Tail light

[jonlabree]

A while ago someone mentioned something about lighting

up the "B U I C K" letters in the tail light. Does anyone have any Ideas on how

that could be accomplished? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest F14CRAZY]

I believe that was I. Sorry for not replying to your message.

I do suppose you could remove the assembly to get access to the rear of the letters somehow and put rows of LEDs to spell out Buick in place of the plastic/chrome letters. This would be the easiest way I can think of and would be cheap (LEDs are a dime a dozen, or so).

One could make a circuit board for them and solder them up. Use ones with really small cases/enclosures/lenses. FInd some "blinding" red LEDs (I would say blue, but police might not like that).

You know, we have a spare tail light in stock. I might take a look.

[Guest F14CRAZY]

MCM electronic's search result for "red led"

My instructor at career center had a load of catalogs with electronic components, like LEDs. I got thinking too, so the LED's light wouldn't have to penetrate the tail light lense (now that I think of it, I don't think they will), you could drill tiny holes for the individual LEDs and set them in. Use expoxy or something from the rear to keep them in. Hopefully, the leads will be long enough to be able to solder them to a board from the inside.

I didn't get to work with LEDs much. How much voltage do they need? Or does it vary?

[Guest F14CRAZY]

eBay search of "red led" in industrial/business supply

Hey, like 50 "superbright" red LEDs for 99 cents. I think a lot of little LEDs would be good instead of one row of big ones

[Guest MauiWowee]

I tried doing that on my Harley. They burnt up because I did not have a diode or something (electronicaly challenged) hooked up with them. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Guest F14CRAZY]

you mean your Hardly?

[Rawja]

You could also go electroluminescent. You'd get an even, precise "BUICK" without the spottyness inherent with LEDS.

http://www.beingseen.com/

[Guest F14CRAZY]

This might work out better. I was wondering if there was such as thing is a luminated, sheet-like material

[manikmekanik]

One could machine the letters from cell-cast or poly-cast acrylic, then illuminate with the system of your choice. If the letters are machined to resemble the geometry of the OEM ones, the top surface would be slightly curved, when polished, this would trap the light inside the letter, not unlike a light board.

[Guest TommyH]

i think i might put blue electroluminesent behinde the letters after i take the out cuz i hve 3 taillights.