High Level Brake & Indicator Lights

[Skibum346]

For some time now I've been looking for a good way to fit high level brake & indicator lights to the back of my beastie.

All the usual lighting solutions took up too much space when my, yet to be fitted, rear work lights are taken into account.

I came across a guy on eBay selling ready made LED indicator solutions, designed to be fitted into wing mirrors. That started me thinking.... a quick visit to Halfords for a set of chavtastic RED LED's and I'm set.

Today I finally fitted them, and they are succesfully working. The fittting has left a little to be desired, however. Either way, I figured you lot would have more than a passing interest so here are some pics.

1. Strip out jump seats & trim to expose the existing wiring... evicting several Landy spiders in the process and finding £1.35 as a bonus!


2. Make up and wire in looms for indicator and brake LED's long enough to reach the top corner. It looks very complicated but it's actually simple. The kits come with either a resistor in place along with three amber LED's in series; or four red LED's with built in resistors, each one wired seperately.








3. Make up a template for your desired LED layout... I went for a natty little diamond & chevron number...!


4. Swallow hard and drill!


5. Swear hard when you discover the LED covers don't fit the holes and start fettling with a round needle file... then swear louder when you realise you've gone too far on one hole... then scream when you realise that those hole the clips WILL go in leave them rattling around loose!
Finally pull out the cure all super glue and use it to gloss over your mistakes!


6. Smile resignedly when finished in the knowledge that it'll probably leak and when an LED blows there will be no replacing it!






In retrospect, if you really want an LED instalation here on the car... make the LED's up on a scrap of metal or plastic, drill a single hole to accomodate the legs & wiring of the LED's and silkaflex the damn patch with lights attached over the hole!

As you can tell I'm not that happy with the end results... but at least I've broken trail for some other poor sap who might try it!  :roll:  :oops:

Skibum

[Xtremeteam]

:? scotchlocks= fire hazard

[Wireless]

That looks so [ahem], I'm surprised you had the guts to post details and pictures.

[wizard]

ouch ! It does look a bit, erm........ rough.

wizard :twisted:

[Steve ray]

I usually find that dipping the ole girl in mud n water almost every weekend, then a hand ful of spare bulb holders to replace the ones in the back bumper works a treat!

As for that kind of bling .......... each to his/her own, but imho it's a bit on the 'chav' side and ....... "not in keeping with Land Rover styling" is probably the best way to put it mate.

But it looks like you've spent a lot of time on it and if it's what you want on your motor, then sod everone else - do it and enjoy mate! :D

[hobbit]

I use a high leve brake light led strip fitted in the middle top of the back door glass

Also I'm fitting a couple of stick on led units which are meant for use as wing mirror repeaters on the rear side panels as my other indicators are in the bumper, al I have to do is drill a small hole for the wires at the required height, do the job and not so prone for blowing

[Iain C]

Hmmmm...not to sure to be honest mate, but what might set it off a bit is making something similar to your "template" out of thin ally plate and sikaflexing it to the body.  They just look very small at the mo and I'm not sure you'd notice them, where a piece of ally might make them stand out a bit more, and also hide youe wandering drill marks!

I do think you are on to something though and top marks for having the cojonnes to drill the old girl!

[Terranosaurus]

I thought about buying a high level brake light for my truck but found I got two free with my lift kit.

Is that wiring "loom" available with a ragu sauce. :lol:

[Range Rover Blues]

Ok so now you've tried it, are they brigh tenough to make any difference?

I ask becasue I'm trying some LED bulbs and TBH they are too dim, I get away with putting a suposedly 21watt bulb in my sidelights :roll:

Anyhoo, if you are pleased with them then I'd suggest designing MkII, like you say with a nice black anodised trim or whatever.  If you don't like them then I'd suggest a bit of checker plate to cover the area and a set of worklights to cover the whole incident up.
Personally I think you are very brave setting about your car with a drill just to try something out.

Myself for a rear brake light I'd have gone with a central stick-on one in the back window, it's what most drivers expect to see.

As for LEDs, the one advantage is how much faster they light up :shock: , seriously, they do.

As for Scotchlocks, not a fan either but at least with LEDs you aren't drawing any current across them so as long as the orignial wiring isn't damaged.

[Wireless]

That looks so [ahem], I'm surprised you had the guts to post details and pictures.

I cannot believe that word was moderated

I was referring to the low quality of the modification, rather than trying to bypass moderation by using an alternative for the word excrement, and  according to this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crap

'Note that this word can be considered a curse word, yet is considered mild enough that even a child may use it informally.'

I suspect even the wikipedia link will be moderated, due to the forum software being written in the US.

The software doesn't recognise UK english spelling, which is really annoying, one might even use the word moderated here to describe the software quality.

[Skibum346]

Ok so now you've tried it, are they brigh tenough to make any difference?

I ask becasue I'm trying some LED bulbs and TBH they are too dim, I get away with putting a suposedly 21watt bulb in my sidelights :roll:

Anyhoo, if you are pleased with them then I'd suggest designing MkII, like you say with a nice black anodised trim or whatever.  If you don't like them then I'd suggest a bit of checker plate to cover the area and a set of worklights to cover the whole incident up.
Personally I think you are very brave setting about your car with a drill just to try something out.

