Improving the Boot Light and License Plate Bulbs

[aquazi]

Right, I've made some enquries and got some prices. To make some for forum members would require having custom PCBs made. I couldn't saw, file and sand loads of veroboard as it takes ages! I would need to order around 60pcs of the PCB, which is 30 sets of bulbs.

The problem is low runs are expensive. I would expect a pair of bulbs to come out at approx £15 a set inc UK shipping. I have a feeling there won't be enough people interested at that price but welcome to be proven wrong.

If you want to make them yourself links are on the first post.

Dave

Thats a very good price, considering the ebay rubbish out there which will fit is close to £10, for only 1 or 2 led's and the cheaper bulbs dont even fit through the small plate light hole.

I had some spare superflux LED's from my old car, so i have wired up some leds without a board onto my numberplate hole.. nowhere nearly as impressive as your work.

 

[daveg]

Thanks aquazi.

OK, so here starts the list, if it reaches 20) I'll place an order for some PCBs

1)

 

[gannet]

Thanks aquazi.

OK, so here starts the list, if it reaches 20) I'll place an order for some PCBs

sounds good to me, so Ill start the ball rolling

1) gannet

 

[Mafoo]

Thanks aquazi.

OK, so here starts the list, if it reaches 20) I'll place an order for some PCBs

I would definately be up for this

1) gannet
2) mafoo

 

[acerboo]

me too.

 

[Mafoo]

If it reaches 20 ................ at this rate you will have to quit your job to do this full time :rofl:

 

[Exactmax]

That is three now:

1) gannet
2) mafoo
3) exactmax

 

[Starscream]

For us DIY'ers could we have a pic of the back of them so we can build our own

 

[daveg]

Sure - but since right now it's dark and cold have a diagram instead!

Top line is 12V bottom is 0V

Resistor:
{-}
{-}

LED:
[ L ]
[ E ]
[ D ]

Diode:
[Diode]

Track Break:
x


oo[DIODE]ooooooooo[ L ]ooooooooooooo[ L ]oooooooooooooo[ L ]oooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooox[ E ]o{-}o[ L ]ooooox[ E ]o{-}o[ L ]ooooox[ E ]o{-}o[ L ]oooo
oooooooooooooooox[ D ]o{-}o[ E ]ooooox[ D ]o{-}o[ E ]ooooox[ D ]o{-}o[ E ]oooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo[ D ]oooooooooooooo[ D ]ooooooooooooo[ D ]ooo

 

[Starscream]

"almost" makes sense

Pic would clear it up and I wouldn't mind having bash at this myself,

 

[acerboo]

"almost" makes sense

Pic would clear it up and I wouldn't mind having bash at this myself,

same here but afraid have no idea at all what the above means!

 

[m44rrt]

Count me in m44rrt

 

[rus]

not to p*** on anyones fire here but i ordered a set of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320455588383&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT last week, arrived today and have just fitted them. fit nice and securely and even pass through the housing hole. will see how they last.

 

[mmm-five]

not to p*** on anyones fire here but i ordered a set of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320455588383&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT last week, arrived today and have just fitted them. fit nice and securely and even pass through the housing hole. will see how they last.

They're sidelight bulbs. This thread is about registration plate bulbs.

 

[rus]

i know that but surely the side light bulbs are the same as the reg plate ones? t10's?

 

[daveg]

They do fit, but only have 1 LED facing down. The other is facing up into the black plastic housing.

I am biased of course but the LEDs at the beginning of the thread have 6 LEDs (same ones) facing down. The ones on eBay also have load resistors for use where the blown bulb indicator is triggered by a low current LED bulb. This makes the get very hot (I have tried that exact set) and they don't need to since there is no blown bulb detector on the licence plate bulb circuit.

 

[mmm-five]

i know that but surely the side light bulbs are the same as the reg plate ones? t10's?

Sorry, was getting confused with my M5 plate bulbs which are like this...


Z4 ones (side & reg) are of course these...

I regularly had to replace the M5 bulbs so knew what they were like - wrong picture came to my mind :headbang:

In fact, my Z4 reg plate bulbs are RDash ones (did cost £40 though) - and they do replacements for courtesy lights and such...

 

[rus]

ok thats fair enough comment, did they last though on your car or did they pop?

 

[aquazi]

not to p*** on anyones fire here but i ordered a set of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320455588383&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT last week, arrived today and have just fitted them. fit nice and securely and even pass through the housing hole. will see how they last.

Also you are paying £10 for one LED, for an extra £5 you can get 6 times as many LED's.

I am very tempted to get a set now... but was a real ball ache removing my lights in the first place not sure i can be bothered to go through that hassel again - but your lights look so damn nice :?

 

[mmm-five]

ok thats fair enough comment, did they last though on your car or did they pop?

Been on about 6 months now and seem to be fine - although I don't tend to see the rear numberplate when I'm driving at night, so all it probably does is help the cameras/police see who's 'making progress'