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-   -   Anyone interested in an LED conversion kit? (https://www.zdriver.com/forums/280zx-s130-forums-77/anyone-interested-led-conversion-kit-36524/)

FricFrac Nov 16, 2012 09:01 PM

Anyone interested in an LED conversion kit?
 
Looking into a conversion kit to convert all the tail, brake, marker, licence plate and signal lights to LED as well as all the indicators and illumination lights for the tri cluster and main gauge cluster (red unless someone really wants green I can probably get a kit for those as well). Also comes with a festoon bulb for the dome light. The only thing you will need is to convert your flasher to a solid state relay that works with LEDs or add a load resistor for just the signal lights.

Advantages:

Major drop in power consumption - instead of drawing 27 watts (each!) on the 1157 bulbs in your tail lights you'll be drawing about 1/10th. That takes a major load off your alternator and actually helps with fuel consumption when you're running your lights. Ever notice at the traffic lights with your signal lights and headlights on the volt meter bouncing back and forth a lot - that's because you are overloading the alternator with the RPMs being low and a heavy load on your electrical system.

Tend to last a lot longer than normal incandesents

They are colour specific meaning you're not filtering all the other light and just letting red out of the lens - all of it's red from the get go so nothing needs to be filtered making the lighting more efficient again. I've been running red LEDs in my test mule and I love 'em! - way better than the amber or green stock from the factory.

Kits will be about $75 shipped to replace the majority of the power hungry bulbs in the car. If anyone is interested let me know and I'll do a trial run.

SHADY280 Nov 17, 2012 08:23 AM

i did the swap on mine already a long time ago and its so nice. you need to buy an electronic flasher tho or the old school ones blink very fast. i got the colored bulbs that matched the brake and signal colors. the orange is sweet as its like a crayon when its on. the less power your alternator produces the more power the engine can put out as well, just like removing that clutch fan

NismoPick Nov 17, 2012 08:36 AM

Got any LED tail light pics? I've wanted them, but I've seen a lot of Honda ricers with Autozone LED tail light bulbs and they just light up that area, not the entire tail light lens.

turbopuppy Nov 17, 2012 09:34 AM

Interested, Definately. Must include resistive flasher for proper operation.

cbaumy34 Nov 17, 2012 10:28 AM

Id be intersted. Would like to see pics!!

FricFrac Nov 17, 2012 11:03 AM

I'll be including electronic flashers to keep the power consumption down with a proper flash rate. I've ordered enough in for two kits. Once they are in I'll do an install and get some pics for you guys :)

77280ZX Nov 17, 2012 02:26 PM

I'm interested!!! As long as someone does a write up on it lol.

NismoPick Nov 17, 2012 02:27 PM

^^^ I've got that...

Remove old bulbs, install new bulbs.
Remove old flasher, install new flasher.

:D

r2l Nov 17, 2012 09:10 PM

I'd be interested as well....

duckyz Nov 18, 2012 01:49 AM


Originally Posted by NismoPick (Post 318658)
Got any LED tail light pics? I've wanted them, but I've seen a lot of Honda ricers with Autozone LED tail light bulbs and they just light up that area, not the entire tail light lens.

^^ That's holding me back, too. ..and no long exposure pics. That's cheating.

r2l Nov 18, 2012 06:07 AM

I've been looking at the LED brake lights that you see on Semi Trailers, I keep meaning to measure one to see how big it is. I have an extra set of taillights i thought about "modifying "...i keep getting side track by chaising gremlins though...

FricFrac Nov 18, 2012 10:57 AM


Originally Posted by r2l (Post 318680)
I've been looking at the LED brake lights that you see on Semi Trailers, I keep meaning to measure one to see how big it is. I have an extra set of taillights i thought about "modifying "...i keep getting side track by chaising gremlins though...

Tractor trailer tail lights would be nice - ala '80's Corvette or the more common R32 Skyline, etc. It does suit the 280ZX. There are pics of a few with this mod.

FricFrac Nov 18, 2012 11:02 AM


Originally Posted by duckyz (Post 318679)
^^ That's holding me back, too. ..and no long exposure pics. That's cheating.

