[Shotimes] LEDs and lamp out

[Ian Fisher]

Mike
The LED goes to full bright and off more quickly than
a standard bulb because there isn't a filament inside
that needs to heat up and cool each time power is sent
to the unit. That's one of the reasons I orginally
installed them. That few milliseconds means a lot in
heavy fast moving traffic when you're worried about
someone behind you braking. I always like the "instant
on" from the BMW's, Infiniti's, etc and felt that I
was braking sooner when their tail lamps lit up sooner
vs. standard brake lights. 

Because they have such a low power draw, the car's
lamp out system thinks that the bulbs is "out" and
speeds up the flasher to warn the driver. What we are
doing is looking for a solution around this "sped up
flash rate".

Oh, I also installed them because they look pretty
neat too. :)

Ian


--- Co-Op <Co-Op@schramminc.com> wrote:

> I've heard that LED lights don't actually blink
> faster, but the speed at
> which there bulb goes from off to full bright is
> much quicker than a
> filament bulb.  Think about how a lighthouse looks. 
> That bulb is so big
> that it takes a couple seconds for the filament to
> get hot and glow
> brightly.
> 
> About the dash bulb coming on.  I would either pull
> the warning light out of
> the dash, or change the name of it from light out,
> to brake on.  Kind of
> like a little brake light on the dash.  Could be
> helpful on the track to let
> you know that your foot is resting too heavily on
> the brake pedal.  With
> that, I would like to see a series of LED tapped
> into the throttle position
> sensor to show how far you are pressing the gas
> pedal.  Oh, and a pattern of
> lights to indicate what gear you are in.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Fisher [mailto:dataflash@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 12:49 PM
> To: Donald Mallinson; shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] LEDs and lamp out
> 
> 
> A resistor would work but they run very hot. So hot
> that they can burn through trunk carpeting and melt
> plastic. What JVO and I (and others) are doing is
> trying to find a flasher that will work properly. It
> doesn't seem like anything will be plug n' play so
> it
> looks like we will need to build something or rewire
> the stock flash circuit to accept a different
> flasher.
> I have so many other projects (car and life) on my
> plate at the moment that I haven't had much chance
> to 
> play around with it much at this time..
> 
> Ian
> 
> --- Donald Mallinson <dmall@mwonline.net> wrote:
> 
> > Yes, you need a resistor, which is why I don't
> have
> > them on any of my 
> > cars.   I don't have the electircal knowledge to
> say
> > what value you need 
> > on that resistor, but I am sure someone here does.
> 
> > Have you asked the 
> > manufacturer of the bulbs?  Usuall they sell the
> > proper resistor.
> > 
> > Don Mallinson
> > 
> > van Oss wrote:
> > 
> > >With LED brake lights, I'm noticing that the Lamp
> > Out indicator comes on
> > >every time I brake.  Also, the flash rate is
> > faster.
> > >
> > >Both of these effects are because LEDs draw less
> > current than incandescents,
> > >is that right?
> > >
> > >Would both be corrected by inserting a resistor
> in
> > the line to each LED?
> > >How would I calculate the ohm rating of the
> needed
> > resistor?
> > >
> > >Per Herman Anker, my Lamp Out module is already
> > disconnected from the
> > >headlights because of a headlamp harness.  Maybe
> I
> > should just remove the
> > >Lamp Out module?
> > >
> > >VO
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