo board. Won't be inside your slick vacuum formed housing, but I'll make sure to get the same amount of diodes and the same functions you're trying to achieve. This is a very possible project....

[Ben824]

if so i would be VERY interested in a black set.....

x3! I would definitely want a set if you decided to sell them

[NickThePyro]

x3! I would definitely want a set if you decided to sell them
X4 :thumbup:

[BlueGerbil]

X4 :thumbup:

x5 :clap:

[urban yan]

I just ordered an EP27 LED flasher module along with some LED protectors from autoillumination in an effort to eliminate the load resistors (they get too hot, too fast). I also sent John some pics of the 3157 plugs so he can make sure they were wired properly. I'm almost certain they're not... which is probably what's causing the signal indicator to stay solid.

I'll keep everyone posted.

[CherBear]

^ I understand it can get complex, but you can implement tools that essentially do this for you. Adjustable pulse width modulators are perfect for this. Takes out a ton of the resistors and much less soldering. Get your max milliamps and forward wattage figured out, and leave the "dimming" to the strobe effect of the pulse width modulator. Set the duty cycle of the PWM for how dim you want them to be during turns and you're in business. Much easier to just buy a premade microcontroller than it would be to actually assemble and solder an entire board. It gets even easier when you use 'snap' LED's and some custom acid washed printer circuit boards. Design your circuit, snap in the LED's in the proper series, and hook it all up to the controller.

You can even keep the stock "back and fourth" turn function where the front signal flashes and alternates with the one on the side of the header panel. Just put a few blocking diodes in the power feeds so the current can't backtrack.

If this were just a few LED's it'd be a snap. But with dozens of them like in this project, you're right, it can get really confusing trying to regulate and feed them all. Most PWM's can handle around 1.5 amps max, which is where you have to do some calculating. If all the LEDs in the array pull less than that at the design current then you can use it without further regulation/modification.

This thread has been deceased for a while, I'm gonna have to go back to the beginning and re-read it to get up to speed again.

Edit: Alright just re-read the whole thread. I see the boards were indeed custom printed, but with those LED"s all whacked out the way they are they seem to just be wired in wrong on the boards. Poor planning or printing? I have no idea. I'll get with some buddies and put together a schematic, and hopefully I can find the time to slap together a demo board. Won't be inside your slick vacuum formed housing, but I'll make sure to get the same amount of diodes and the same functions you're trying to achieve. This is a very possible project....

Lights go on, lights go off, you can't explain that.

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz214/JeepXJ825/4dce75c132082f3798fe7185371b671a.jpg

[DanMan2k06]

^ I must have missed something...