What is the lens? Red or clear?

Clear.

Ron

 

Clear.

Ron

The ones that have a clear lens have a red LED that isn't like your everyday red LED.

It's not the standard every day red LED like most are in electronics use. They have to meet a certain color standard to be legal.

 

https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2011/aug/how-to-select-leds-for-automotive-lighting

 

It's not the standard every day red LED like most are in electronics use. They have to meet a certain color standard to be legal.

Trying to remember who made them? I could walk out to the garage and look but it's snowing and cold out there. I know I likely bought them from JP Cycle as I buy a lot from them. I know that they are a popular name brand, it just won't click. They are clear with a nice red LEDs. I want to say they have been on there two plus years now.

Ron

 

The well designed LED ones never go out and will outlast the cars. Plus less load on the charging system, usually brighter... it’s a win win win

 

The one downside of automotive LED lighting, at least for me, has been the constantly rising PRICE! While LED lights for residential use have dropped in price over the past 3 years or so, LEDs for vehicle applications have almost doubled in price, while some have more than doubled. This smells a bit like price gouging of some kind. I very much doubt that it is caused by an increased cost of production.

 

They are clear with a nice red LEDs

Guess what I'm trying to say is the wavelength of the red light in them is different from the wavelength in common hobby type leds.

 

 

About 10 years ago I started replacing all interior 193/194 and bayonet bulbs with LED in my car and it was the best thing to do ever I still need to put in the additional lights in the trunk which was purchased but never put in... Not only is it nice bright white light, but I've never had to replace a single one and runs cooler than the filament bulbs. There are lights under the door and when they go on, it's not some dim thing, it really lets you see at night. Not sure why I haven't done the replacement for the exterior lights... probably laziness. I've often wanted to change the third brake light from the Cadillac florescent to LED's... too much work. The replacement part is something like $300. I can design an SMD board and put one in for much less than that. A PWM fade out would look nice. I have just last year put in LED headlights on my Harley. They are nice and bright. I have a Softail Deluxe so I don't want my bike looking too modern. I even have a blue dot on the tombstone taillight. The 1156 and 1157 are inexpensive and easy to get anywhere... that's another good point, if my bulb ever goes out on the road I can easily change it.... keep that in mind.

 

Okay next question. When looking at SMD LEDs, what is the difference between a two-legged LED and a four-legged LED in SMD style? I can't find any information on the subject. I lknow 6-legged have different functions but are 4 legs just for more surface area?

 

What are the part numbers?

4 legs good, 2 legs baaaad... (animal farm not actually referring to LED)

 

I wish I had a part number. If I did, life would be easy. This one is 4 legs good, 2 legs bad. 2 were ripped off. It is from a cluster but it has three of four pads not connected together so I am assuming that each leg has a requirement. Good thing to know when selecting LEDs for my taillamps.
It is 0.110 x 0.125 with a domed bulb in the center. 4 pads.

 

some have more than one LED inside and if there are 3 you would need 4 legs with a common cathode or common anode... but hard to say without looking at it. Also if it's a WS2812 commonly known as neopixel it has a control connection... in and out along with power... there are many variations of LED's now a days.

this one is 3 led's in one - all white and all broken out:



WS2812B - 2 power and 2 data connections (one in one out)

 

Yes I was thinking of it as multipurposed but I don't see a need for it. It is an ABS light on a cluster so should only need one brightness. I will figure it out.

 

It could be RGB for custom color changes... I've seen some interesting ones where you can change the color of your instrumentation lights.

 

@bwilliams60 Is there a reason you want to make your own LED bulbs for this? Wouldn't it be easier to just use standard LED replacement bulbs, since your still going to have to build the sequencer. That way if there is ever a problem with a bulb, the replacement is as close as the nearest parts store.

Due to my giving ideas in other threads with one of those members also participating in this one, I'll say this ; "Not trying to change the project just trying to make life easier".

 

@bwilliams60 Is there a reason you want to make your own LED bulbs for this? Wouldn't it be easier to just use standard LED replacement bulbs, since your still going to have to build the sequencer. That way if there is ever a problem with a bulb, the replacement is as close as the nearest parts store.

Due to my giving ideas in other threads with one of those members also participating in this one, I'll say this ; "Not trying to change the project just trying to make life easier".

Sorry for the confusion. I was just working on an instrument cluster and had a question about LEDs and thought I would throw it in here since we are talking about LEDs anyways. Just wondering why 4 pads and 3 seem connected together. Not changing anything about my original plan. Sorry, got sidetracked.

 

Guess what I'm trying to say is the wavelength of the red light in them is different from the wavelength in common hobby type leds.

Wow, I never gave it much thought now that you mention it. About all I can say is they are a deep nice bright red having a clear lens.

Ron

 

Sorry for the confusion. I was just working on an instrument cluster and had a question about LEDs and thought I would throw it in here since we are talking about LEDs anyways. Just wondering why 4 pads and 3 seem connected together. Not changing anything about my original plan. Sorry, got sidetracked.

One other reason, aside from the possibilities already presented, id heat conduction. More soldered pads provides more paths for heat to leave.