Lol no worries - not one to cheat :) I'm on holidays until the 28th - hopefully the parts will be in when I get back :)

We'll see how it turns out - good ideas don't always turn into good real life lol.

Good to see there is some interest. I was making LEDs up by hand for a few guys and they turned out pretty well. Hopefully I can do a complete kit that works well. If it's not between good to awesome I won't bother ;) I'm still working on a cheaper version of my Mega Squirt wiring harness kit for the 280ZX but time to work on this and a thousand other projects is limited :)

MurphyEF Nov 18, 2012 11:59 AM

I already swapped my side marker bulbs with LED's. I also just got in red LED dash bulbs the other day, yet to be installed. I've also done a set of LED trailer lights for stop/turn/tails with a spare pair of tails. Took some doing to get them properly aligned and such, but it looked pretty alright, would have been better with a recessed panel like the one for the S30. Definitely interested in having a board-style taillight setup, like some of the S30 guys have done. Not too sure on the simple bulb replacement ones. Definitely looking for more of a newer Cadillac style with the solid bank of lights. What style were you going to do, Mate?

silverzxbullet Nov 18, 2012 12:50 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Are u talking about something like this?? If so i would be interested too!

r2l Nov 18, 2012 03:31 PM

^^^^^ that is pretty awesome ....

NismoPick Nov 18, 2012 04:33 PM

^^^ Yes! That is dope, but would probably be quite a task to make a full circuit board for each light.

If I had all the equipment, I would make a set of clear tail lights and use LED light tubes... kinda like the BMW E39's (One of the main reasons I bought this E39). :D

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4063/4...c4a663b1b4.jpg

FricFrac Nov 18, 2012 06:43 PM


Originally Posted by silverzxbullet (Post 318690)
Are u talking about something like this?? If so i would be interested too!

That's totally doable - problem is you need to destroy your taillights to get the PCB inside.

MurphyEF Nov 18, 2012 10:08 PM


Originally Posted by silverzxbullet (Post 318690)
Are u talking about something like this?? If so i would be interested too!

Definitely the kind of thing I was talking about. Has anyone tried the oven trick for separating the housing to insert them?

SHADY280 Nov 20, 2012 09:23 AM

the rear brake/tail bulbs i got were a smidge too big at first, you just have to turn them in and work them around to install. that was the only hurdle really. they look absolutly identicle to the stock lighting, only difference is the color is much more powerful. the bulbs i got had leds facing out and sideways all the way around so it really lit up the housing well.

MurphyEF Nov 20, 2012 09:38 AM


Originally Posted by SHADY280 (Post 318734)
the rear brake/tail bulbs i got were a smidge too big at first, you just have to turn them in and work them around to install. that was the only hurdle really. they look absolutly identicle to the stock lighting, only difference is the color is much more powerful. the bulbs i got had leds facing out and sideways all the way around so it really lit up the housing well.



Like these ones here?

2 1157 1016 P21 5W T25 Red 45 LED Tail Stop Light Bulb | eBay

pr these ones here?

1157 BAY15D 18 SMD LED Turn Signal Tail Brake Stop Light Fog Lamp 7528 2357 Red | eBay

either way, I'm definitely looking for a LED board style for mine..looks like I might have to fab something up again..lol

FricFrac Nov 20, 2012 10:14 PM

Those ones would probably work. You need about ten of those style for the tail lights and license plate and a an electronic flasher and another 20 or so other lights for the markers, dash, etc.

MurphyEF Nov 21, 2012 12:15 AM

Yeah, I know, I've priced it out recently. Never knew how many bulbs these cars had untill then..Still, the classic orange is growing on me (for the dash) since I swapped in my new dash that actually has the orange covers, rather than a bare bulb...plus, it matches the digital clock I put in..

FricFrac Nov 21, 2012 07:49 AM

I tried the orange and on a whim I tried the red as well and I really like the red LEDs! I'm pretty sure I can do the kit in whatever colour people want. Personally not a big fan of the green ('cept for the signal lights lol) like the later/digital 280ZXs.

MurphyEF Nov 21, 2012 08:22 AM

I'm with you on the green, and your kit sounds like a screamin' deal.


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