Another DIY LED Tail Light Mod

I am looking for ways to take some wattage load off the pitiful charging system I have. I found a LED bulb for the headlight.
I was looking for a LED substitute for the 1157 dual tail/brake light, but I couldn't find one that was suitable for positive ground. The strips Jean used seemed to be the way to go.
But I didn't want to tap into my stock wiring harness and make a mess.
My solution was to modify a 1157 bulb base to become a "tap" into my system. I broke the glass off a good bulb and identified the filaments for brake and tail circuits. I soldered a short lead-out wire from each respective filament and a ground and potted them in a non-conductive epoxy. Now when I plug the dummy 1157 into the socket, I've got my two signal wires and a ground coming out already wired into the existing light and brake circuits.
Here's the bulb tap:


Next I mounted two strips of LEDs for the tail light and a single coil of 39 LEDs for the brake light.
Tail light:


Brake light:


Total wattage is less than 6 watts with the brake on. That was my objective, to save the weak charging system.
Cost of the strip LEDs was $12. Since nothing was modified, I can readily go back to stock with a new bulb if I ever want to.
Jaydee

Love seeing clever craftsmanship wasted on hobby horses. So dazzlely pointy it will be uplifting to viewers thereby increasing their alterness - win win. If ya dare laughing your ass off and turning heads try your solid state lamps with one or two sparkplugss w;o any R factor and video it.

I'm going to do something similar for my modern Bonny. I have a LED bulb but want to augment it with strips of LEDs.

I love your solution for positive ground systems.

Well done, glad to have been the inspiration for your LED conversion.

Jean

Tell me about the LED strips. And the headlamp too, will the bulb fit in the old Lucas lens and socket? I'm talking about the Lucas 380. I guess I missed this discussion.

DogT said:

Tell me about the LED strips. And the headlamp too, will the bulb fit in the old Lucas lens and socket? I'm talking about the Lucas 380. I guess I missed this discussion.

Click to expand...

diy-led-lights-cheap-t21177.html

This is not a mod but I just ordered some bulbs from:

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.c ... s-shop.php

The BAY15D 12v Pos (CE2A) will replace an 1157 bulb and is positive ground. In my MKIII the bulb faces up and down so using this bulb will cause the red LEDs to face the license plate and the white LED's to face the lens. I don't really know if it makes a difference but it is extremely bright. Plug and play.

I also used the BA9 (CE2B) to replace the pilot bulb.


https://www.superbrightleds.com/search/ ... wled-rhp5/

I have wedge bulbs in my instruments and used these bulbs:

wled-rhp5 These are Red

I'm happy with the results

Pete

Deets55 said:

This is not a mod but I just ordered some bulbs from:

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.c ... s-shop.php

The BAY15D 12v Pos (CE2A) will replace an 1157 bulb and is positive ground. In my MKIII the bulb faces up and down so using this bulb will cause the red LEDs to face the license plate and the white LED's to face the lens. I don't really know if it makes a difference but it is extremely bright. Plug and play.

I also used the BA9 (CE2B) to replace the pilot bulb.


https://www.superbrightleds.com/search/ ... wled-rhp5/

I have wedge bulbs in my instruments and used these bulbs:

wled-rhp5 These are Red

I'm happy with the results

Pete

Click to expand...

Sounds good Pete. Pics on bike?

Tail/Brake was so bright it distorted my cell phone picture. I'll try again Monday with a camera.

Pete