36 replies to this topic

[ChrisG]

Having admired Wicky's "Nitram special" LED indicators with the built in running lights, and having noticed just how cheaply you get packs of 100 high intensity LED's of e-bay, I'm tempted to build myself some, mainly for the running lights because they make the bike a lot more noticable.

In the absence of Nitram (last post about a year ago), I have a couple of questions for anyone who has them fitted, and any electronics experts out there.

1 - Presumably you had to fit a different flasher unit rather than having ballancing resistors built in to the indicator unit? Resistors would be the easier option but I'm a bit concerned about the amount of heat they'd have to dump.

2 - Did he use white LED's or where they yellow/amber? I'm thinking the brilliant white ones might be a little too pale for the indicator, though brilliant for the running lights

3 - How many LED's in the array? Dunno how bright indicators are supposed to be but brake lights are supposed to be 60-185 Candela so I reckon with the high intensity jobbies (12-15 Candela) I could get away with 9-12 (calcs suggest series of 3 is best configuration for 14.4 volt) plus a few more set at an angle. A lot of the automotive LED bulbs use 12-19 LEDs but I guess they're not as bright. If I buy in packs of 100 this isn't going to be a big problem though.

[wicklamulla]

or buy stock BMW indicators which accept 'lite buddies' which are supplied by Nippy Normans, u can get clear lens fer them too. actually u can get clear winker and tail lens fer MKI and MKII TDM's too.
ps i tink the beemer winkers woiuld fit easily as i looked into doin it.

Edited by wicklamulla, 03 October 2007 - 03:07 pm.

[TonyDevil]

my only comment about wickys is the running lights make it harder to notice when the indicator is on

but.....an LED rear light has got to be better than the standard mk1, in the rain and spray it was almost impossible to see your rear light, but Rays tiger LED rear lights where as bright as can be

i was looking at these http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=250170302266

[jht]

Had some LED rear bulbs fer the VFR from a famous local automotive emporium

reckon they were dimmer than the ordinary 21/5w jobbies when fitted

(tested using my eyeballs at night !!)

still have them somewhere

found these too


http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=110174207677

Edited by jht, 03 October 2007 - 03:17 pm.

[ChrisG]

Wicky:
Cheers, I'll take a look a the BMW ones

Tony:
I was only thinking of doing the front ones, Wicky's front indicators showed up pretty well, anmd I like the impression of width the running lights gave (thought it might have been due to the cooked breakfasts and mixed grills) I never got close enough behind him to see how well his rear ones work
Having followed you and Martin a few times recently I reckon the LED brake light strip on the givi rack is a good idea, and you've got a good point about upgrading the rear lights, though watch out which bulbs you get. I'm pretty certain the Mk1 uses dual filament jobbies with rear light and brake light in one bulb, not the type you posted. Plus a lot of bikes use spill from the rear light to illuminate the number plate, not sure if the Mk1 has a seperate bulb for that, but if not you need a different type of LED bulb.

jht:
That looks like the unit Wicky and someone else (must have been either Waspy or Avonne) had last weekend.

Edited by ChrisG, 03 October 2007 - 03:20 pm.

[Pict]

Bulbs R Us have various arrays including 19LED amber for indicators.

[wicklamulla]

Wicky:
Cheers, I'll take a look a the BMW ones
look at the ones fitted to 1150 GS and Rocksters, if ya cud get a set (stalks, wiring etc) from a breaker you'd save a fortune plus they are 'factory produced' not like the home made shoite ones i had to endure as they failed alot.
jht:
That looks like the unit Wicky and someone else (must have been either Waspy or Avonne) had last weekend. yes we both have this set up and i'd be willing to sell the lamp holder/LED assembly minus the clear lens if yer interested, it's quality looking stuff and has the extra LED's pointing downwards fer the number plate illumination, i simply used the LED bulbs that Tony posted a pic of above and it passed the MOT 2 weeks back with this set up no problem.

i may decide to fit clear front winker lenses as that will then clearly show my running lights in white and me indicators in amber, so t'would be easier to distinguish atween the 2, as fer the rear Givi rack ones i have been trying to hunt down clear lenses fer these but nobody seems to sell em, but i have got a stock pair of TDM rear indicators that have been modded like the fronts (red stop/tail led's & amber winker led's) and i could try to fit these with clear lenses to the wingrack, but i'd need to fabricate a bracket of some description i suppose.

http://nippynormans....ts.asp?dept=201


http://nippynormans....e...m=3&mitem=4

http://nippynormans....ts.asp?dept=238

[ChrisG]

Bulbs R Us have various arrays including 19LED amber for indicators.

