deke

Long term LED update. I have a post somewhere in this thread with some 5 basic white LEDs..

welp they dun burned up... so i replaced um with some potted LED's... lets see how long they last this time

Kracker

So my trunk light inverter died a few days ago... I think the problem was it was mounted upside down so it couldn't vent.

Since I was in my trunk I saw, heard and smelled it burn out. Nothing freaks me out more then seeing smoke and smelling stuff burn coming out of somewhere I cant get to super fast.

Replaced it with a new inverter, all is good. Tubes last forever... Inverts burn out, but LEDs suck alot more.

ecliptics

haha jw, where did you get just the inverter? same i like the cathode mod a lot better even tho its a lot harder compared to the leds.

Buda

iTrader: (1)

One point of note when building the reflector to put over the cathodes. Make sure you allow ventilation. I have had 3 configurations, one of which didn't work well.

1 cathode setup - Had a reflector setup as a v over the top of it. The v portion above the cold cathode allowed for air flow. I had no problems with this.

2 cathode setup - Made the reflector form exactly around the edges of the two cathodes side by side (like this |__| except that is upside down) This did not allow ventillation. Moving to KC didn't help with the heat either. The heat caused the cathodes to become very dim and it actually melted the plastic casing!

3 cathode setup - I attached the cathodes in a pyramid fashion. The reflection cover looks like a house with a flat roof and sides angling down to the walls. This has openings on each side of the top cathode for ventilation. So far no problems.

If you have wendy's camera installed make sure you route the cathode wires away from the camera cable otherwise you'll get interference.

If you want pics to see what I'm talking about just let me know.

-----------------------
Check out the Meets section for the KC meet on May 4th!

Kracker

Ecliptics: I ordered extra lights, I cant get the inverters by themselves from directron anymore. I managed to order the lights somewhere else; so I didnt have to pay for tax and they were a few bux cheaper.

Buda: Why is ventilation so important for the lights? The inverters, yes. Tubes... I don't know about that.

TL1999

too much work for light

Tonywp75

I have this mod, looks great..sometimes i worry about the inverter going out and I wont know til i get pull over at night. I am going to switch to Leds ( Modified ones) after these goes out.

ballinfizzle89

iTrader: (6)

This is definitely my top 5 favorite mods.

Kracker

Cops dont pull people with burn out LEDs. My Leds were overpriced, burnt out way to quick, and were ugly.

If I was going to replace my CC tubes, I would go back real bulbs.... I dont hear alot of people complaining about their original bulbs.

I can get 2 sets of (4 bulbs, 2 inverters) that will last around 4 years for about 15 bux. Get that out of any LEDs that are on every minute your headlights are on.

Buda

iTrader: (1)

It can also depend on where you live. In Minnesota I had no problems there. However when I moved down to KC where it can stay around 100 degrees over night, I had problems. I'll see if I still have the cathode setup that failed and post pics. The plastic tube literally melted. The CC tubes due generate some heat and putting an enclosure with reflective table will intensify that.

If I have the failed set still I'll see about posting today or this weekend.

1StGenCL

Wow just did this to my TL and it looks great. I highly recommend doing this for any one that is unsure, I love it

skd2k1

iTrader: (1)

I'm thinking about doing this mod but I'm concerned about the inverter overheating. Any tips on installing the inverter in a way to prevent overheating?

Kracker

Buy extras. It will overheat given enough time. The correct answer is, "make sure it vents up, or at least sideways".

In mine the holes face down. Heat rises, holes should point up. I live in South Texas, so it is HOT here. But my car lives in the shade or inside 95% of the time. I think thats why mine lasted about 2 years.

I am one of the first to do this and I live in a hot climate... Almost every time something went wrong it was because I did it.

skd2k1

iTrader: (1)

What about adding extra holes?

boxstock

I'd really like to get my hands on the pics from the original DIY in this thread. I'd like to look at them before I dissasemble my MDX I could probably host them somewhere too...

boxstock

Kracker

Yeah... Im working on that. I saw them missing a few weeks ago... Ill see about getting the files back at least.

boxstock

too late, the MDX is disassembled

Was getting close to being done (sorta) and broke both bulbs

boxstock

boxstock

On my MDX I have a wiring harness for each license plate light (2).

I'm planning to power 1 inverter off just one harness and then power two bulbs off that inverter. I guess I'll just tape the other harness and leave it inside the tailgate.

Sound ok?

boxstock

Buda

iTrader: (1)

^-- Actually I'd recommend running and inverter to each side. The reason is that in case 1 fails you still have the other going until you notice it. I've had one inverter failure so far and got lucky to notice it as I was showing it off to someone and it didn't work. My setup now makes it hard for complete failure.

I'm running 3 4" bulbs on each side and 3 invertors powering everything. It's going to take a lot for full failure.

boxstock

Done!













