How to: add dual power led strips to your rear bumper reflectors.
#1
I like cars.
Thread Starter
How to: add dual power led strips to your rear bumper reflectors.
What you will need:
Two led strips
Dremel
Two 470ohm (or close enough) resistors
Two diodes
some wire
What I did first was remove my reflectors, cut the led strips to about the same length of the reflector and then dremeled out a slot wide enough to slide in the led strip.
Then I slide in the led strips. You might have to redremel the slot a little to fit the strip. in my case, my led strip had this waterproof silicone coating I had to remove in order for the strip to go in. After i removed it, it when right in. You might have to mess with it a little.
Then use some silicone to close off the slot so no water gets in.
Next, run the wire through the stock hole as shown. You will find a few ways to run the wires up through the trunk. There are grommets that can be removed for this. You will have to remove the plastic the in the trunk near the bumper. Then you will see the grommets.
Now the wiring! You can wire these up straight to your brake lights or/and parking lights. I wanted both! Thats why i used resistors and diodes. Twist up the resistor and diode like so. Make sure you have the silver strip towards the resistor!
THIS IS OPTIONAL!!! This part requires some knowledge of resistors and diodes and how they work. Look below for some diode info
The resistor cuts the voltage down to about 6 volts. This dims the leds for the parking light affect (half voltage). The diode will prevent the power flowing back into the stock harness.
The diode end goes to the parking wire on the bulbs socket harness and the resistor part goes towards the led strip.
For the brake light effect (full voltage), all you have to do is run a straight wire(with diode) from the brake wire on the bulbs socket harness over to the led strip (after the resistor).
So essentially you should have two power wires and one negative wire going to each led strip.
Parking wire - 6 volts (resistor/diode)
Brake wire - 12 volts (diode)
Ground wire.
Here is a simple wiring diagram i created for you guys.
When the wiring is done correctly, your led strips should immitate the bulbs in the tail lights. here is video of what it should look like.
I hope I explained this in a way that everyone can understand. I am half asleep right now, lol.
How diodes work.
Two led strips
Dremel
Two 470ohm (or close enough) resistors
Two diodes
some wire
What I did first was remove my reflectors, cut the led strips to about the same length of the reflector and then dremeled out a slot wide enough to slide in the led strip.
Then I slide in the led strips. You might have to redremel the slot a little to fit the strip. in my case, my led strip had this waterproof silicone coating I had to remove in order for the strip to go in. After i removed it, it when right in. You might have to mess with it a little.
Then use some silicone to close off the slot so no water gets in.
Next, run the wire through the stock hole as shown. You will find a few ways to run the wires up through the trunk. There are grommets that can be removed for this. You will have to remove the plastic the in the trunk near the bumper. Then you will see the grommets.
Now the wiring! You can wire these up straight to your brake lights or/and parking lights. I wanted both! Thats why i used resistors and diodes. Twist up the resistor and diode like so. Make sure you have the silver strip towards the resistor!
THIS IS OPTIONAL!!! This part requires some knowledge of resistors and diodes and how they work. Look below for some diode info
The resistor cuts the voltage down to about 6 volts. This dims the leds for the parking light affect (half voltage). The diode will prevent the power flowing back into the stock harness.
The diode end goes to the parking wire on the bulbs socket harness and the resistor part goes towards the led strip.
For the brake light effect (full voltage), all you have to do is run a straight wire(with diode) from the brake wire on the bulbs socket harness over to the led strip (after the resistor).
So essentially you should have two power wires and one negative wire going to each led strip.
Parking wire - 6 volts (resistor/diode)
Brake wire - 12 volts (diode)
Ground wire.
Here is a simple wiring diagram i created for you guys.
When the wiring is done correctly, your led strips should immitate the bulbs in the tail lights. here is video of what it should look like.
I hope I explained this in a way that everyone can understand. I am half asleep right now, lol.
How diodes work.
The following 7 users liked this post by Username 0:
civichbdx (06-15-2012),
JDMaccord3.5 (10-04-2013),
MC MiYoung3269 (06-17-2012),
MrTee12 (09-21-2013),
RBNJ (07-10-2016),
and 2 others liked this post.
#3
I like cars.
Thread Starter
The following users liked this post:
MC MiYoung3269 (06-17-2012)
#7
Everyday I'm rofling
Thats smart to use the diodes. When I redo mine I will have to use those instead of doing two independent rows of leds. I tried to do it that way without the diodes and I blew the brake light fuse. Drove to work without brake lights since I didn't know it was blown. Scary times.
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#9
I like cars.
Thread Starter
Thats the easiest part. Thats why i didnt bother adding it. All you have to do is reach your hand behind the bumper where the reflector is and push in the tab on the reflector that is towards the inner part of the bumper. It should pop out and you then can slide it out.
The following users liked this post:
stewxQQ (06-21-2012)
#12
TSX AMG Type //M i-VVT
I never got around to doing this mod. I don't want to pull my rear bumper off..