Myself for a rear brake light I'd have gone with a central stick-on one in the back window, it's what most drivers expect to see.

As for LEDs, the one advantage is how much faster they light up :shock: , seriously, they do.

As for Scotchlocks, not a fan either but at least with LEDs you aren't drawing any current across them so as long as the orignial wiring isn't damaged.

The indicators are bright enough to be seen in the daylight, but the brake lights are much less bright. I suspect it's beacause they came from different kits, the brake LED's have no covers so what you are seeing is the bare LED. The indicators on the other hand, as can be seen in the pics above, come with a lens cover that improves the angle they can be seen from and seem to if not make it brighter, at lest makes it more noticeable.

Thanks for all the input, both positive and negative, none of it is taken to heart. I'm happy enough using scothlocks for this as the draw is so low. I guess time will tell... if I wake up to a car fire one morning, I'll let you know... but I doubt it will happen.

Taste is always a moveable feast, we all like some things over others. I'm happy with my attempt and unless I have major problems with water getting in I'll be leaving it as it is.

Skibum

[Skibum346]

That looks so [ahem], I'm surprised you had the guts to post details and pictures.

I cannot believe that word was moderated

I was referring to the low quality of the modification, rather than trying to bypass moderation by using an alternative for the word excrement, and  according to this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crap

'Note that this word can be considered a curse word, yet is considered mild enough that even a child may use it informally.'

I suspect even the wikipedia link will be moderated, due to the forum software being written in the US.

The software doesn't recognise UK english spelling, which is really annoying, one might even use the word moderated here to describe the software quality.

As for moderation.... it happens... chill...

I mean really... what is the big deal?

The moderators get a hard enough time without people complaining this word or that word was moderated. I for one am fed up hearing people whinge about their so called freedom of speech being affected.

Treat it like a word search puzzle... keep going til you fiond one that works... then use it.

Skibum

[stuntman]

Well skibum you've inspired me to look seriously at some high level brake lights, I have the rear window one in place but I want a top marker type.

I'm thinking about sorting an ultra bright red led to go into my roof rack corner. Just an idea at the mo but you started the inspiratation.

If you're not happy with the results how about plating each side and attaching some work lights?

Cheers for breaking the trail!

Andi K

[wrecker]

ive been wacthing this thread for a bit and think it looks good,as long as your happy with it then your sorted matey 8)  :D

one thing tho,my dads seen what you done and hes too got plans for fitting some high level lights :lol:  :D

keep up the work and make your truck yours 8)

[freeagent]

I've got a pair of fog lights fitted inside my rear window, hanging down from the top, they are wired as extra brake lights and are very bright...
only had to drill two small holes on the inside of the door frame (for the mounting bracket screws)
they are very low-key and look a bit more 'rescue truck/ comp safari' than chav-corsa...

I'm intending to buy a flasher unit so I can switch them to flash alternatively like the rear fogs on highway patrol trucks..

[Skibum346]

I've got a pair of fog lights fitted inside my rear window, hanging down from the top, they are wired as extra brake lights and are very bright...
only had to drill two small holes on the inside of the door frame (for the mounting bracket screws)
they are very low-key and look a bit more 'rescue truck/ comp safari' than chav-corsa...

I'm intending to buy a flasher unit so I can switch them to flash alternatively like the rear fogs on highway patrol trucks..

Not sure I fancy sitting behind you in traffic if you are using fog lights as brake lights!  :shock:

Think I'd need to wear my  8) !!!!

Skibum

[defuzz]

re: fog lights as brake lights....

also a great way to get your insurance company to pay for the person behind you's new bumper  :-)



I've been thinking about adding a couple of wolf spec rear lights (the flatter ones) in about the same place as your LED "experiment"

[Skibum346]

re: fog lights as brake lights....

also a great way to get your insurance company to pay for the person behind you's new bumper  :-)



I've been thinking about adding a couple of wolf spec rear lights (the flatter ones) in about the same place as your LED "experiment"

Yeah I looked at a number of different options but I wanted indicator & brakes, whilst leaving space for work lights. Hence LED's.

Wolf, lights, Defender Lights, Series lights, running lights etc were all going to be obscured by the work lights or just wouldn't fit in the space available.

If I had a roof rack it would be no problem... nice big lights on a board strapped to the rack. But... till I can do that... this is the answer.

Skibum

[defuzz]

saw these on ebay too, could look good:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-8-LEDS-YELLOW-SOFT-INDICATOR-LIGHT-x-2pcs_W0QQitemZ160175309350QQihZ006QQcategoryZ14763QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Skibum346]

saw these on ebay too, could look good:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-8-LEDS-YELLOW-SOFT-INDICATOR-LIGHT-x-2pcs_W0QQitemZ160175309350QQihZ006QQcategoryZ14763QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 :x  :x  :x

Those were not there when I was searchng for a solution!

 :roll:  :roll:  :roll:

Skibum

[freeagent]

re: fog lights as brake lights....

also a great way to get your insurance company to pay for the person behind you's new bumper  :-)

quote]

they are considerably dimmer than many modern high level LED brake lights... they are only small units and certainly not going to dazzle anyone.... :roll: