DIY: Custom License Plate LED Fabrication

tbonesteak · 01-10-2010, 06:04 PM

Hey guys,

I didn't know whether to put this in the DIY section or here so mods feel free to move it around if you feel is necessary.

I checked out the direct plug n play bulbs you can get from vleds for the rear license plate lights, but i felt it didn't do an adequate job and i've also been hearing that those burn out so i decided to fabricate a much better solution. The result is an extremely well lit completely OEM looking solution. It is almost identical in color to the Lexus OEM ones but much much brighter. I can now reverse in complete darkness and have the leds illuminate all of the rear area.

1.

Remove the housing and the bulbs. Just slide the entire housing sideways and it pops right out.

2.

Pry open the housing. Take a small flathead and start prying from the corner with the most clearance. You have to apply quite a bit of pressure until you hear a crack. This is not going to crack the housing so you don't have to worry. You're just cracking the dried glue.

3.

Take an LED panel such as this. This one could not fit any more perfect than it did without trimming anything.

4.

Take a glue gun and create a pair of spacers between the LED panel and the surface of the housing. This helps run the wire out of the housing hole much easier and protects the led panel in many ways. This simple step sometimes is the difference between having a panel last 3 months to 5 years.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Then you just glue the housing back together, attach connector that comes with the led panel and plug the baby in.

11.

Voila! Sorry i don't have any night time pictures yet but i will take some and post them tonight. These daytime pics do not do the lights any justice. They are so so bright and so white it is pleasing to my eyes when i look at them.

12.

13.

Thanks for looking and stay tuned for nighttime pictures later on!!

Tim

Update: Night pics!

CBRich · 01-10-2010, 07:10 PM

Where did the LED panel come from?

dad · 01-10-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRich

Where did the LED panel come from?

V-LEDS.COM High Power Automotive LED Replacment Bulbs, V-HID Headlight Kits

tbonesteak · 01-10-2010, 11:38 PM

these ones weren't from vled. they were just two pieces of scrap lying around for a while.

Trips · 01-10-2010, 11:55 PM

Looks like now the cops can read your lic plates from a mile away. lol
Thanks for providing an alternative, Good Job!

tbonesteak · 01-11-2010, 12:49 AM

Thanks dude. HAha yeah hopefully i won't do anything stupid and try to run or i'm straight PWNeD. The lights i noticed helps me back up at night. Funny cuz that's the last thing i even had on my mind and ended up being the most beneficial part of the mod.

abgyak · 01-11-2010, 07:51 AM

Wow... thats very bright for a license plate light... i bet it can be used to locate dead frogs on the road

hehehe

simota1 · 01-11-2010, 08:01 AM

dat is bright!!! awesome dood!!!

Rob@Altered · 01-11-2010, 08:54 AM

Nice write up.

kenchan · 01-11-2010, 10:32 AM

did you seal it up with some silicon? (too lazy to read your post).

also, remember that contratry to wat most people think, when your rear is super bright cars behind you will tend not to focus on your car because they can't see very well... = rear end collision.

370Zsteve · 01-11-2010, 10:40 AM

Nice DIY, great pics, +1 rep

vipor · 01-11-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

did you seal it up with some silicon? (too lazy to read your post).

also, remember that contratry to wat most people think, when your rear is super bright cars behind you will tend not to focus on your car because they can't see very well... = rear end collision.

i believe he used hot glue. same difference. i would recommend it for sure.

AK370Z · 06-09-2010, 02:16 AM

for an awesome DIY.

Questions

a. I just need regular superglue (i.e. crazyglue ) right? Nothing special?

b. Any special tips how to take the white cover off easily?

