LED Third Brake Light & 100Watt Backup Lights

[capt512]

This is an update thread to some I had previously made asking about LED CHMSL etc. This is what I went with and some pictures of it if anyone is wondering.

1st -
The LED CHMSL, I used a Sirennet 6LED Economy Lighthead (http://www.sirennet.com/snsml26.html) in RED/RED of course. This lighthead comes with an internal flasher just FYI (thats one of the reasons you are paying more I guess?) but you can put it on steady burn and not have any flashing. Despite being a Sirennet brand economy lighthead, it has typical TIR design and brightness. This is no cheap dim light, it is VERY bright, and having compared Whelen LEDs, Showme, and CODE3, this keeps up with all of them. The lighthead also carries a 5 year warranty.

So I happened to have an extra CHMSL housing that I was able to play with before messing with my factory housing and then went back and installed it in the factory housing.

So picture time - First off here is the factory CHMSL, it actually appeared much dimmer than this in the daylight, but looks ok here. This is with the factory spec bulbs (new) in the factory reflector housing.
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0738.jpg
Outside pic - http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0740.jpg

Then I started prototyping and testing how it would shine through the tint, the pictures don't do it justice its actually much brighter than it shows up. It is also matching in color to the brake lights, not this strong red that it appears.
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0742.jpg
Direct side shot to show the light output at different angles
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0743.jpg
At this point it was aimed improperly pointing the LED up into the air and causing it to look dim.
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0744.jpg
Now things are starting to get together, another partial side shot to show the angles
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0756.jpg
Straight behind, again much much brighter in person
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0755.jpg

Out of the car - It looks off centered, but is just an illusion.
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0754.jpg
Another
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0753.jpg

Here are the inner workings- The red is hot, blk is ground, the yellow is a sync wire that you don't use, and the blue is to change patterns. To change patterns you touch the blue wire to the ground for a second then let off. Usually only the red and blk would be wired up. The lighthead also remembers the pattern selection so whatever you set it on, it stays on.

Here you will note I took two small pieces of metal and bent them in an L shape, then I screwed the lighthead to them. I then used epoxy putty to attach the brackets to the housing, and then put metal tape over that to hold everything in place. Its very sturdy and the lighthead doesn't move anyways as it sits in the opening partially.
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0752.jpg

To be continued...

[capt512]

Now the final product is reinstalled and angled like it should be
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0745.jpg
upclose side shot
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0757.jpg


2nd - I decided between the factory tinted backup lights and my new window tint that I had to do something about the backup lights. So what did I decide... H3 100 watt bulbs. I used a similar setup in my 01 CVPI for years with no melting or any other problems. Works great. Maybe if you sit with your backup lights on for 30 minutes you would have a problem but for regular use, its not an issue. So here is my rig up job for it lol

I removed the fascia from the car and then removed the factory connectors from the fascia
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0728.jpg

I then took a piece of the same metal strip as above (which I got from Home Depot for a few bucks) and cut it to match the factory bulb hole. I then enlarged one of the holes in it to fit the bulb as it should, and then drilled another small hole into it against the bulb flange to screw a ground wire into. The H3 bulbs only have a hot wire, they must be grounded by mounting. So I screwed the bulb flange into the metal piece with a ground eyelet attached and ground wire. The grounds the bulb and secures it. I then for extra fun measure used a butane soldering torch and soldered the eyelet to the plate to the bulb flange. It will be easy enough to remove with some heat, but provides extra insurance.
Then cut off the factory bulb holder and wire the H3 bulb up. Its actually really simple. I then used the same epoxy putty and secured everything to the fascia, then placed some metal tape over that to double secure it.
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0730.jpg
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0729.jpg
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0731.jpg
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0733.jpg

I couldn't get a night picture to show how bright these are...but I will say they throw light farther than my HID foglights. BRIGHT.

Here left is stock right is H3, doesn't do it justice
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0725.jpg

Left is H3, right is stock here, again doesn't do it justice
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0726.jpg
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/IMAG0727.jpg

To be continued

[DOOM]

Looks good!

[capt512]

And three short videos showing some flash patterns, I left it steady burn but I do like the pattern it the third video, it doesn't show up well, but it quad flash, would catch peoples attention, but don't want to mess around with "flashing red lights".

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/th_VIDEO0056.jpg (http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/?action=view&current=VIDEO0056.mp4)
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/th_VIDEO0055.jpg (http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/?action=view&current=VIDEO0055.mp4)
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/th_VIDEO0054.jpg (http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/ReflectionsAD/?action=view&current=VIDEO0054.mp4)

[Juice]

And three short videos showing some flash patterns, I left it steady burn but I do like the pattern it the third video, it doesn't show up well, but it quad flash, would catch peoples attention, but don't want to mess around with "flashing red lights".



Why not? You have flashing red lights on the back of your car every time you use your turn signal.

[capt512]

True, I just don't want to cause any issues with PD, and drive through a jumpy city to and from work so can easily see them making an issue of it.

[Juice]

True, I just don't want to cause any issues with PD, and drive through a jumpy city to and from work so can easily see them making an issue of it.

From the Missouri Vehicle Code:


Limitations on lamps other than headlamps--flashing signals prohibited except on specified vehicles--penalty.
307.100. 1. Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle other than headlamps, spotlamps, front direction signals or auxiliary lamps which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred candlepower shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five feet from the vehicle. Alternately flashing warning signals may be used on school buses when used for school purposes and on motor vehicles when used to transport United States mail from post offices to boxes of addressees thereof and on emergency vehicles as defined in section 304.022, on buses owned or operated by churches, mosques, synagogues, temples or other houses of worship, and on commercial passenger transport vehicles or railroad passenger cars that are stopped to load or unload passengers, but are prohibited on other motor vehicles, motorcycles and motor-drawn vehicles except as a means for indicating a right or left turn.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 307.120, violation of this section is an infraction.

This is the only thing I could find in the MVC even close, but it doesn't apply to you since it is only one light flashing and they are rear facing. They are talking about having two different lights alternating flashes.

That means, if they stopped you, they would have no vehicle code to cite you for, so they couldn't give you a ticket. Even if they wanted to give you a hard time about it, you could argue that pumping your brake pedal would achieve the same effect. That is completely irrelevant anyway since what you're doing isn't illegal.

[F8LBITEva]

wow those back up bulbs are super bright but too bad you have modify stuff to run them