Luxeon / LED replacement for US-spec brake light?

[StoneDog]

Hi all, I tried searching but couldn't find much about using Luxeon or 5mm Nichia arrays to replace US-spec brake light lamps. I've got a 96 Volvo 850 who's third brake light is a pain in the arse to replace. I'd love to come up with a Luxeon or Nichia-based replacement (with or without the stock clear red diffuser).

Has anyone done anything similar to this and/or is there somewhere I can got to read up?

Thanks,

Jon

[highlandsun]

Read the "Luxeon Turn Signals" thread in this forum. Check out the app note on the LumiLEDs web site. It'll tell you everything you need to know to create a brake light that meets legal specs.

[CanadianGuy]

Hey, There's a company called Truck-Lite (www.truck-lite.com) that makes a new lens piece (mostly for semi's and trailer applications though) that uses a single LED (probably a luxeon). See it at
Truck-Lite New Product
It looks like a regular incandescent trailer light, so it should be less theft prone. Maybe you could mount one of these underneath your stock lens? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[StoneDog]

Thanks guys. I read the Lumileds doc and my head is swimming. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] The Truck-Lite product might work.

Thanks again for your help.

Jon

[NightShift]

I have one of the amber truck lite (60-)LED arrays. I was going to fit it for one of my front turn signals, but never got around to it.

[highlandsun]

For a CHMSL you can get a pre-fab array of six LEDs from LumiLeds, ready to plug in to a 12V power supply. The data sheet is http://www.lumileds.com/pdfs/protected/DS29.PDF (you have to register, no big deal)

Obviously it would be easy enough to mount six red-orange SnapLEDs yourself if you were so inclined. Come to think of it, I mght just pop out my incandescent CHMSL for one of these. The arrays come in three brightness levels, with the dimmest (19-30lm) presumably for an exposed/through-the-glass mount, and the brightest (36-58lm) for a behind-the-glass mount. A single 1W LS will easily provide this amount of light, but I think it might be better using 6 smaller LEDs to get an even distribution of light across the rectangular mount. Hm, I've got an extra red low-dome sitting here. Might have to try it and see how it looks.

Oh, I suppose it's also better to use a bunch of small LEDs in series instead of a single LS. Dropping 13.8V down to 2.2V @350mA requires a resistor/regulator, and it's gonna get real hot.

[Unicorn]

I don't suppose that the original bulb is an 1157? If it is, there are LED lamps that are direct replacements. JC Whitney has them.

[highlandsun]

If you still believe that after reading this forum, I've got some prime Florida swam^H^H^H^Hreal estate to sell you.