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Augmented Rear Signals

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Tomster

Jedi Knight
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After being almost rear ended a couple of times (again) yesterday, I am seriously considering mounting a removable LED brake and signal light array across the width of the windshield, temporarily anchored via the roof locator pins on the windshield frame. I have read an earlier forum thread and have looked at the LED replacement tail light bulbs and don't think this solution would help, primarily due to the low axis of the lamps vs the (following) driver's line of sight. I also understand that the dual signal + brake combined lamps may or will not work with thermal flasher units.
Anyone tried any solutions that they were happy with?
Any comments on the thermal flasher point?
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
I have been in the same situation myself and thought about it a bit. One option I have toyed with but never done anything with is to find a rear licence plate holder that is all red and lights up. I figure that could be wired as a centre mounted brake light. This does not address your turn signal question. But I figure a large red rectangle lighting up when I hit the brakes may get their attention.
 
How about this? I've posted it before, adnauseum actually, but it works great! The LED lights at night really light up, daytime too.
brakelight.jpg


Bill
 
The racing catalogs sell a round braking light. It is around 2" in diameter with a cluster of very bright LEDs. If you're interested I'll look in my catalogs over the weekend.
I'm considering adding a third brake light. I like what Bill did. I'm not sure if I wand to install a roll bar.
 
Bill, your's is one of the threads that I'd read (without naseum)
Do you have signal as well as brake in this array?
If your's includes the signals, how did you get around the thermal flasher?
Adrio, Can Tire has the licence plate surrounds but they again are too low and basically consist of low intensity glowing, lite-rope, pretty wimpy. Probably best left to the clowns with the "Ga-ru-vy" under chassis lighting.
I am almost at the point of installing 8 inch diameter, Mickey Mouse style round lamps.

Maybe they are all just distracted with beauty of following a LBC
 
Tom,
The light is out of a NAPA catalog. They offer many LED lights from a vaiety of manufacturers. This one draws almost no amps and is just a brake light, wired right into the harness (threaded through the roll bar). During the day, it is quite visible, at night, it lights up like a torch!

Bill
 
Moss Motors does a kit with (I believe) a magnetic base-mount stop light. This can be easily plugged into the existing harness and just as easily removed.

For the "sidescreen" cars, one could revert to the pre-TR3A combination license plate/stop lamp unit, but that does involve an extra, largish hole in the rear apron to clear the bulb holder.
 
Tomster, I to have been looking for a brighter tail light and have found a couple of interesting solution. There is a LED bulb at Advance Auto (or maybe any of the automotive stores) that replaces the 1157 bulb for the brake and tail light. They are out right now so I have to wait on that part. The bulb is a direct replacement and has bout 6 LED lights in a 1 and a 1/4 inch circle or there about. While getting into the whole thing I found out that the plastic surround on the brake/rear light has lost all it's silver paint, so I took it out and shined up the chrome behind where it fit and the signal light part and what a difference. I guess you could repaint the plastic with some chrome paint and I may do that later but right now I'm happy and will still replace the brake/rear light when it comes in. Hope this will help. Wayne
 
https://www.ledtronics.com/datasheets/auto_index/auto_index.htm
These guys would seem to have the widest selection of replacement lamps including some with a greater LED count per lamp. They also have a good information and support section on these lamps.
Please note the "load resistor" that may be req'd for thermal flasher setups
Still we are dealing with a relatively low axis for line of sight with our LBC's so that is why I am going to come up with a low profile, easily placed and removable array for a "top of windshield" installation. Will keep everyone posted if I succeed.
 
I'm trying to come up with one too...using the trunk just behind petrol fill as most likely placement. IMHO the windscreen top disadvantage would be when top is up in bad weather and it is even more important to have a high light.
 
The way my moulded-in-the-rollbar LED light sits, it is virtually out of sight when the top is up (you don't notice it at all) but it is completely brilliant when the brakes are hit.
(Too bad photobucket keeps erasing my photos. Gotta figure out how to keep them up, must not have clicked the right buttons.)


Bill
 
OK here we go:
Grote offers a series of add ons
See "Super Nova" and other products here
https://www.grote.com/prodcat/C.html

By far the best Mfg'r. is WHELEN who make the ultra high intensity lights seen on Police and EMS vehicles
https://www.whelen.com/
Their most suitable units are either the TIR3 series ($100.00 CDN each) or the Strip-Lite PSRASXC @ $120.00 Cdn.

These guys have video demos of most lights
https://12.152.68.2/video/

Where did I settle?
At this point I've located a vendor who will sell individual Ultra High intensity (12 volt setup) LED's which I am going to hard wire into the upper windshield frame and metal trim plate that the soft top lock into. This installation should be almost undectable when complete....
I don't usually drive the car in the rain and don't particularly want magnetic based trunk mount lights.
I hope to do this in the comming week. I'll send photos of the finished results after the swearing is over.
 
Will try to re post all the info that I entered yesterday, which now appears to have been stripped from this thread, grrr
 
I have the LED replacements in my Jimmy. One thing I've noticed is the design of the bulbs does not utilize the reflector in the tail light housing. The lights are a bit brighter, but the overall effect is smaller. I also installed a different flasher. It's not a no load unit. I think it requires 1 or 2 regular bulbs. It works but it is slow. The time between blinks is about like the TR6 at night at idle.
 
Fearing the possibility of rear end collision, I installed a third brake light on the roll bar of my Spitfire. I'm not sure that it has any effect on the drivers behind me, but it looks good and I feel better. T.T.
 
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