My LED bar is done !

[cranbiz]

OK, I finally finished it and just got it mounted. It looks pretty good, and I'm happy with the results.

The pics don't do the lights justice, They are pretty bright, but like all LED's somewhat directional. (The tinted window didn't help)

I don't think any of the major manufacturers have anything to worry about from me and my construction, but hey, I'm just experimenting and too damn impatient.

Some observations - If I'm going to mount against a tinted window again, I'm going to wait and get the highest cps LED's available. It was negilibitle cost difference, I just did not want to wait.

I would like to experiment with different lenses, the plain LED's are good, I think maybe some sort of fluteing/optical magnification will make them better.

Pics are available at http://groups.msn.com/thibodeauphotos

Reply here or PM if anyone wants more info.

Bob

[nmfire10]

It's kinda like a giant old-school slimlighter! Few questions...

Where did you get the LED Panels and how much?

What makes up the physical bar (metal, plastic, balsa wood & hot glue?)?

What are you flashing it with? One of those Sound-Off LED flashers?

How bright is it compared to the Gen-1 LEDs such as the slimlighter (other than obvious increase due to size)?

[cranbiz]

I got the boards themself at http://www.superbrightleds.com. They list for 2.95 ea, but They dicsounted them to 2.49 ea in the quantity that I bought. They are a decent , double sided board with plated thru hole.

The LEDs, you can either shop around (which is what I did) or just get them at the same place.

I sized this bar (3 modules) to the C-Channel that I had. It's 36" long because that's the size that fit comfortablly in the window and gave me the coror combination that I wanted.

The physical bar is PVC C-Channel with a wood strip in it ( because that's what I had, I would have used PVC if I had it) to create a space for the wires and then screwed the boards down to the Channel.

Yes, I'm using the Sho-Me flasher.

It is brighter than the first generation LED's, it would be even brighter if I didn't want to wait on this project. (the brighter LED's were on B/O)

[KitN1MCC]

hell after the time and money you spent. i would have picked up 2 used slim lighters and mounted them up there

[cranbiz]

You could be right, I do have several hours into this. But used slimlighters on Ebay are still more than what I paid for everything new and I got the colors that I wanted. New.

Was the $100-200 I saved for a truely custom bar worth it. To me it was!

Where would we be if we always took the easy way out. I learned some things from this project, (kind of like ham radio) I'm passing on information to help others who might wish to do something similar. Some other people will do as you suggested, that's fine, that's what makes the world go round. Some people are hobbists/experimenters, some are consumers.

[fireman1417]

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for the info you sent to me, I plan on building one soon. I agree with you, build it the way you want it, and save money, you can't beat that. I believe I'll make mine with six modules for the back window and make one with two for the front. Thanks again.

[mavericknet]

You're the man, I was out looking for a project page that had done this but I hadn't found one. The front of my car would be well served by a used flatlighter, if I could find one in green! But now I can do the split amber/green in the back of the car with this two. I hope I have as much success with mine as you did with yours.

[nmfire10]

Hey Cranbiz, how do you change the patterns on that flasher? I want to get one of those from my grill LED's but I can't find the instalation diagrams anywhere. I need to see if I can work pattern control into my switching setup.

Matt

[cranbiz]

Matt,

White wire on the flasher to +12V on a momentary switch changes the pattern.

Bob

[nmfire10]

Ok. Thanks!