#13
This is my car photos on exLEDusa instagram page.
http://instagram.com/p/b2vG2BiXbp/
http://instagram.com/p/b7LjkVCXbJ/
The following users liked this post:
mike in bmore (01-22-2017)
#15
TSX AMG Type //M i-VVT
I also did this mod and I didn't remove my bumper.
This is my car photos on exLEDusa instagram page.
http://instagram.com/p/b2vG2BiXbp/
http://instagram.com/p/b7LjkVCXbJ/
This is my car photos on exLEDusa instagram page.
http://instagram.com/p/b2vG2BiXbp/
http://instagram.com/p/b7LjkVCXbJ/
#16
I'm in the process of doing this mod (opening the reflector is tough for me) and I found the grommet he mentions. Once you open the trim on the trunk latch you can pull the carpet from the inner taillight area. There is a rubber button about 2 inches in diameter near the bottom under the carpet area. If you pull that, you can feed wires straight up through from the reflector light.
May be unclear without pictures, I'll try to add later if people are interested.
May be unclear without pictures, I'll try to add later if people are interested.
#17
I have completed the mod but they only function for constant parking lights. They don't get brighter with the brakes even though they are wired for it. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that both parking and brake wires receive 12V when the brakes are pressed or if it's to do with the type of diode I used? (though I don't believe it should be that).
I know the connections of my splices are good via a check with my multimeter.. Don't know what the problem could be... Rocking the reflectors at night in the mean time anyways. Looks good!
I know the connections of my splices are good via a check with my multimeter.. Don't know what the problem could be... Rocking the reflectors at night in the mean time anyways. Looks good!
#18
Drifting
The Diode shouldn't effect anything as far as the brightness goes. It just prevents the current from heading back up the wiring. It's the Resistor that dims the power for the parking lights.
#19
Yeah, that's what I figured... The LED strip works correctly when I test it with an external battery by connecting the 2 power wires independently.. Dimmer with the resistor and brighter without.
Don't know why it doesn't get brighter when both wires are connected...
Don't know why it doesn't get brighter when both wires are connected...
#20
Drifting
Loose connection maybe? lol Try testing them with the battery again, but leave the lead with the resistor plugged in and tap the wire without the resistor on the battery and see what happens.
#24
Drifting
^ The reflectors aren't removed. You're only adding LED's behind the actual "reflector" part of the reflector. The clear red part of the reflector with the pattern on it IS the reflector.
#25
Racer
#26
TSX AMG Type //M i-VVT
won't fit. It's a totally different shape.
#27
#28
I like cars.
Thread Starter
Amazon.com: Brake Attention Flasher Module for LED Brake Lights / Rapid Flash Then Steady On: Automotive
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...be-module/195/http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dyna-Flash-Strobe-Controller-Flasher-Safety-Module-for-LED-Brake-Stop-Light-12V-/221632876165?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item339a594e85&vxp=mtr
Here is a video on how to install the GS-100A which goes for as little as $3 on ebay.
Last edited by Username 0; 02-11-2015 at 08:12 PM.
#30
TSX AMG Type //M i-VVT
only the wagon
#31
So your saying if I buy the Acura TSX wagon brake led kit from them, I can take out the leds and put them in my Acura tsx 2010 reflectors? Would the led be the perfect length ? Because I know the reflectors are different from the wagon to the sedan.
#33
TSX AMG Type //M i-VVT
#34
Advanced
Guys those brake light flashers work, but make sure you get the correct one.. I have 3 capabilities..
1.) Flash flash flash flash flash.. slow flash. slow flash. constant red
2.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash solid.
3.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash
let me know if ya want. ill post a vid
1.) Flash flash flash flash flash.. slow flash. slow flash. constant red
2.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash solid.
3.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash
let me know if ya want. ill post a vid
#35
I like cars.
Thread Starter
Guys those brake light flashers work, but make sure you get the correct one.. I have 3 capabilities..
1.) Flash flash flash flash flash.. slow flash. slow flash. constant red
2.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash solid.
3.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash
let me know if ya want. ill post a vid
1.) Flash flash flash flash flash.. slow flash. slow flash. constant red
2.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash solid.
3.) Flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash
let me know if ya want. ill post a vid
#37
Everyday I'm rofling
If you just have the single power source wired to it you won't need the diodes. The resistors are still needed depending on what voltage the LED strip requires. When you buy one see if the voltage is listed.
#38
10th Gear
#40
Great idea!
Thanks for this idea, I'm going to mod my TSX using this . Just as an FYI I took apart the reflectors using a sharp knife and small flat head 'cause I didn't want to do the "drill through" method you used. I want to make sure I can securely mount my LED strip to the reflector body and I didn't think I could handle it your way It wasn't that hard to pry the 2 pieces apart, just took some patience. There isn't a ton of adhesive holding them together.