Thanks for this tread people!

boxstock

DonnieDarko8221

Any chance of someone posting a new diy for this using multiple inverters? I want to try this out, but none of the links work.

ABP_04TL

iTrader: (2)

damnnn that MDX looks hot with them LEDs, reminds me of the GS lol

Buda

iTrader: (1)

Could you specify the bulb setup you are wanting?
i.e.:
1. two 12 inch bulbs
2. two 4 inch bulbs (one on each side)
3. four 4 inch bulbs (two on each side)
4. six 4 inch bulbs (three on each side)

I've done options 2,3, and 4. I'm currently running 4.

Basically if you use two 12 (or 4) inch bulbs, then use 2 inverters and attach 1 CCFL to each inverter. If you use more then two bulbs in total, then divide the total bulbs by 2 (assuming even number of bulbs) and you use that many inverters. When attaching the CCFL tubes to the inverters, attach 1 CCFL from each side to an inverter.

This way
Inverter
/........\
bulb.....bulb

instead of this way

Inverter
........\\
.........bulb.bulb

This way if an inverter goes out it evenly reduced the light on each side and the remaining inverter(s) will still be powering the remaining bulbs (if more than 2 bulbs are used).

Kracker

Can somebody host the dyi files? Its 1.75 meg. Please PM your email.

DonnieDarko8221

I plan on using four 4 inch bulbs. I got the DIY files from Kracker so I just need to get the necessary components and a dremel so I can cut the spade connectors like you did. Thanks for the tip on attaching the bulbs to the inverters.

Buda

iTrader: (1)

When you get the spade connectors, make sure not the get the cheap blades that are folded over on themselves. Those won't stand up to the dremel. Also make sure that the enclosure you make around the bulbs to create the "flash pan" has sufficient ventilation at the top. I should have taken pics of my 2 bulb per side configuration before I threw them away to show the melted plastic. In the 1 and 3 bulb configs I had proper ventilation and had no problems.

The CCFLs can also go out over time. What I recommend is making a second set at the same time that way when it does happen you can just do a quick swap.

DonnieDarko8221

I finally completed this mod! It wasn't too bad to do either. The worst part for me was using the dremel because I never used one before, but after some trial and error I got the connectors to fit nicely. I would like to thank Kracker for sending me the DIY files and Buda for the suggestions on how to complete it. I will try and post some pics tomorrow or the day after.

timb24

iTrader: (1)

Can someone please tell me what cold cathodes to buy for the rear license plate lights? Im not sure where to get them and a previous link to them is dead. Thanks

DonnieDarko8221

I got them from oznium.com.

click here.

I bought two of the 4 inch white kits. No real problems yet, but it has only been approx two weeks since I installed them. My inverters did separate themselves from the 3M tape today, though, but I just quickly undid the trunk liner and stuck them back on.

pimpin-tl

Kracker, resend them back to me and I can put them up on my other server.

nizmoz @ gmail.com

Thanks.

acurajj

iTrader: (2)

LEDs weren't bright enough, so i went with this mod. and it looks GREAT!!

pimpin-tl

Here is the updated link to the DIY. I have sent a message to the mods to ask them to fix the link.



http://www.zsport.org/russ/cathodeTLhowto.htm

Ron A

You should have actually sent a message by PM instead of a Bad Post Report.

I updated the link in the first post. Thanks for posting it and keeping the thread current.

If there is anything else that needs changing, send me a PM.

pimpin-tl

Yea I didn't know who to contact by PM anymore so I just did the bad post report. Thanks Ron!

flip_side

iTrader: (6)

this mod is awesome. props to whoever made the tutorial.. easy to follow. only thing is I didnt use 3m wire taps or male connectors. Instead, I used t-taps from autozone and just did black to black, red to red. at times the lights would flicker but just have to crimp the taps extremely hard, and so far no flicker. no pics at the moment, but ill take some later on.

flip_side

iTrader: (6)

ok I think something went wrong... after applying some hot glue from a glue gun to the plastic pieces, I noticed the glue turned purple. anyone know how I can remove the glue and plastic pieces without any damage so I can put on some plexiglass with some sealant

Kracker

Cool and peel.... Will it be noticeable? Do you really have to fix it?

flip_side

iTrader: (6)

its pretty noticeable when the trunk is lifted. I have ocd when it comes to those kinds of things I'll try the cool and peel method with a blow dryer and that cooling feature it has. You think goo gone is safe on the paint? or any other adhesive removers out there.

Kracker

Here are my trunk lights... I like these the best:




This is with the factory light looks like:



This is what the CCFL light looks like:



License plate lights... (taking pictures at night.. pfft)



Other lights


More lights

jrobertiko

can someone explain why I can't see any of the pictures posted?? This happens constantly when I'm visiting a thread.