ArcTec34 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 built two "third" brake lights.. one for my own taupe lgt and one for a spare black/dark interior third brake light.. probably will sell it.. I'll post pics tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 hokay. so. I didn't use and lm317 regulators or any regulators in general for the 3rd brake lights.. I figured that since the LEDs are in series of 6, an input voltage of 13.5/6 versus 12/6 is 2.25 instead of 2, and these LEDs can handle that until I get newer sharp regulators which are move efficient. some pics: the stock bulb without the red lens (its a white bulb!) so not all of the light makes it through the red cover. and. it gets hot as hell! http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04939.JPG the breadboard with 18 LEDs (3 series of 6) http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04934.JPG http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04935.JPG inside the stock fitting http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04948.JPG lights on! http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04942.JPG red cover on http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04944.JPG http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04946.JPG So i decided that I don't like the staggered top where the 3 center LEDs are a little higher.. thought it would look better with the shape of the light but it doesn't... so I'll redo it tomorrow :-p other than that, 18 LEDs are brighter than the one bulb, also, the light distibution within the fixture is much better, and evenly spread out unlike the one bulb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flander Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 If you sell the extra one, I would like to be first on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 OOOOHH.. make me one?? "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 haha. yeah I think I'll try to sell some of these. just trying to figure out logistics. I have one extra black 3rd brake light. I could sell it and have the buyer send me their old one when they get it or something... I'll also try to find some people that have removed one for their third brake light.. because buying one OEM is such a ripoff! no one would ever buy it then.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 That looks hella bright! <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 installed in on the car.. I actualy took out the entire back seat to get mine off, only to find that the cord to disconnect it is right by the window.. taking the seat out really is quite easy, but you probably don't even need to. http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/0510091403.jpg http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04954.JPG http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04959.JPG http://berzindesign.com/Thirdbrake/DSC04962.JPG my "Lehigh" sticker is in the way, I'll have to move that now that I actually like how the 3rd brake light looks.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTGT Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Nice, So you have LEDS in the rear tail lights and the 3rd brake light? Looks very clean my friend. Can you install on my car please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 tail lights are not LED.. yet. Next week. I need a few more regulators before I can begin that. So.. I have an extra LED 3rd brake light.. in black.. EDIT: I updated the pics that are a couple posts up.. I moved the "lehigh" sticker out of the way and its at night.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 nice work. Let us know when you work out the logistics on selling those. I'm not sure what part you need to do this? The wire harness? I assume for "production" models you plan to drop the 3 top center LEDs back in line with the others? I have a factory spoiler with the LED integrated 3rd brake light so I could probably go w/o for a few days in the window.. but I dunno if a cop would agree with me if someone rearends me and uses it as an excuse. also just one idea and this may not be feasible, but if you could find out what type of bulb was in there previously, you could source a solderable plug of that type, and make your LED conversion a drop-in that wont require anyone sending something in. It may increase cost a little more tho. i know they sell solderable 3157 dongles on some LED speciality sites but I dont know much about japanese stuff as this is my 1st import car heh, so I'm still learning after 3 years and 62k miles "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flander Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 also just one idea and this may not be feasible, but if you could find out what type of bulb was in there previously, you could source a solderable plug of that type, and make your LED conversion a drop-in that wont require anyone sending something in. It may increase cost a little more tho. i know they sell solderable 3157 dongles on some LED speciality sites but I dont know much about japanese stuff as this is my 1st import car heh, so I'm still learning after 3 years and 62k miles The third brake light bulb is 7440. You an check out the other bulbs here. All you have to do is search he forum and somebody has done it or knows something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 I've looked around and can't find any type of connector for the socket... hm.. but that would be a better method. and yes, for the next one that I've made I has two straight lines of LEDs, instead of the "staggered" row on mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 I could just run two wirs so they'd fit through the hole that usually houses the bulb, and they could be vampire/t-clamped onto the harness... its a little more crude than the connector, but I can't find any... help me!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 buy a bulb and break it. I'll look around, I had a hard time finding the 3157 ones tho so I cant promise anything. "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 haha I have a bunch of extra bulbs, but the connectors are part of the bulb- just one glass piece.. =( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 hey check this out. http://autolumination.com/connectors.htm 7443 - 7440 (Clear) T20 Wedge Base http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/3157socket.jpg you will still have to have the wires that run into it from the looks of things tho. at .59 cent it may work. I guess you could fill it with clear epoxy after you run the wires into it. actually.. scratch that.. check this out.. scrolled down a bit and found this one: http://www.superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/194_base_wm.jpg $2.99 ea. "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 ok. so i ordered sockets! now I need to see how many I can make.. gunna run outta LEDs before I even get to my tail lights.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 well the 3rd brake light is easier to do and you may sell more of those (if you'd planned to sell the tails) "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 ha no I'd never want to sell tails.. I've put so much effort into them already, I'd never be able to charge enough :-p I spent two hours using an exacto knife to pluck out the melted plastic from when I dremeled them open, and then I sanded the edges so it will look nice when I seal them back up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 ANYWAY I have enough parts to make 5 LED third brake lights for the time being. Each will be just the LED PCB which will fit snugly into the housing. I'll plug into the stock 7440 bulb socket. Preliminary price will be $40 plus shipping. flander has dibs for one if he wants.. I'll make a final version tomorrow, it'll consist of 15 LEDs, 8 in the bottom row and 7 in the top row.. should be brighter than mine..which I'll be redoing as well 1. flander 2. 3. 4. 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 For $40 or so, I'll support a brother's project. I'm #2. Let me know how you want payment, Arc. <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 put me down if you can wait till june for payment. I'm getting some major work done on the car right now and haven't gotten the bill. edit: you do have paypal right? "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAyala Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 As long as its an easy install like done and map light im down 1. flander 2. TSI+WRX 3. RAyala 4. 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 ya skipped me. 1. flander 2. TSI+WRX 3. DarkFox1 4. RAyala 5. "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 payment will be through paypal, will be making the final version of the light today.. ill keep you posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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