I'm gonna try 24 led circuit boards

.

thanks

DarkPath · 06-09-2010, 07:42 AM

I looked and it doesn't seem like anyone asked this - but what was the Outside measurements or better yet - specific ID of the LED panel from the website indicated? Normally I'd try to figure it out on my own... But the OP said it was a perfect fit, that makes a difference to me. Looks like a simple upgrade, and with lifting it off the housing that way I am guessing that it will operate cooler - increasing the life span.

tbonesteak · 06-09-2010, 09:40 AM

AK,

I'm assuming you're asking about the spacers correct? If so, you cannot use crazy glue. Crazy glue is too watery to form any kind of a shape. The acidity will also damage the LED panel. You have to use a hot glue gun, one where you insert a rubbery tube like substance into a gun that heats it and turns it into a thick jelly like thing that hardens as it dries. I recommend you practice a few times on two plastic pieces to get the method down if this is your first time. If you mess up, the LED panels are now garbage.

The white cover comes off but you must stick a very small flat head to one of the corners and pry with a good amt of pressure. The trick is that one corner of every housing has the most amt of clearance for the flat head to fit. You just have to find that corner by prying lightly on each corner and feel which one has grabs and has most leverage. Once you found the corner, just hold the entire housing with your hand and push and pry pretty hard outward. Keep applying more pressure til you hear a big crack and break loose the hardened glue from the factory.

Dark Path,

To be honest with you, i have no information on the led panels. These panels were leftovers from past projects that go back 3 years. I just found them laying around and decided to see if it fits. You can go to any lighting hardware store with the housing and do a testfit. If it fits, you know what model they are. Gluck!

01-10-2010, 06:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
tbonesteak Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 914 Drives: MY09 MB 6MT Rep Power: 375	DIY: Custom License Plate LED Fabrication Hey guys, I didn't know whether to put this in the DIY section or here so mods feel free to move it around if you feel is necessary. I checked out the direct plug n play bulbs you can get from vleds for the rear license plate lights, but i felt it didn't do an adequate job and i've also been hearing that those burn out so i decided to fabricate a much better solution. The result is an extremely well lit completely OEM looking solution. It is almost identical in color to the Lexus OEM ones but much much brighter. I can now reverse in complete darkness and have the leds illuminate all of the rear area. 1. Remove the housing and the bulbs. Just slide the entire housing sideways and it pops right out. 2. Pry open the housing. Take a small flathead and start prying from the corner with the most clearance. You have to apply quite a bit of pressure until you hear a crack. This is not going to crack the housing so you don't have to worry. You're just cracking the dried glue. 3. Take an LED panel such as this. This one could not fit any more perfect than it did without trimming anything. 4. Take a glue gun and create a pair of spacers between the LED panel and the surface of the housing. This helps run the wire out of the housing hole much easier and protects the led panel in many ways. This simple step sometimes is the difference between having a panel last 3 months to 5 years. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Then you just glue the housing back together, attach connector that comes with the led panel and plug the baby in. 11. Voila! Sorry i don't have any night time pictures yet but i will take some and post them tonight. These daytime pics do not do the lights any justice. They are so so bright and so white it is pleasing to my eyes when i look at them. 12. 13. Thanks for looking and stay tuned for nighttime pictures later on!! Tim Update: Night pics! Last edited by tbonesteak; 01-10-2010 at 10:46 PM.

01-10-2010, 11:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,728 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Looks like now the cops can read your lic plates from a mile away. lol Thanks for providing an alternative, Good Job! __________________

01-11-2010, 07:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
abgyak Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brunei Darussalam Posts: 378 Drives: 370z - 260z - 280zx Rep Power: 15	Wow... thats very bright for a license plate light... i bet it can be used to locate dead frogs on the road hehehe __________________ Brunei Darussalam: Abode Of Peace

01-11-2010, 08:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
simota1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dededo, Guam Posts: 6,642 Drives: solid red 370z 6mt Rep Power: 404	dat is bright!!! awesome dood!!! __________________ *TOP SECRET/POWERHOUSE AMUSE/ARC/DAYTONA RACING/VARIS/MINES/GANADOR/J-LINE/WORK EMOTION CR KAI/GT SPEC/CARBON SIGNAL/ZOOM ENGINEERING/ CARBON FIBER ELEMENT/STILLEN/*

01-11-2010, 08:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
Rob@Altered Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gaithersburg Posts: 282 Drives: 350Z/370Z/GTR/G35 Rep Power: 368	Nice write up. __________________ Altered Atmosphere Motorsports RobS@alteredatmosphere.com

01-10-2010, 07:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	Where did the LED panel come from?

