DIY: Headlight LED's and blackout

NISMOFO · 04-24-2011, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javier

Hi. I'm thinking of doing the same to my headlights but my numbers indicate that I should be using 200 OHM resistors at 1 watt. The LEDs are runnung at 26mA not the 20mA that they are designed for so the current draws .762 watts. Therefore you should us at least a 1 watt resistor not 1/4 or 1/2. My numbers are as follows: 12 v devided .060mA (3 leds in series) = 200 ohms. Please let me know what you think. I just do not want to be opening these headlights once a year. The way I see it the current is greater than the resistor can handle and they may burn up.

I have the OPs car and lights. Three if the LEDs started flickering on one light. I have since disconnected the LEDs. Way too much headache. Not sure if this helps but more so a warning that you could be right ....or maybe something got loose.

Personal taste but I like it better without the flashy LEDs. I must be getting old.

mywhite370z1 · 04-25-2011, 06:45 AM

Same thing happened to my lights after about a year they all started to blink, I believe the watt on the resistor on the LEDs was to big and shorted out the LEDs, you have to get resistors for a voltage between 14.2, I measured the voltage on my 370z while the car was on, I changed out all the LEDs with a 1/8 watt and 180ohm or 200 ohm and they seem to be fine, it's been probably about 6 months now. I will keep you guys updated if anything goes wrong, also it's bad keeping the LEDs on while the car is turned of the current running to the LEDs is alot less and will cause a shortage

Javier · 04-25-2011, 06:52 AM

I made a strand of just 3 in series with your numbers and they started to fail within the first two hours of constant lighting. Then I made a strand of lights with my numbers and they have been lit for two days with no issues. All you have to do is replace the resiistors and I'm pretty sure you'll be ok also I plan on using my for night time operation only. Way too much hassle, with having to split headlights more than once. Hope this helps.

Best Regards

mywhite370z1 · 04-26-2011, 09:28 AM

what voltage are you testing the lights under? I drive with my lights on morning, day, and night everyday for atleast 2 hours a day for alittle over 6 months sence i replaced all my leds with a resistor of 1/8 watt and 180 or 200 ohm and no problems yet.

Javier · 04-27-2011, 08:12 AM

Had 2 faulty LEDs, replaced them and now working fine 12 volts with 150 OHM 1/2 WATT resistors and working fine now, like you stated. I still have running the strand I made with the 200 OHM 1WATT resisitor and also working great.I think that the strand with the 200 OHM 1WATT resisitor are going to have a much longer life span cause the are running at the correct current. That is just my opinion base on the numbers I got.

mywhite370z1 · 04-28-2011, 07:02 AM

So your testing the LEDs under 12 volt? D/C current or A/C current? Like I stated above the car when running is putting more current to the LEDs 14.2 to 14.4 while the car is off the current running to the LEDs is much lower around 12 volts. The weird thing is the LEDs didn't burn out they shorted out like not getting enough current

kidkotic2001 · 05-06-2011, 12:36 AM

This is crazy I like it a lot. Nice JOB !!!!!

B.A.Q · 06-01-2011, 08:16 PM

I'm having trouble taking off the wires from the headlights

can anyone help??????

Dembflyr · 06-02-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.A.Q

I'm having trouble taking off the wires from the headlights

can anyone help??????

Can you be more specific?

B.A.Q · 06-03-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dembflyr

Can you be more specific?

Mission failed

I've put the headlights back. Couldn't bake it because I didn't know how to get the wires from the head lights off, then I bought a heat gun but couldn't do it either

I'll try to get some help from someone that has done it before

Dembflyr · 06-03-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.A.Q

Mission failed

I've put the headlights back. Couldn't bake it because I didn't know how to get the wires from the head lights off, then I bought a heat gun but couldn't do it either

I'll try to get some help from someone that has done it before

If you can be more specific as to what wires you are having trouble with I'm sure I can help. I've had mine apart multiple times.

B.A.Q · 07-29-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dembflyr

If you can be more specific as to what wires you are having trouble with I'm sure I can help. I've had mine apart multiple times.

I don't know how to take of the wires is there something that doesn't need to b removed I might've been trying to do something wrong!!?

RaulG · 08-02-2011, 12:07 PM

nice job

Dembflyr · 08-02-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.A.Q

I don't know how to take of the wires is there something that doesn't need to b removed I might've been trying to do something wrong!!?