WTF? I thought I'd replied to this but it seems to have dissapeared...

Trouble with replacing the indicator bulbs is mose of the LED ones are designed for cars where the bulb faces forewards/backwards. The TDM's bulbs face sideways so the standard car ones won't work.

That shop does sell a high power resistor with built in heatsink that would save changing the relay though.




Nobody seems to be breaking any BMW's on e-bay at the moment. I'll take a look at the indicators on the next GS I see. I have a look at the stock Mk1 indicator tonight to see if there's space to buildsomething like those Nippy Norman jobbies. If I can then get clear lenses (and another indicator 'cos I've only got the left one and my Motrax replacements are a bit too small) I could try LED running lights and amber incandescent bulb, It that doesn't fit I could have a go at building my own full LED setup.

[ChrisG]

Bugger me, I'd forgotten how huge the standard TDM indicators are. I reckon at a push I could fit a 6x12 array of 3mm LED's in there. That's be brighter than my headlights!

Any ideas where I'd get clear indicator lenses for a Mk1? I can see the BMW idea might be easier as there's a lot more accessories for them

Edited by ChrisG, 03 October 2007 - 07:29 pm.

[TDMTAM]

If you are going to replace the stop tail lights with LEDs used red ones as the "white" ones are shite through the red lense.
TAM

[wicklamulla]

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...1QQcmdZViewItem

copy, pasted and checked link is working.

Edited by wicklamulla, 03 October 2007 - 10:21 pm.

[E-njoy]

http://nippynormans....ts.asp?dept=201
http://nippynormans....e...m=3&mitem=4
http://nippynormans....ts.asp?dept=238

It seems a lot cheaper (depending on shipping though) if you order from the source: http://www.run-n-lit...m/pricelist.asp

Do you know if the GS blinkers and stalks fit on the TDM900 as well? Seems interesting to replace the front with these amber LED runners and the rear with the red LED runners (both with clear lenses and amber bulbs then), although I do like the look of my black blinkers right now...

[Sparra]

It seems a lot cheaper (depending on shipping though) if you order from the source: http://www.run-n-lit...m/pricelist.asp

Do you know if the GS blinkers and stalks fit on the TDM900 as well? Seems interesting to replace the front with these amber LED runners and the rear with the red LED runners (both with clear lenses and amber bulbs then), although I do like the look of my black blinkers right now...

I like the overall look of your bike e-njoy.

[ChrisG]

You're saying you want to run the indicators in reverse? Have them on all the time and flash off when indicating? In that case you could probably do it with a couple of relays and a logic gate to invert the signal from the flasher relay, which you'd need to change as a bimetalic strip one wouldn't be able to do it. Dunno what your laws are like but I doubt that would be legal over here though.

[jht]

The only idea I've had for rear leds was to rig up a kinda secondary led fog/brake light ala givi topbox ones, but on std TDM for use in hi spray lo viz situtaion on the motorway.
Something that would fit under grabrail
don't think running lights will give same viz

[ChrisG]

Martin and Tony have fitted LED strip brake lights under thier givi racks and they show up very well.

[CaptainSlow]

I'd just like to add that if you want any bulbage, I would thoroughly recommend using AceParts as noted in an earlier post. I've had LED bulbs for various cars & bikes, and service is second to none.

As an example, I ordered a set of Xenons for the Missussessess motor, I got the wrong fog light code. Alan at Ace sent me the new ones within 2 days of me asking, no extra charge & let me keep the wrong 'uns (which fit my car!)

I'm not affiliated in any way to them, just a really satisfied punter who finds a bit of good custy service very welcome indeed!

Dan

[BN2TDM]

If you are going to replace the stop tail lights with LEDs used red ones as the "white" ones are shite through the red lense.
TAM

I have some red LED bulbs fitted.

I wouldn't say they are a lot brighter, but from a distance it appears there are 2 brake lights; whereas with the ordinary bulbs its like a red 'blob'. I think it looks better with the LEDs fitted though..

Your number plate won't light up like it should do though. Well it will, but in red not white.

Edited by tdmbrightonuk, 05 October 2007 - 08:13 pm.