LED Third Brake Light How-to (Classic)

[RCA1186]

Well, it looks great at night haha, I guess I can live with a dim one during the day....




as you can see, the snow has started again here



anywho, I'm pleased with the result, these kind of simple mods are my favorite, the ones that you probably wouldn't notice unless you knew about it before haha



(sorry about the cell phone pics, camera is out of comission at this point)

[XJSman89]

Sweet dude! I agree, simple stock looking mods FTW. ;D

[nguyendixxy]

Mar 23, 2011 9:16:47 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

Got it installed this morning, not so sure about the brightness of it, maybe at night it will be ok but I'm not so sure its visible on a sunny day. I wonder if I can get some brighter LEDs? I'll take some pics tongiht.

Anyone have any direct sunlight pictures of the install?

[XJSman89]

It just looks like a normal third brake light in direct sunlight with it off, you can't see the LED. I personally don't have any pictures of the LED illuminated during the day though, no.

[RCA1186]

So , I had been disappointed with the led third brakelight, it had the look I wanted, but just wasn't bright enough especially through 20% tint. It was fine at night, but during the day almost non-existent, was going to try an order another, brighter LED strip, but I ended up spotting a Hyundai Sonata braking and realized that its third brake light looked about the same size hmmmmmmm haha.

Two days later, as I was at a junkyard anyway, I spotted an 02 Sonata, and snagged that led FAST haha:




It ended up being just about 1 inch longer than the red plastic opening, but that was ok, over hang one led on each side and it fit in perfect!

and the results I think speak for themself:











Direct Sunlight AND Through 20% window tint




OLD (LED strip):





NEW (Hyundai 3rd light):





not only is the Hyundai light intended to be bright enough to be a brake light, I think it just looks better too. What do you think?

[XJSman89]

Looks good! Did it hook up in the same way?

I just did it b/c I had the strip lying around. If I ever see a Sonata then I'll grab it for sure! haha. How much was it from the junkyard?

[RCA1186]

It was free! haha I told him it was just an led I saw laying around in a car and he believed it and told me I could take it hahaha, probably because I've been in and out of that yard about 10 times, he knows me by name now haha.

Yeah it just wires in the same way as the strip (it had a coupling I cut off) but just two wires. The only differance is the piece that you separate from the 3rd brake light (the one the bulb sockets clip into) doesn't fit back on, but really its not needed now anyway, it still looks completely stock just like with the led strip, the only way you'd be able to tell it was modded was if you went in my trunk, took off the cover, unbolted the light and took it out haha. I love it!

[XJSman89]

Nice! I'll be doing that for sure.

[lkraft92]

this looks like a job for the summer for me. my summer is getting full between my job and working on my car. AHHH

[RCA1186]

Haha grab a 3rd brake light from a sonata and once you have that the mod won't take you more than 30mins haha

[RCA1186]

And probably doesn't necessarily have to be a hyundai, just look around as you drive, make a list of cars with LED 3rd brake lights you see, I'm sure there's probably even one that fits perfect

[roara]

Looks good! We finally got a piece of China in these old girls, lol. No seriously, good tip for the JY search.

[RCA1186]

Lol I was thinking the same thing! Maybe she will be more fuel efficient now

[sall]

May 3, 2011 8:55:59 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

So , I had been disappointed with the led third brake light, it had the look I wanted, but just wasn't bright enough especially through 20% tint. It was fine at night, but during the day almost non-existent

Yeah traditional 20mA LEDs aren't going to be bright enough during the day. Too easily washed out by the sunlight nor are they right color hue or viewing angle for automotive purpose. This is why you have better luck with OEM LEDs because they use Snap LEDs or other high brightness LEDs.

I made my own with the same LEDs used in the Sequential Rear Deck Project. Which are specifically made for auto purpose and meet all SAE/ECE/JIS standards.

[RCA1186]

Sall, just curious at how you secured the led/board to the brakelight, thats all I ever had trouble with, and I kind of want to do it again haha

[sall]

Jan 24, 2012 12:23:24 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

Sall, just curious at how you secured the led/board to the brakelight, thats all I ever had trouble with, and I kind of want to do it again haha

I'm pretty certain I just used hot glue and some butyl, but may have used some JB Stik. I'm pretty sure that's why I left that 3/8" lip under the LEDs was to mount the home made strip.

[RCA1186]

Thats all I had trouble with, I tried some hot glue, I tried cement glue, all of it melted off haha.

[sall]

Jan 24, 2012 14:35:37 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

Thats all I had trouble with, I tried some hot glue, I tried cement glue, all of it melted off haha.

Ah, maybe you were overdriving the LEDs and the board was getting hot. Shouldn't get hot enough to melt hot glue. It may have needed to be regulated at 12v.

[RCA1186]

I think it was actually the warmer temperatures in the summer, I had hotglue on a piece of my dash that didn't hold up either. That, or maybe I need to try a better brand of hot glue haha.

[schlotzky]

I guess I'll throw my results in this thread too.

This is a modified light off a mid 90s Chrysler LHS.

[minnyaurora]

Nice i got a road side consultation from the local law enforcement since apparently mine isnt working so ill be doin this to lol

[sall]

Oct 16, 2012 1:42:08 GMT -6 minnyaurora said:

Nice i got a road side consultation from the local law enforcement since apparently mine isnt working so ill be doin this to lol

Use an OEM strip from other vehicle or build custom. Pre-made LED strip again is NOT bright enough for a safety device.

[sall]

Completed this LED CHMSL for RCA. Sixteen LEDs both current and voltage regulated by on-board LDO VReg.

Features:

High Luminance
Uniform Color
Low Power Consumption: Two 1156 bulbs draw 4.2A. This LED Array draws a mere 0.26A!
Low Thermal Resistance
Low Profile
Meets SAE/ECE/JIS Automotive Color Requirements

Typical Applications:

Automotive Exterior Lighting
Electronic Signs and Signals
Specialty Lighting

I have two other boards etched but not populated. If you are interested, PM me.

[renaldo0613]

Oct 29, 2012 11:25:53 GMT -6 sall said:

Completed this LED CHMSL for RCA. Sixteen LEDs both current and voltage regulated by on-board LDO VReg.

Features:

High Luminance
Uniform Color
Low Power Consumption: Two 1156 bulbs draw 4.2A. This LED Array draws a mere 0.26A!
Low Thermal Resistance
Low Profile
Meets SAE/ECE/JIS Automotive Color Requirements

Typical Applications:

Automotive Exterior Lighting
Electronic Signs and Signals
Specialty Lighting

I have two other boards etched but not populated. If you are interested, PM me.

And I'm waiting on mine :-)

[Mr. Javi]

(a hmmm let me clear my throat) I believe I was the first to have done a 3rd break light LED upgrade when I had my Aurora.

But good work.

[RCA1186]

I'll probably be getting mine installed soon sall, this week or next week most likely, but we shall see

[RCA1186]

Got my CHMSL installed, LEDs and board courtesy of Sall, loving it. Tried to show its brightness in direct sun, at distance and night. Also you'll notice I saw how dirty my car was and washed between pics haha

[RCA1186]

PS I'll upload better ones later. I'm working off cell phone internet atm haha

[sall]

Looks great. I have actually never seen it compared to OEM tail lights. It looks like a dead on match color wise. It's hard to get camera to capture how the eye sees the LEDs but that little thing is bright haha.

[RCA1186]

Yup haha it actually looks really crappy in these pics compared to in person too,as with most LEDs in pictures