1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Updated to v.3 1w-SE**

Just wanted to share something I made for a friend (surprisingly not for me first). My second version of an automotive single filament 1156 bulb modded with a Q1H. Only difference from this version and version 1 is the heatsink slug potted to the bottom of the luxeon.

I will post some beamshots, or should I say of them being in use, after they are installed. I also made him some fender sidemarker turnsignals using amber Star/O's which I will also post pics of when I see him.

Parts used:
Stanley (Japan) 1156 Bulb Base
Q1HW Luxeon Star
Elektrolumens Ground Star
Solid 6061 Aluminum Rod 1/2" (coudn't find 9/16" which is a better fit)
1W 22ohm resistor (estimated 407.73ma)
26awg Teflon wire
Artic Silver Epoxy
Devcon 5min. Clear Epoxy




Appreciate any comments/suggestions. thx for viewing

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2

Nice!

Have you got any "action" photos of it in use?

Looks like plenty of hearsinking there if the bulb base is connected to metal...

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

Thank you Lambda! In version 1, I was worried about heat issues which is why I re-did them with the alumn. slugs. Now I'm not worried at all and since they're not on for long periods of time there's barely any heat if at all. I potted the alumn. heatsink slug and GroundStar to the 1156 base using Artic Silver epoxy.

Here's some "action" pics:

In the reverse light @ 400ma:


In the turn signals @ 400ma
(unexpectedly shines a nice yellow, IMO, although the lens is amber. I like it!):


Hazard lights (pic caught just after it's full brightness):




Here's some pics of the fender sidemarker signal lights I made using an Amber Star/O with the NX-05 still intact. Artic Silver'd a finned heatsink to the back of the Star/O board. The stock "push-in wedge bulb" socket's hole was enlarged and the Star/O's optic holder was epoxied to the sidemarker's housing. A perfect fit. Running @ 300ma.

(They actually look more yellowish than amber than it appears in the pic but not as yellow as the turn signals)





And again, appreciate any feedback & thanx for looking.

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

Kewl, the lemon yellow from the amber lens is a very nice touch!

Very nice work. Those are some great custom LED lights. Thanks for the photos, I know it takes time to take/post them.

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

Very Nice !!

Klaus

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

Sweet yellow color. What car is that? Yellow lights like that would look great on a black sports car /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

hehe, if you seen the whole car you wouldn't believe me if I told you but it's not your average POS 91' Ford Escort. To this day I don't beleive it is. The car is basically a Mazda more than a Ford. The stock engine is made by Mazda just has a Ford Valve cover. Even the engine's wiring harness and ECU is basically Mazda.

This car is being built as a SCCA type road race car. Has a Japanese Mazda 323 GTZ 1.6L turbo engine in it, it's WRX blue in color, has a 4 point chromoly roll cage in it, 17" Dronell wheels, Wilwood brakes all around including the Wilwood 4 piston calipers in the front. Full digital guages, power folding mirrors at the push of a button, European spec BMW 3 series projector headlights with HID, blue carbon fiber hood, 72 5mm red LEDs third brake light assy. (also built by me), Mugen exhaust from a Honda, Cusco lower tie bars, JIC adjustable pillow ball mounts.
Well these are just a few of the mods that I can remember off hand, those that stand out. The list goes on & on and well surpassed the value of the car a long time ago. I can take some pics of it for those who are intersted if you like.
Like I said you gotta see it to beleive as I know the thought in your head..."it's a 91 Escort how clean could it possibly look!" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

any legal issues with any of these?

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

[ QUOTE ]
ChrisM said:
any legal issues with any of these?

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a good question, never thought of that. I'm curious too. Although the car that these are on is pretty "illegal" to be on the road anyways. It's used as an "off-road" car but is still registered.

I don't see why it would be illegal for street use.
Many new cars & motorcycles are starting to use 8mm LEDs for brake lights. Just to name a few, the latest BMW 3 series, 7 series, Mercedes 500s, Infinity G35 coupe, Yamaha R1, Suzuki GSX-R all are using 8mm LEDs for brake lights. An older year Cadillac Catera is using LEDs for the rear turn signals. The 2000 Cadillac Deville is the first car that I've seen to use LED taillights and this was four years ago. The Deville uses a whole mess of 5mm LEDs. Even a lot of commercial semi-trucks, tow-trucks, and public transit buses are also using LED taillights and signals. It was just a matter of time before automobiles started to use LED lighting. That time is here.

