Author Topic: Custom LED Brake Light (Read 5812 times)

bobvans · « **on:** March 02, 2021, 11:31:32 PM »

Back when I got my '86 K100 I wanted to improve safety a bit by adding an LED brake light that strobes when brake is applied. It was a bit of a hack job in that I bought one of the standard tail lights Custom LED offered and cut up my tail light to make it fit.

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Now that I have a'96 K1100, I wanted to add the same capability but make it look stock and have it light up the entire tail light like this picture someone posted somewhere...

Tailight.JPG (50.41 kB . 768x576 - viewed 768 times)

But I want it to strobe like this... except I won't use the turn signal feature since I want to continue using the original turn signals.

So I bought a new tail light from Max BMW, cut it open with a dremel and sawzall.

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And am now working with Custom LED to have a... you guessed it, custom LED board made up to hopefully somehow fit into the tail light. Here's the board design we settled on...

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AtLarge · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2021, 06:35:35 AM »

K1300S · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2021, 09:30:33 AM »

https://www.skenelights.com/online-store/P3-Lights-p199537706

bobvans · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2021, 12:23:48 PM »

Quote from: K1300S on March 03, 2021, 09:30:33 AM

https://www.skenelights.com/online-store/P3-Lights-p199537706

I've seen those but really want the entire tail light to strobe and be super bright. Hopefully I sized the board correctly and can get it all back together and look decent

. I'll provide an update in a few weeks when I get the board.

rbm · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2021, 01:56:35 PM »

Will your board act as running lights as well as a strobing brake light?

bobvans · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2021, 07:02:32 PM »

Quote from: rbm on March 03, 2021, 01:56:35 PM

Will your board act as running lights as well as a strobing brake light?

Yes, running lights, brake lights, and integrated turn signals (if you want). The strobe affect on braking is selectable... 11 different options.

Strobe pattern.jpg (71.48 kB . 768x446 - viewed 698 times)

Laitch · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2021, 11:02:43 AM »

11 options! God bless America—or elsewhere—whichever is applicable!

bobvans · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2021, 12:01:56 PM »

Quote from: Laitch on March 04, 2021, 11:02:43 AM

11 options! God bless America—or elsewhere—whichever is applicable!

Ha ha... can't have too many options

.

Past-my-Prime · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2021, 08:54:59 PM »

Can I have three quick flashes, then three slow flashes, then three quick flashes, repeat?

bobvans · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2021, 10:27:13 PM »

Quote from: Past-my-Prime on March 04, 2021, 08:54:59 PM

Can I have three quick flashes, then three slow flashes, then three quick flashes, repeat?

That would be with the 4 way flashers option

The Mighty Gryphon · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2021, 12:05:24 AM »

Despite the term SOS, I believe the correct pattern is 3 quick, 3 slow, 3 quick, 3 slow, etc.

bobvans · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2021, 07:50:35 PM »

Received the custom LED board on Monday. Now the challenge will be to cut away the right amount of the tail light's plastic support structure to fit the board while maintaining enough structural strength of the overall assembly. I think a band saw would make the task a lot easier. May need to take this to work and see if I can get into the model shop.

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bobvans · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2021, 08:10:26 PM »

LED Board 01.jpeg (56.59 kB . 768x576 - viewed 660 times)

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I want to get it mounted in this location so need to cut away the part of the housing that's in the way.

LED Board 03.jpeg (35.95 kB . 768x576 - viewed 661 times)

bobvans · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2021, 04:53:22 PM »

Started cutting away on the tail light assembly. A ways to go yet but this gives me a feel for how it will turn out. Looks like the structure should be in good shape, even after the hacking is done.

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Housing Mod 01.jpeg (41.16 kB . 768x576 - viewed 647 times)

Laitch · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2021, 11:49:13 PM »

How many of those lights serve as brake lights, how many serve as tail lights and how are they arrayed, or do they all have a double function?

bobvans · « **Reply #15 on:** March 26, 2021, 07:32:01 PM »

Quote from: Laitch on March 25, 2021, 11:49:13 PM

How many of those lights serve as brake lights, how many serve as tail lights and how are they arrayed, or do they all have a double function?

