LED Third Brake Light, My Newest Design Options

[Special_Edy]

So I originally built a 58 Red LED third brake light and was dissatisfied with the result-








It was only about as bright as the OEM incandescent so it was back to the drawingboard.

I finally had time today to solder this together, it uses 97 5mm White LEDs(the maximum amount I could cram in). The current draw is apx. 9 watts and the service life is apx. 100,000 hours. It is bright like headlight bright.





First Layer of 57 LEDs-







Second layer of 40 LEDs, Finished!!!!!!-











And finally Video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh44hn_EBz4


If there is enough interest I may make some of these for 6gc members as well as some of the other exterior lights.

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: Nov 24, 2012 - 3:01 AM

[broderp]

Interesting idea. Did you calculate the current flow thru each LED to utilize the proper size current limiting resiztor and optimize the output of the LED? I've seen many circuits that use the wrong sized resistors, this leads to dim LED or worse, overdriving the LED's and damaging them. (Will dim or just not work)

Also, based on the picture of the side marker light on your Celica, your not in the USA, do you have any restrictions on how bright a light can be? Seems to me that here in the USA, if I have a rear tail lamp as bright as a headlight, I'd probably get a ticket! lol So one like your first design with 50+ LEDS may be a better alternative.


Nice job.