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

yeah have you been pulled over or any thing. and dark i know what you are saying because i am buying some of the led tail lights for my 72 vw beatle baja that and i am trying to come up with something for a head light peice that i can put in 7 inch circle i am trying to stay street legal but i also want to be able to see in front of me good just my 2 cents and a question

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

[ QUOTE ]
BLU3_SHOCK said:
yeah have you been pulled over or any thing. and dark i know what you are saying because i am buying some of the led tail lights for my 72 vw beatle baja that and i am trying to come up with something for a head light peice that i can put in 7 inch circle i am trying to stay street legal but i also want to be able to see in front of me good just my 2 cents and a question

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, the car that these are installed in is not mine, it's a good friend of mine. The car doesn't see the streets much as it has too much money dumped into it. It's one of those "why spend so much money on it and can't drive it/more money put into it than it's worth" cars. I'm sure it'll get pulled over for a lot more things than it's reverse and signal lights first. It doesn't seem like the lights draw any real noticable attention to get pulled over for. The only thing that appears to be different from stock is how instantly turn off and on as opposed to "powering down" with the original filament bulbs.

I don't think you will ever get pulled over for it intentionally.

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

I attempted to make some red signal bulbs for my car's taillights. The hard part is my car takes wedge type bulbs. I ended up making this:


But I couldn't get the light to bounce off the full reflector - maybe 3/4 at most. I will try again when it gets warmer.

I would like if I could have someone fabricate an 1157 bulb using an amber SE and bulb base, meeting at least the same quality as darkzero has shown (good heatsinking, clean).

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

Yeah, I think heatsinking is a slight issue in your SE mod... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

I'm already working on version 3 & 4, basically just an up in voltage using a LuxIII star this time. I'm just waiting on Wayne (EL) to get some more stars in. V.3 will be a side emitting star which should be in the mail soon.

Next project whenever I get the time & not anytime soon will be some 1157 dual filament brake lamps.

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I think heatsinking is a slight issue in your SE mod... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

yeh, i just wanted to see if it was bright enough first then i would add some heatsinking.

[ QUOTE ]
I'm already working on version 3 & 4, basically just an up in voltage using a LuxIII star this time. I'm just waiting on Wayne (EL) to get some more stars in. V.4 will be a side emitting star which should be in the mail soon.

Next project whenever I get the time & not anytime soon will be some 1157 dual filament brake lamps.

[/ QUOTE ]

3w SE's are coming? any idea what colors?

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

[ QUOTE ]
NightShift said:
3w SE's are coming? any idea what colors?

[/ QUOTE ]

NS, what I meant was that in my version 3, I was going to try a 1W SE like you. In my version 4, I was going to use 3Watters for a bigger taillight housing that needs more light output. Sorry if it sounded like I meant a 3W SE.

In my very first attempt at these I used a red SE emitter but due to improper heatsinking it didn't last very long. I just got some white SE stars on sale that I will use for my version 3. It's much easier for me to use stars rather than making them with emitters.

Re: 1156 Q1H Mod v.2 **Pics Posted**

im gonna order me up some SE stars instead of emitters, but wondering if the light will be blocked below the 180 degree boudary by the sink its mounted to. And im imagining the light would be useful in reaching the reflector behind it

**Updated** v.3 1156 PV1K SE Mod

I just found the time (and finally recieved the parts) to finish my 1156 v.3 automotive lamp which uses a PV1K SE running at 700ma.

They get quite toasty after close to 10min. flashing. These will only be used as signal or reverse lights so I think the heat issue will be ok. These work a bit better for larger housings and uses the lights reflector more. Version 1 was barely noticeable in the daytime. Version 2 performed better during daylight but only on a signal light with a small housing. It still wasn't acceptable though to our standards. Hopefully this one will do better during the day. The increase in current should help (v.2 was 400ma).

Again, parts used:
Stanley (Japan) 1156 Bulb Base
PV1KW Side Emitter Star
Elektrolumens Ground Star
Solid 6061 Aluminum Rod 1/2" (coudn't find 9/16" which is a better fit)
12.2ohms Resistance (estimated 695.9ma)
26awg Teflon wire
Artic Silver Epoxy
Devcon 5min. Clear Epoxy





I'll post some comparison beamshots, err, action shots I'd should say, against the v.2 Q1H HDs when I see my friend.

Here's some action shots in the meantime. The 1156 luxeon mod is on the right. The signal lenses are red but appears to look amberish in the cameras eye. The bulb on the left, BTW, is a Polarg M10 Red bulb which is very blood red.






thanks for looking!

Great bulb mod, can you post some pics about how you did the 2nd version?

Changchung said:

Great bulb mod, can you post some pics about how you did the 2nd version?

Click to expand...

Sorry, I missed your post & just came across it now. I don't exactly remember what I did in the second versions I made since it was a very long time ago, before I left CPF & came back. I totally forgot about these. Thank you for the reminiscence. I can give you pointers on how to make some if you're still interested. Probably would do it completely different these days though.

Many companies actually make bulbs like this now with Luxeons. Search "Luxeon 1156 / 1157"