I am an auto DIYer with minimal knowledge on electronics, but am determined to make LED lights for my car because nobody makes aftermarket taillights for my car. One problem I am running into is that my 2057 bulb is dual filament and I can't figure out how to make the LEDs appear brighter when the brakes are applied. I haven't decided on which LEDs to use because I am also at a standpoint where im not sure if a higher MCD will be better or too bright for taillights on a 1995 Saturn SL1 that has a red lens with ridges to difract the light. If you guys had any ideas for MCD brightness please pitch in ideas. My tails board where I will mount the LEDs measures 6"x2 3/8". I plan on using 72 LEDs per tail. At first I was thinking use 4 rows for brakes and 4 for tails, but then I realized that when the brakes are applied the LEDs would be the same brightness.
Most of the LEDs I've looked up range from 3.2-3.8 volts, so I figured wire them by connecting pos to neg of each row of 4 LEDs then the pos of each row to the taillight socket and neg of each row to the neg side of the socket. This way I wouldn't have to use any resistors. I was looking at some LEDs in 5 MM:
http://cgi.ebay.com/100-5mm-13000mc...06987QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262
http://stores.ebay.com/Light-of-Victory-Led-Store-lvehk_W0QQfrsrcZ1QQfsubZ3103116QQtZkm
I have also tried the 2057 bulb from the auto parts store and they just aren't bright enough. The incadescent bulb spraed the light over a wider area of the lens as opposed to the LED bulb just having the light in a small circle of the lens.
Most of the LEDs I've looked up range from 3.2-3.8 volts, so I figured wire them by connecting pos to neg of each row of 4 LEDs then the pos of each row to the taillight socket and neg of each row to the neg side of the socket. This way I wouldn't have to use any resistors. I was looking at some LEDs in 5 MM:
http://cgi.ebay.com/100-5mm-13000mc...06987QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262
http://stores.ebay.com/Light-of-Victory-Led-Store-lvehk_W0QQfrsrcZ1QQfsubZ3103116QQtZkm
I have also tried the 2057 bulb from the auto parts store and they just aren't bright enough. The incadescent bulb spraed the light over a wider area of the lens as opposed to the LED bulb just having the light in a small circle of the lens.