I haven't confirmed yet, but they're all supposed to be double function (running and brake lights). For turn signals half would flash on and off.

I'm chomping on the bit to due an A/B compare... so may do that before I get the actual retrofit done. On that note, I'm going Dremel vs band saw and my Dremel crapped out on me... may need new brushes

.

Rcgreaves · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2021, 12:15:51 AM »

"Cuuuul".....

bobvans · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2021, 12:52:45 AM »

Got my Dremel back online so did some more cutting. It's almost there... just a little more trimming to level out the surface the board will lay against.

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bobvans · « **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2021, 04:37:52 PM »

After a bit more trimming with the Dremel, I've got it to where I think it needs to be. Decided to close off all the openings with some pieces I cut from electrical boxes. Hot glued them in place.

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Housing Mod 05.jpeg (49.83 kB . 768x576 - viewed 591 times)

Next I need to drill a couple of holes for a couple of mounting screws along with adding something for the screws to screw into. I'm going to try using the two drilled screw bosses from the electrical box.

bobvans · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2021, 10:51:38 PM »

I wasn't sure about what to do with the brake light "magnifier" part of the tail light. Then remembered that the entire tail light will be the brake light so decided to just cut it off and leave only the clear lens part for license plate illumination. I glued it with a combination of super glue and hot glue... super hot glue

. Actually just super glued it on and put the hot melt over the joint for good measure.

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Magnifier 02.jpeg (59.21 kB . 768x576 - viewed 582 times)

Just to add... I had to trim the inner walls of the red lens to allow the lens to fit over the circuit board.

The Mighty Gryphon · « **Reply #20 on:** April 05, 2021, 11:45:10 PM »

Looks interesting. Keep posting.

bobvans · « **Reply #21 on:** April 06, 2021, 03:10:12 PM »

Looks like using the screw bosses off the electrical switch box is going to work nicely. My plan is to attach the board using the bosses as nuts. Get the board in final position and then mark location of the bosses. I'll epoxy them in place, mount the board to hold them in place. Then I'll add some epoxy between the boss and adjacent wall for good measure...

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stokester · « **Reply #22 on:** April 06, 2021, 08:57:23 PM »

I like it! Keep us updated on your progress.
During some recent airhead work for a friend I installed a commercial LED taillight replacement which really lit up the running and brake illumination but I was a bit disappointed that there were no flashing options.

bobvans · « **Reply #23 on:** April 07, 2021, 11:54:11 AM »

Quote from: stokester on April 06, 2021, 08:57:23 PM

I like it! Keep us updated on your progress.
During some recent airhead work for a friend I installed a commercial LED taillight replacement which really lit up the running and brake illumination but I was a bit disappointed that there were no flashing options.

I know what you mean. I really liked having that strobe on my K100 to give extra visibility when at a stop light. If I was off the brake but see a car coming up from behind I'd squeeze the brake lever a time or two to make sure they're slowing down. Seems it would maybe catch someone's attention if their texting. There was someone that got killed at an off ramp last year not too far from my house. Driver was under the influence and didn't see the vehicles stopped at the light, I guess. Motorcyclist got caught between her and the pickup truck in front of him. Not sure a strobe would have made a difference in that case though.

Laitch · « **Reply #24 on:** April 07, 2021, 12:00:31 PM »

Quote from: bobvans on April 07, 2021, 11:54:11 AM

Not sure a strobe would have made a difference in that case though.

Drivers regularly crash into lit up police cars parked on shoulders. In attempts to avert that, intermittently flashing, rather than pulsating, strobes have been developed. There's a body of evidence that suggests pulsating strobes can attract some drivers rather than alert them. It's a jungle out there.

News:

Author Topic: Custom LED Brake Light (Read 5812 times)