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One of the major innovations we are experiencing in electronics is the continued development of LEDs. There are now "tactical flashlights" that use one to five watt LEDs that are rivalling or even exceeding the old incandescent bulbs, including halogen and xenon. These lights are regularly going over 60 to 80 Lumens in output. Also, according to one article I just read, Hyundai is working on an LED headlight system. Those of you who haven't quite thought about this, go out and spend $20 at Target for one of the new Maglite LED bulbs for their 2 or 3 cell Maglites. Or compare the new LED MiniMag to the old ones. BIG difference in light output and battery run time! Not to mention bulb life if you drop one of these things...
Among the benefits of LEDs are compactness, shock resistance, low current draw, and different color properties.
Perhaps the largest downside is the LED's propensity for putting out its light mainly in a directional throw. In other words, it ain't like a regular lightbulb. Many LEDs are now required to be put in an array to throw their light around a large area. Household lighting is just beginning to address this with screw in bulb units, etc. It's just a matter of time, however, till this problem is improved, if not solved entirely.
One of my projects is to use as many LED applications as possible in my Festivas in order to make them more efficient, reducing electrical drain while providing equal or better output, especially when considering exterior safety lighting.
There are "plug in" products now available to be installed in place of the older bulbs, but so far I've not seen anything solid in how well they do this, and which products are adequate or meet U.S. safety standards.
Some of you may already know.
I'm starting this thread in hopes we can all contribute information on the new LED electronics, existing products, our conversions, etc.
I'm planning an LED rear spoiler unit (modified Festiva stock spoiler) to provide running, brake (replacing stock 3rd brake light), turn signal and possible reverse lights on Luxstiva. I hope to have the help of an OSU engineering student as well.
Other plans are for replacement of my turn signals, lower brake lights, running lights, and instrument panel lights. Also, converting an Escort dome light to LEDs will help interior illumination. Additional LED lighting can be placed under the dash or under the seats, plus in the rear area as a hatch light. An under hood light system would be nice, too.
Here is one thing I've found in this article:
That para suggests that "plug and play" may not always work, or work well, especially when replacing many or most of the car's incandescent bulbs with LEDs.
Here is another article covering use of MCUs (microcontrollers):
I'm simply not knowledgable enough to explain all this, but it seems that the lower current draw of LEDs creates problems with resistance factors, for example, that of correct operation of flasher units.
One more link, to LEDtronics products:
One of my questions is do we use the "plug in" LED bulbs as they become available for our exterior lights or do we hack apart our taillights (for example) and construct our own LED clusters, possibly with whatever controller/drivers needed incorporated into the assembly itself?
Comments, links, etc. from others are welcome!
Karl
Among the benefits of LEDs are compactness, shock resistance, low current draw, and different color properties.
Perhaps the largest downside is the LED's propensity for putting out its light mainly in a directional throw. In other words, it ain't like a regular lightbulb. Many LEDs are now required to be put in an array to throw their light around a large area. Household lighting is just beginning to address this with screw in bulb units, etc. It's just a matter of time, however, till this problem is improved, if not solved entirely.
One of my projects is to use as many LED applications as possible in my Festivas in order to make them more efficient, reducing electrical drain while providing equal or better output, especially when considering exterior safety lighting.
There are "plug in" products now available to be installed in place of the older bulbs, but so far I've not seen anything solid in how well they do this, and which products are adequate or meet U.S. safety standards.
Some of you may already know.
I'm starting this thread in hopes we can all contribute information on the new LED electronics, existing products, our conversions, etc.
I'm planning an LED rear spoiler unit (modified Festiva stock spoiler) to provide running, brake (replacing stock 3rd brake light), turn signal and possible reverse lights on Luxstiva. I hope to have the help of an OSU engineering student as well.
Other plans are for replacement of my turn signals, lower brake lights, running lights, and instrument panel lights. Also, converting an Escort dome light to LEDs will help interior illumination. Additional LED lighting can be placed under the dash or under the seats, plus in the rear area as a hatch light. An under hood light system would be nice, too.
Here is one thing I've found in this article:
Due to the electrical properties of high-brightness LEDs, they cannot be powered directly from the automotive battery voltage. They require specialized power converters delivering constant current output. The large variety of LED fixtures used in automobiles calls for various types of LED driver topologies. These power converters must be in compliance with numerous industry specifications. This article will address applicable power-converter topologies useful for driving LEDs. The emphasis will be on LED driver immunity to conducted electrical disturbances that exist in automobiles.
Here is another article covering use of MCUs (microcontrollers):
I'm simply not knowledgable enough to explain all this, but it seems that the lower current draw of LEDs creates problems with resistance factors, for example, that of correct operation of flasher units.
One more link, to LEDtronics products:
One of my questions is do we use the "plug in" LED bulbs as they become available for our exterior lights or do we hack apart our taillights (for example) and construct our own LED clusters, possibly with whatever controller/drivers needed incorporated into the assembly itself?
Comments, links, etc. from others are welcome!
Karl
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