Tail lights mod questions

[denpo]

Hi everyone.
Since my buddy Sovan broke his feet last week, big works of the resto have to be postponed, and I'm switching to some cosmetic mods.
I bought a set of 70-72 bubble lens (the set of 4 for 8$, thanks ebay) and just received a big pack of ultra bright 10mm red leds. I'm planning to build my own housing since the '76 housing won't fit the lens.

-My first question is about voltage, are the taillight supplied some constant 12v or should I expect it to rise to 14v when the battery is charging?

-Then, comes the pattern question. That really sound stupid, but during the brief time the vette was in running condition, I didn't bother checking what was the lighting pattern of the taillight.
I mean those have to carry 4 function, light, brake, turning flasher and backup.
For the backup, it's understood that with the all red bubble lens I'll have to kiss them goodbye or reinstall them somewhere else (probably near the licence plate area).
For the 3 remaining function, how a normal vette is supposed to work?
My though is to make have each headlight outputting two intensity of light, a inner center light spot and an outer light rim, if so what signal each light would carry?
Now let's suppose I add a third level of intensity, how would you guy distribute the function? What function for the inner spot, intermediate rim and outer rim?

 

[DeeVeeEight]

-My first question is about voltage, are the taillight supplied some constant 12v or should I expect it to rise to 14v when the battery is charging?

Zero volts at the tail lights until you either turn on the lights or step on the brakes or use the turn signal. The only constant is ground.

Both lamps on one side come on (bright) when using turn signal or the brakes (all four bright).

here's a link for reverse light mods

http://vettemod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5448&highlight=reverse+lights

 

[mrvette]

14.8 is max system voltage with engine running, declining to 13.4 or so depending on battery charge....full up....

I can't help you on the layout crap, all I know is that I needed clear/white backup lights for my rectangular rear lights, so got a couple of them at a car show, wired them in for Maryland inspection....17? years ago....

YMMV on local .gov demands.....

 

[denpo]

-My first question is about voltage, are the taillight supplied some constant 12v or should I expect it to rise to 14v when the battery is charging?

Zero volts at the tail lights until you either turn on the lights or step on the brakes or use the turn signal. The only constant is ground.

Both lamps on one side come on (bright) when using turn signal or the brakes (all four bright).

here's a link for reverse light mods

http://vettemod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5448&highlight=reverse+lights

Thanks for the link DV8, I like the little aftermarket backup light.

14.8 is max system voltage with engine running, declining to 13.4 or so depending on battery charge....full up....

I can't help you on the layout crap, all I know is that I needed clear/white backup lights for my rectangular rear lights, so got a couple of them at a car show, wired them in for Maryland inspection....17? years ago....

YMMV on local .gov demands.....

Roger that.
So I'm gonna take a 14v reference to design my circuit.

 

[vette427sbc]

Arent the tails a 3 wire setup? ie: ground, brake/turn, and driving light

If thats the case then both of the hot wires would be 12v. The bright and dim comes from different filaments in the bulb.

If you want to do LED's, then put a resistor in the driving light wire so that it delivers less than 12v to the LED's. Leave the other wire (brake/turn signal) alone so that it will deliver a full 12v to the LED's.

 

[TimAT]

There are direct replacement LED bulbs. Fit and work exactly like the 1157 bulbs we've all come to know. With the LED's, part of them work in the "tail" function and the rest come on for the "stop/turn" function.

On a Vette, the 2 inboard lights are the backup lights and are a single contact. You'll need to change the sockets over to a 2 contact to get all 4 lights to operate as full function.

Pull that single wire socket and run the wire to remote backup lights.

 

[mrvette]

But are they DOT approved???

:fishing:

 

[TimAT]

The 1157 replacements are DOT happy..

 

[mrvette]

The 1157 replacements are DOT happy..

:hissyfit::smash: I"m trying to bring DEP out.....

come on out a play DJ.....


:thumbs:

OP, this is not about your project one bit, but a laugh off some threads from years ago.....:confused2:

 

[denpo]

Thanks for all the inputs guys. I couldn't answer earlier, my server died this weekend.
Here is my first prototype.


I'm trying a three level taillight, the center 9 red led spot, medium 16 red led spot and outer 18 white smd led, I'll go dig a 12v source tomorrow to see how bright those are.