Home made Luxeon LED Rock Lights

[Robinhood4x4]

Got done with my rocklight LED project this weekend, I think I've been working on this off and on for about a year now. These are the same type of 1 watt LEDs used by roundeyes, but I only have about $35 into all 8 LEDs. I won't be posting how to make these out of respect for roundeyes, but if you have a little knowledge of electronics, how LEDs work and do a little internet research, you can figure it out. However, if we happen to meet at the campfire, I'd be glad to tell you. :)

BTW, my driver circuitry is far from efficient (I never did like EE), but it works well enough. Combined, all 8 only draw 1.4 amps.

http://www.robinhood4x4.com/misc/LED/LED%20done.jpg

http://www.robinhood4x4.com/misc/LED/row.JPG

http://www.robinhood4x4.com/misc/LED/8.JPG

http://www.robinhood4x4.com/misc/LED/driver.JPG

Originally, I was going to just slather liquid electrical tape over the circuit board where the wires are soldered on. I changed my mind and mounted them in epoxy, but I think it would have worked.
http://www.robinhood4x4.com/misc/LED/liquid%20electrical%20tape.JPG

[oly884]

Very nice! Looks like about the quality that I'd do if I were to do the same.

Don't know where you got your LED's but I got mine from here (http://www.autolumination.com/)

[Robinhood4x4]

I got mine from luxeon for about the same prices. There are also some chinese knockoffs running around out there and some people say they're not quite as bright. One way you can tell is the actual diode, the little yellow thing in the middle is square on the luxeons and hexagonal on the knockoffs.

[salad_man]

Looks very good, I plan on doing the same, using the Dot Light configuration.

[wifesaysimadumbass]

ok i have no clue when it comes to leds besides the obvious amp savings what is the real benefit? also i know that it takes some special wiring can someone clue me in on the deal with leds?

[Robinhood4x4]

The advantage is I can probably leave these things on all night and still be able to start up in the morning. They come in real handy at the campsite at night. I'll usually leave them on all evening so I can see where I'm going or to help set up camp, but they're not blindingly bright.

The other advantage is they're nearly indestructible and if you build them yourself, they're cheap.

LEDs need a certain voltage. If there's not enough voltage they won't light up at all. If there's too much then you fry them instantly. The trick is figuring out how to reduce 12V to approx 3V. The simple way is with resisters, there are lots of calculators online that will figure that out for you. I just happened to go a little more sophisticated route.

[wifesaysimadumbass]

leave them on all night that would be sweet did you buy the leds and housings seperately and then wire them up?

[Robinhood4x4]

See the hexagonal thing embedded in the clear plastic? That's the LED that I bought. Everything else I made. I soldered the wires to the LED, poured epoxy around the LED and wired it all up with the IC chip. The cheaper, easier way to do it is shown in the last picture.

[wifesaysimadumbass]

sweet thanks for all the info

[MTL_4runner]

This guy did quite alot with retrofitting luxeons too.

http://evnut.com/rav_mods.htm

[Stevo3]

Very nice man :thumbup:

So i see your roaming around Phoenix az?? hope to see you around out here, that setup is very sweet, id like to put that on my golfcart.

[914Runner]

Man, I still have yet to get around to building a set of these!

I have all of these "cheap" projects I want to do, but I always forget to order the parts!

[slosurfer]

Steve, where did you mount the 8 rock lights? I've got a project today. :)

[DHC6twinotter]

Sweet setup!



If there's too much then you fry them instantly.


I've done that! I couldn't figure out why my green LED lit up orange. After I touched it and nearly burnt my finger, I figured I did something wrong. :chair:

I changed the voltage from 9v to 3v, and it worked fine. :hillbill:

[Robinhood4x4]

Steve, where did you mount the 8 rock lights? I've got a project today. :)


In front and behind each of the tires, mounted directly to the frame. I just used double sided tape and they're still there after all these years.

What LEDs are you using? They have much brighter ones now-a-days.

[slosurfer]

Thanks Steve, that's where I thought you put them but I wasn't sure.

I'll start a thread about them once I mount them and get some pics, since they are not homemade, but I got the LED Strobe and Rock Light Kit by Vision X (http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=600).

[neliconcept]

so they are strobes and not continuous?

[slosurfer]

they are continuous on, but also have a master control that allows you to strobe them with different patterns and speeds

[paddlenbike]

Next group run, we'll get our disco on...