LED Mirror Signals
06-15-2009, 10:59 PM
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LED Mirror Signals Well, I saw the thread(s?) on the forum and I thought I'd do it too. Not too much to say really, but I've got some pictures. I designed the actual LED Turn Signal Module, it's not eBay junk.
The modules I built.
Mirror backs all drilled, cleaned, and 3M adhesive applied. Ready for mirrors and LED Module.
Mirror in car, no flash. The light leakage would have been easy to fix, had I realized it was going to be a problem. At this point tho I don't wanna rip the mirrors off the backing again...this is fresh adhesive now, and I had a hard enough time the first time.
Mirror in car, with flash (duh)
LEDs off (to show you can't see them)
From the rear.
Video Here
If anyone wants I could post more pictures of actually installing the LEDs, I know I was kinda going in blind. I don't think anyone posted any such pics on the forum.
The modules I built.
Mirror backs all drilled, cleaned, and 3M adhesive applied. Ready for mirrors and LED Module.
Mirror in car, no flash. The light leakage would have been easy to fix, had I realized it was going to be a problem. At this point tho I don't wanna rip the mirrors off the backing again...this is fresh adhesive now, and I had a hard enough time the first time.
Mirror in car, with flash (duh)
LEDs off (to show you can't see them)
From the rear.
Video Here
If anyone wants I could post more pictures of actually installing the LEDs, I know I was kinda going in blind. I don't think anyone posted any such pics on the forum.
Last edited by tecmec; 06-15-2009 at 11:04 PM. Reason: Added video
06-16-2009, 12:54 PM
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What did you do to get the actual mirror glass off the black backing? I just finished my LED mirrors and I am not happy with them. They flash and work properly just to dim I am not sure if I wired it correctly. I used 15k mcd led's, 5mm size. That module you made looks great and so does the finished product.
06-16-2009, 01:42 PM
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A write up? No so much. It's pretty straightforward though. On my car the drivers side mirror was held on the backing using three dabs of a silicon-type adhesive. That one was relatively easy to remove. The passenger side though was held in with a big piece of double sided tape....basically the whole rear half of the mirror. It was ridiculously difficult to remove (because I was afraid of breaking the glass). I sliced my finger pretty good sliding it along the edge of one of the mirrors when trying to pull it off....so don't do that....lol.
Basically, if I were to do it again there are only two things I would change. First, I would have put some double sided tape around the holes I drilled for the LEDs (I woulda applied the tape, then drilled the holes though the plastic and the tape so that they were perfect). This would be to address the light leakage issue (noticeable at night or in the third picture).
Second, I would have aligned the LEDs a bit different on the right mirror (and the left too, to match). Reason being that one of the LEDs is slightly behind the "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear" text. This text is just a lack of mirror backing (just transparent glass), so the light shines though the last word of the text a little brighter... this is not really too noticeable. But in the future...
I'm not at home right now, so I can't really post any pictures of the build process.
Oh yeah, wiring...pretty straightforward. There are two wires that come out of the steering column under the dash. Light blue for left, dark blue for right, they are both positive. Running the wires is easy, just follow the wires for the power mirrors. You have to take the door trim off though.
To get the glass off I just kinda pulled at the black backing (cause it bends a bit). For the passenger side though I ended up sliding some thin-ish plastic (I think it was packaging for something) behind the glass and working it around breaking the bond.
The LEDs I used are actually 5k MCD. It's a common misconception that higher MCD means more light. MCD is just intensity per area. The really high MCD LEDs have very small viewing angles, 5 degrees or less. The LEDs I got have a wider viewing angle (23 degrees) and therefore actually put out more lumens, and therefore more light.
The LEDs themselves are running perfectly at spec so as to obtain high lifetime and high brightness. They are not simply wired to the car using resistors (because the positive voltage in the car varies a lot), they are powered thorough a voltage regulator. This means the LEDs light the same no matter if the alternator is spinning and putting out 14 volts, or the battery is dead and barely putting out 8.
Sounds like I just went into infomercial mode...so what the hell, might as well carry on. I do have some extra modules kicking around, enough for 3 or 4 cars. If people wanted I could sell them (can I say that?). I'd have to figure out my cost per unit to know what I'd have to charge. What are people willing to pay? (this would be a very limited run, lol....although I cant see demand being that high)
Basically, if I were to do it again there are only two things I would change. First, I would have put some double sided tape around the holes I drilled for the LEDs (I woulda applied the tape, then drilled the holes though the plastic and the tape so that they were perfect). This would be to address the light leakage issue (noticeable at night or in the third picture).
Second, I would have aligned the LEDs a bit different on the right mirror (and the left too, to match). Reason being that one of the LEDs is slightly behind the "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear" text. This text is just a lack of mirror backing (just transparent glass), so the light shines though the last word of the text a little brighter... this is not really too noticeable. But in the future...
I'm not at home right now, so I can't really post any pictures of the build process.
Oh yeah, wiring...pretty straightforward. There are two wires that come out of the steering column under the dash. Light blue for left, dark blue for right, they are both positive. Running the wires is easy, just follow the wires for the power mirrors. You have to take the door trim off though.
To get the glass off I just kinda pulled at the black backing (cause it bends a bit). For the passenger side though I ended up sliding some thin-ish plastic (I think it was packaging for something) behind the glass and working it around breaking the bond.
The LEDs I used are actually 5k MCD. It's a common misconception that higher MCD means more light. MCD is just intensity per area. The really high MCD LEDs have very small viewing angles, 5 degrees or less. The LEDs I got have a wider viewing angle (23 degrees) and therefore actually put out more lumens, and therefore more light.
The LEDs themselves are running perfectly at spec so as to obtain high lifetime and high brightness. They are not simply wired to the car using resistors (because the positive voltage in the car varies a lot), they are powered thorough a voltage regulator. This means the LEDs light the same no matter if the alternator is spinning and putting out 14 volts, or the battery is dead and barely putting out 8.
Sounds like I just went into infomercial mode...so what the hell, might as well carry on. I do have some extra modules kicking around, enough for 3 or 4 cars. If people wanted I could sell them (can I say that?). I'd have to figure out my cost per unit to know what I'd have to charge. What are people willing to pay? (this would be a very limited run, lol....although I cant see demand being that high)
06-16-2009, 02:07 PM
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Thanks for the info I might have to purchase some more LED's because I did not know about the brightness and the viewing angles. I sent you a pm, if you get a price for a set ,pm me back. Thanks!!
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06-17-2009, 10:39 AM
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I designed the PCBs and got a proper fab house to manufacture them. You can't have a silkscreen, soldermask, and proper plated holes if you fabricate yourself.
The LEDs will just shine through the mirror with no modification. Apparently some people grind the glass, but I can't see that ever looking good. I just got the brightest LEDs I could to make up for the loss through the glass. The LEDs I used are designed for use on outdoor signage and the like.
The LEDs will just shine through the mirror with no modification. Apparently some people grind the glass, but I can't see that ever looking good. I just got the brightest LEDs I could to make up for the loss through the glass. The LEDs I used are designed for use on outdoor signage and the like.
06-29-2009, 07:54 PM
#19
They will....I already said that the housing is different, as its pretty obvious, but the mirror is the same if I'm not mistaken. The bird mirros do have a blue tint to them though...
