LED light guide/install with pics. Name/size/placment

[ImAShakiraholic]

Can you post pics of what you did to the resistors? How to install them? Did you fix the problem completely? :P

[nxlr8]

Originally Posted by ImAShakiraholic

I've been looking at this for a turn signal:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=280230762412
and I just bought these for my tail lights I'll tell you if they work well:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=260244794966

You've got my attention!

[Bigron]

Ok let me know if I am off on my thinking.
I just threw a pair of 3157 24 LEDs in the reverse lights to see what they look like.
Not bad but not as bright as stock.

When comparing the 57 bulb to the 24 I noticed that the 57 only had 12 forward facing bulbs while the 24 had 18 facing forward.

Has anyone tried the 31 LED bulb? It has 19 forward facing and 12 side shooting.
Plus the 31 is 25mm so no issues with width.

[JonCR96Z]

Originally Posted by Bigron

Ok let me know if I am off on my thinking.
I just threw a pair of 3157 24 LEDs in the reverse lights to see what they look like.
Not bad but not as bright as stock.

When comparing the 57 bulb to the 24 I noticed that the 57 only had 12 forward facing bulbs while the 24 had 18 facing forward.

Has anyone tried the 31 LED bulb? It has 19 forward facing and 12 side shooting.
Plus the 31 is 25mm so no issues with width.

I think that the b/u housing on the CTS works well with the 57 led bulb. If you'll look at my pic above you'll see how much better the b/u lights are on the CTSV than the Escalade (same 57 led bulb). I believe that it's due to the reflector shape around the housing.

[bpitas]

Originally Posted by ImAShakiraholic

Can you post pics of what you did to the resistors? How to install them? Did you fix the problem completely? :P

The resistors fixed the fast-blink problem, but NOT the problem of the voltage from the directionals bleeding through to both middle tail-lights.
Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of where I mounted the resistors, but basically I looked at where there would be enough room under the tail-light housing (those resistors are very big!) and drilled a couple of holes and mounted them vertically with some metal screws I had laying around from my PC's card slots in the back.

[Bigron]

I just ordered 2 pairs of 31-LED bulbs. One red and one white.
I will test the white in the B/U lights and the red in the brakes.
My assumption about the 57's in the brakes would be that since there is not a reflector behind the bulb the lack of forward facing bulbs decreases the light output? 19 vs 12 forward facing.

I am also planning on buying 2 pairs of 57's, red to go in the middle of the brake light and the white to compare to the 31 in the B/U lights.

My LED budget is getting destroyed, but once you start you can't stop.
I have so many spares. I think I could almost do someones interior with what I have laying around.

Also how does everyone test the brake bulbs? Brick on the pedal or is it a two person test?

[JonCR96Z]

Originally Posted by Bigron

My assumption about the 57's in the brakes would be that since there is not a reflector behind the bulb the lack of forward facing bulbs decreases the light output? 19 vs 12 forward facing.



Also how does everyone test the brake bulbs? Brick on the pedal or is it a two person test?

In the brake light position the 57s are as bright as the stock ones with just the lights on, its when you apply the pedal they're just not that much brighter. I'm assuming its gonna be like this for most LEDs

I used 2 people to check the brakes but I'm sure anything that holds the pedal down will work.

Jon

[bpitas]

Originally Posted by Bigron

Also how does everyone test the brake bulbs? Brick on the pedal or is it a two person test?

You get creative - for me it was a piece of firewood I had laying in the garage, and then moving the power seat forward until it pushed the brake pedal in far enough to trigger the light. :-)

[nxlr8]

Originally Posted by Bigron

Also how does everyone test the brake bulbs? Brick on the pedal or is it a two person test?

I've done both... and then some...

1st time - too late for my wife to come out, so I put a heavy bag on the pedal to push it down

2nd time - put a mirror up on the back wall and watched the reflection (way PITA to get angle right)

3rd time (and all consecutive tests) - Have the wife push the pedal... much easier...

[nxlr8]

Originally Posted by JonCR96Z

In the brake light position the 57s are as bright as the stock ones with just the lights on, its when you apply the pedal they're just not that much brighter.

My conclusion as well...
Hopefully someone will find an LED which is BRIGHT to solve this problem!

[bpitas]

I thought they weren't bright enough too at first, but let's face it - our 3rd brake light is blinding from the factory - people KNOW when our brakes are on!

[Bigron]

Anyone try these?
http://superbrightleds.com/specs/315x-xLX3.htm

"Our exclusive LX3 series bulbs use High Power 3 Watt Luxeon LEDs to achieve light outputs even higher than standard filament bulbs 3 Watt LEDs feature super wide 130 degree beam angle to illuminate entire tail light lens"

I was searching around and came across this post:
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/faq...omparison.html

[JonCR96Z]

Originally Posted by Bigron

Anyone try these?
http://superbrightleds.com/specs/315x-xLX3.htm

"Our exclusive LX3 series bulbs use High Power 3 Watt Luxeon LEDs to achieve light outputs even higher than standard filament bulbs 3 Watt LEDs feature super wide 130 degree beam angle to illuminate entire tail light lens"

I was searching around and came across this post:
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/faq...omparison.html

Mine just came in yesterday, I'm still trying to figure out my final configuration. Since I have about 20 bulbs laying around.

I'll give a better review (with pics) this weekend, but so far I'll say that they are brighter than the 57 led bulbs, but there is less of a difference with the brakes on.

Jon

[gfourth]

Just got my cool white 194 SMT Tower II's and 7000k H10's. Gonna get them in this weekend, I'll take some before and after shots.

[Bigron]

SMT's should match the 7000k well. They are definitly have a bluer hugh then the stock HID's. They still look good just not a direct color match for sure.