capt512
02-18-2012, 09:28 AM
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...
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...