Hiya guys. Here's a quick query. I'm wanting to use LEDs on my S1 rear brake light, both to increase brightness and to reduce the wattage at the rear so that I can have a couple of halogen spotlights at the front. I am using a 12v battery (DC) ignition system.
You can get LED kits for S3s and GPs but not for early S1s with a narrow light housing, so I've just bought several strips of 12 LEDs each, each strip being about 6mm wide and 12 cm long. I'm hoping to fit the strips to a metal plate cut to fit inside the housing, then run the wires from each strip to a multiple connector and an earth, with the connector wired up to the loom. I should be able to fit 3 or 4 strips.
Does this all make sense or am I missing a trick? Can it really be that simple? Anyone know how many LED you need to get a decent amount of brake/night time lighting?
Many thanks...
PS: the LEDs are amber, and I'll be aiming to keep the strips dry inside the light housing...
LED brake light advice for total numpty
Hi Nic,
Could you not modify the backing plate from the S3 items, or move the LEDS and the wiring over to a correct sized backing plate?
You have also got to think about providing white light to illuminate your number plate. Hein Gericke, amongst others, do some really trick single white led number plate lookalike bolts.
Could you not modify the backing plate from the S3 items, or move the LEDS and the wiring over to a correct sized backing plate?
You have also got to think about providing white light to illuminate your number plate. Hein Gericke, amongst others, do some really trick single white led number plate lookalike bolts.
Just did this this weekend. I put 3 strips on a Ali plate , wired all strips together + to+ and - to - , then I put a 3 way joining bullett conector block in line and joined the brake light wire and main light wire to this. I also put a 59 resistor in the main light wire to reduce voltage to rear light so brake light is brighter. Hope this makes sense as im writing this on my new phone lol
im using led festoon bulbs, all together they pull 1.9 milli amp 
nothing and they are bright enough to burn your eyes out.
just replace the festoons with the led festoons and job done.
nothing and they are bright enough to burn your eyes out.just replace the festoons with the led festoons and job done.
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NicK: early S1 festoons are a different size and you can't get them (24mm) in LED format.
Mark: thanks for that. Sounds like what I've got in mind. Good tip re. resistor. What's a 59 resistor? Got any piccies? (nice phone!!!!
)
Soullad: The backing plate will be exactly the right size, hopefully...
Mark: thanks for that. Sounds like what I've got in mind. Good tip re. resistor. What's a 59 resistor? Got any piccies? (nice phone!!!!
)Soullad: The backing plate will be exactly the right size, hopefully...
I haven't got a clue what the 59 resistor is mate it's what the boy in maplins told me to use. pm your address and I will send you one
would a 28mm squeeze in? 
Nic wrote:NicK: early S1 festoons are a different size and you can't get them (24mm) in LED format....
i replaced mine (£7) as it was the original and the prongs had broken so mine are 31mm. looks like the way your doing it is perfect though.
Troble with led festoons is they spin round unless soldered and as they have the led on one side only it's notgood
i barbed the holes on the prongs. so far they have stayed put and im running a reasonably vibey ts1.
what i ended up doing though to give the longer story is use the led board from a triumph rear light in the middle as it gave a rear light/brake light and number plate light then festoons either side but the festoons are much better. you can get 360 degree festoons so it doesnt matter about rotation but mine are spots so megga bright
this is the triumph one
from http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffyleds.htm
i opted for what i could get my hands on at the time.
what i ended up doing though to give the longer story is use the led board from a triumph rear light in the middle as it gave a rear light/brake light and number plate light then festoons either side but the festoons are much better. you can get 360 degree festoons so it doesnt matter about rotation but mine are spots so megga bright
this is the triumph one
from http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffyleds.htm
i opted for what i could get my hands on at the time.