LED lamps

Where do I get bright LEDs? I wanted to make some cool LED strips for the car but don't know where I can get loose LEDs,

Originally Posted by bfv

Where do I get bright LEDs? I wanted to make some cool LED strips for the car but don't know where I can get loose LEDs,

Try Audi or Benz!

Originally Posted by Slaymaster

Try Audi or Benz!

I want to make LED strip myself...why buy a car that has nothing but LEDs

Not sure why you'd want to do this, but any electronics retailer such as radio shack will sell LED's. Be aware though that LED's are generally rated at 2.1Volts, 20mA, therefore you can't just wire them to a 12Volt supply (cars electrical system voltage). You'd need to do the following:

*Use some kind of regulator to ensure a constant voltage (car voltages generally fluctuate between 12Volts and 14Volts depending on revs of the engine). 7812 regulators can provide up to 1A of current at 12Volts. Assuming 20mA LED's you could provide power to 50 of them with one regulator assuming it was on a heatsink or bolted to the car body.
*Know the cumulative current draw of all LED's (assuming 10 LED's at 20mA each, that would be 200mA).
*Work out the total voltage drop required from the source voltage (assuming 12Volts and the LED's are 2.1 Volts, you'd need a drop of 9.9Volts).

*From the above calculate the size and power rating of the resistor needed to get the required drop. ideally, the electronics store will be able to confirm the specs of the LED's so you can ensure you get the calculation correct.

LED's do not like over voltage. They have a tendency to blow up and they stink when that happens. Under voltage will make them dim.

Personally, I think you'd spoil the car, but if you're confident go ahead!

http://www.superbrightleds.com/

Originally Posted by bfv

I want to make LED strip myself...why buy a car that has nothing but LEDs

Not sure, but he could have meant they may have parts available since they use these items??

Originally Posted by BimmerUKF10

Not sure why you'd want to do this, but any electronics retailer such as radio shack will sell LED's. Be aware though that LED's are generally rated at 2.1Volts, 20mA, therefore you can't just wire them to a 12Volt supply (cars electrical system voltage). You'd need to do the following:

*Use some kind of regulator to ensure a constant voltage (car voltages generally fluctuate between 12Volts and 14Volts depending on revs of the engine). 7812 regulators can provide up to 1A of current at 12Volts. Assuming 20mA LED's you could provide power to 50 of them with one regulator assuming it was on a heatsink or bolted to the car body.
*Know the cumulative current draw of all LED's (assuming 10 LED's at 20mA each, that would be 200mA).
*Work out the total voltage drop required from the source voltage (assuming 12Volts and the LED's are 2.1 Volts, you'd need a drop of 9.9Volts).

*From the above calculate the size and power rating of the resistor needed to get the required drop. ideally, the electronics store will be able to confirm the specs of the LED's so you can ensure you get the calculation correct.

LED's do not like over voltage. They have a tendency to blow up and they stink when that happens. Under voltage will make them dim.

Personally, I think you'd spoil the car, but if you're confident go ahead!

I don't think the 7812 regulator would be very good because if I remember correctly most 78XX units have a dropout differential voltage of +2 volts (at least in series regulation mode). So a 7812 would start coming out of regulation at 14 to 14.5 volts. It might help a bit but it would be interesting to compare an LED array regulated (7812) to unregulated and see if there is much difference.
Also you are wasting a lot of energy dropping 9 volts, might be better to put them in a series-parallel array and then use a different voltage level regulator.

I would personally go with LED units made for motor vehicles.

Originally Posted by jwrtiger

I don't think the 7812 regulator would be very good because if I remember correctly most 78XX units have a dropout differential voltage of +2 volts (at least in series regulation mode). So a 7812 would start coming out of regulation at 14 to 14.5 volts. It might help a bit but it would be interesting to compare an LED array regulated (7812) to unregulated and see if there is much difference.
Also you are wasting a lot of energy dropping 9 volts, might be better to put them in a series-parallel array and then use a different voltage level regulator.

I would personally go with LED units made for motor vehicles.

Agreed, although I've used 7812's in automotive applications with general success in the past, but I do take your point! The trouble with series wiring is that if one goes off for any reason they will all go off, though I suppose the voltage drop would change in parallel wiring due to the change in current and could potentially cause an over voltage!

The main point I was trying to make though was that you can't just 'wire up' a bunch of loose LED's. I agree with you that the beat solution would be something meant for the job.

Please don't do it. Just buy an Audi

Originally Posted by mujjuman

Please don't do it. Just buy an Audi

Your signature photo says it all! Why change that look?

I wouldn't do it , but you can get some DRL LED strips here : http://www.gorecon.com/products.php?...Running+Lights