Sorry I didn't see this the other day.

I removed everything. The rubber grommets are easily popped out then disconnect the harnesses and remove the bulbs.

The temperature that you bake theses at isn't enough to melt the wires but I felt better about removing all of them.

Flushnismo · 08-05-2011, 10:54 AM

Okay I need some help. I'm painting my lights but I'm stuck. How do you remove this part of the harness from the light?
Thanks

04-25-2011, 06:52 AM	#138 (permalink)
Javier Base Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 40 Drives: 09 nissan 370z Rep Power: 10139	I made a strand of just 3 in series with your numbers and they started to fail within the first two hours of constant lighting. Then I made a strand of lights with my numbers and they have been lit for two days with no issues. All you have to do is replace the resiistors and I'm pretty sure you'll be ok also I plan on using my for night time operation only. Way too much hassle, with having to split headlights more than once. Hope this helps. Best Regards Last edited by Javier; 04-25-2011 at 07:32 AM.

04-27-2011, 08:12 AM	#140 (permalink)
Javier Base Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 40 Drives: 09 nissan 370z Rep Power: 10139	Had 2 faulty LEDs, replaced them and now working fine 12 volts with 150 OHM 1/2 WATT resistors and working fine now, like you stated. I still have running the strand I made with the 200 OHM 1WATT resisitor and also working great.I think that the strand with the 200 OHM 1WATT resisitor are going to have a much longer life span cause the are running at the correct current. That is just my opinion base on the numbers I got. Last edited by Javier; 04-27-2011 at 08:47 AM.

06-01-2011, 08:16 PM	#143 (permalink)
B.A.Q Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Phoenix,Az Posts: 302 Drives: Touring 370z Rep Power: 15	I'm having trouble taking off the wires from the headlights can anyone help?????? __________________ SOLD!! 09 370z Touring MT: GReddy Ti-C CBE - Berk HFC - Stillen 3G CAI '11 Mustang GT/CS 5.0 MT Last edited by B.A.Q; 06-01-2011 at 08:32 PM.

08-02-2011, 12:07 PM	#148 (permalink)
RaulG Banned Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 74 Drives: __________________ Rep Power: 0	nice job jar1821 likes this.

08-05-2011, 10:54 AM	#150 (permalink)
Flushnismo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 1,041 Drives: 2010 Boosted 40th Rep Power: 17	Okay I need some help. I'm painting my lights but I'm stuck. How do you remove this part of the harness from the light? Thanks __________________ AeroJacket l BC Racing l B&M l K&N l EVO-R l TWM Performance l Tanabe l AAM l Drop Engineering l Zenclosure

04-25-2011, 06:45 AM	#137 (permalink)
mywhite370z1 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: florida Posts: 4 Drives: white 370z 6sp Rep Power: 16	Same thing happened to my lights after about a year they all started to blink, I believe the watt on the resistor on the LEDs was to big and shorted out the LEDs, you have to get resistors for a voltage between 14.2, I measured the voltage on my 370z while the car was on, I changed out all the LEDs with a 1/8 watt and 180ohm or 200 ohm and they seem to be fine, it's been probably about 6 months now. I will keep you guys updated if anything goes wrong, also it's bad keeping the LEDs on while the car is turned of the current running to the LEDs is alot less and will cause a shortage

04-26-2011, 09:28 AM	#139 (permalink)
mywhite370z1 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: florida Posts: 4 Drives: white 370z 6sp Rep Power: 16	what voltage are you testing the lights under? I drive with my lights on morning, day, and night everyday for atleast 2 hours a day for alittle over 6 months sence i replaced all my leds with a resistor of 1/8 watt and 180 or 200 ohm and no problems yet.

04-28-2011, 07:02 AM	#141 (permalink)
mywhite370z1 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: florida Posts: 4 Drives: white 370z 6sp Rep Power: 16	So your testing the LEDs under 12 volt? D/C current or A/C current? Like I stated above the car when running is putting more current to the LEDs 14.2 to 14.4 while the car is off the current running to the LEDs is much lower around 12 volts. The weird thing is the LEDs didn't burn out they shorted out like not getting enough current

05-06-2011, 12:36 AM	#142 (permalink)
kidkotic2001 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 541 Drives: Like Crazy Rep Power: 16	This is crazy I like it a lot. Nice JOB !!!!!

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