01-10-2010, 11:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
tbonesteak Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 914 Drives: MY09 MB 6MT Rep Power: 375	these ones weren't from vled. they were just two pieces of scrap lying around for a while.

01-11-2010, 12:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
tbonesteak Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 914 Drives: MY09 MB 6MT Rep Power: 375	Thanks dude. HAha yeah hopefully i won't do anything stupid and try to run or i'm straight PWNeD. The lights i noticed helps me back up at night. Funny cuz that's the last thing i even had on my mind and ended up being the most beneficial part of the mod.

01-11-2010, 10:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	did you seal it up with some silicon? (too lazy to read your post). also, remember that contratry to wat most people think, when your rear is super bright cars behind you will tend not to focus on your car because they can't see very well... = rear end collision.

01-11-2010, 10:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 42	Nice DIY, great pics, +1 rep __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

06-09-2010, 02:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
AK370Z Administrator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 9,930 Drives: 09 370Z MB Sports M6 Rep Power: 10	for an awesome DIY. Questions a. I just need regular superglue (i.e. crazyglue ) right? Nothing special? b. Any special tips how to take the white cover off easily? I'm gonna try 24 led circuit boards . thanks __________________ The370Z Signature Pictures ll Want to rock our forum decals on your car? Then click here! ll How to Embed YouTube Videos In a Post STOP! (Hammertime) ll Become a Premium Member Click HERE ll F.A.Q. Are You a Nissan Dealer? Click Here to Become A "Supporting Dealer" and Start Listing Your 370Zs In Our Inventory Section My Monterey Blue Z ll My Exhaust --> My Intake --> G3 Nissan's Official Response Regarding Oil Temp Issue: CLICK HERE Need a Set of Cheap Winter wheels /Tires? Then Visit The Banner Link Below and Place Your Order. You'll Help Keep The370Z Alive.

06-09-2010, 07:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
DarkPath Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hampton Roads VA Posts: 318 Drives: 40th Anniversary M6 Rep Power: 14	I looked and it doesn't seem like anyone asked this - but what was the Outside measurements or better yet - specific ID of the LED panel from the website indicated? Normally I'd try to figure it out on my own... But the OP said it was a perfect fit, that makes a difference to me. Looks like a simple upgrade, and with lifting it off the housing that way I am guessing that it will operate cooler - increasing the life span. __________________ C&C WMBG www.carsandcoffeewilliamsburg.com [B]Looking for build badges? darkpath.ent.llc@gmail.com

06-09-2010, 09:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
tbonesteak Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 914 Drives: MY09 MB 6MT Rep Power: 375	AK, I'm assuming you're asking about the spacers correct? If so, you cannot use crazy glue. Crazy glue is too watery to form any kind of a shape. The acidity will also damage the LED panel. You have to use a hot glue gun, one where you insert a rubbery tube like substance into a gun that heats it and turns it into a thick jelly like thing that hardens as it dries. I recommend you practice a few times on two plastic pieces to get the method down if this is your first time. If you mess up, the LED panels are now garbage. The white cover comes off but you must stick a very small flat head to one of the corners and pry with a good amt of pressure. The trick is that one corner of every housing has the most amt of clearance for the flat head to fit. You just have to find that corner by prying lightly on each corner and feel which one has grabs and has most leverage. Once you found the corner, just hold the entire housing with your hand and push and pry pretty hard outward. Keep applying more pressure til you hear a big crack and break loose the hardened glue from the factory. Dark Path, To be honest with you, i have no information on the led panels. These panels were leftovers from past projects that go back 3 years. I just found them laying around and decided to see if it fits. You can go to any lighting hardware store with the housing and do a testfit. If it fits, you know what model they are. Gluck!

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