homemade foglights help.
10-19-2009, 10:49 PM
#1
homemade foglights help.
looking to see if i should make my own fog lights out of l.e.d.s i was thinking making like 12 or 15 on each light, so in total maybe 24 or 30 all in all. i wanted to get the power from my 12 volt cig outlet in the car, but i dont know what resister to get if i even need one. ive seen one dude in this forum who made l.e.d. fog lighs as well, but he never responded to me. so, if anyone could help me, it would be great.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/Angel800.jpg
this is the pic of the guy who made his own foglights using l.e.d.s
i wanted to make mine similar, but i just dont know how to wire it up if i wanna get it from the cig lighter.
thanks in advanced.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/Angel800.jpg
this is the pic of the guy who made his own foglights using l.e.d.s
i wanted to make mine similar, but i just dont know how to wire it up if i wanna get it from the cig lighter.
thanks in advanced.
10-19-2009, 11:29 PM
#3
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depends on the LEDs, the color, and how many you run
i dunno the formula, but 4V LEDs to run off 12v need a 150ohm resistor.
since ive fried LEDs before, i recommend just looking for 12v LED fog setup somewhere.
i dunno the formula, but 4V LEDs to run off 12v need a 150ohm resistor.
since ive fried LEDs before, i recommend just looking for 12v LED fog setup somewhere.
10-20-2009, 12:29 AM
#4
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Or you can buy my PIAA LED Fog Lights. With custom mounting brackets 
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=172978
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=172978
10-20-2009, 12:41 AM
#5
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i've done that... i just tapped it into the factory fog wiring.. and wired it up from the inside.
afaik, this guy did it first
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/scion-tc-1g-aero-exterior-1636/custom-led-fogs-plate-lights-3rd-brake-light-undrbodys-63197/
afaik, this guy did it first
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/scion-tc-1g-aero-exterior-1636/custom-led-fogs-plate-lights-3rd-brake-light-undrbodys-63197/
Last edited by SquallLHeart; 10-20-2009 at 12:45 AM.
10-20-2009, 01:15 AM
#6
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Depends how you wire up the LEDs... Most LEDs have a 3.3V drop. Best way would be to wire them as sets of 3 in series, and the sets of them in parallel. Then take 14.4V - 9.9 V = 4.5V / 20mA (typical LED current draw) = 225 ohm resistor needed. Here is a basic wiring diagram per this method:
MSpaint wiring diagram ftw!
MSpaint wiring diagram ftw!
10-20-2009, 01:22 AM
#7
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btw, the basic formula is just Ohm's Law rearranged: V = I*R -> R = V / I
where V is the voltage difference, battery voltage (12~14.4V) - LED drop (anywhere from 3.1V to 3.3V per LED). You might be able to do 4 in series instead of just 3, but if your battery voltage drops, then you will be underpowering them. For worst case planning, I would stick to 3 in series.
where V is the voltage difference, battery voltage (12~14.4V) - LED drop (anywhere from 3.1V to 3.3V per LED). You might be able to do 4 in series instead of just 3, but if your battery voltage drops, then you will be underpowering them. For worst case planning, I would stick to 3 in series.
10-21-2009, 03:42 AM
#10
im planning to make maybe 12 or 15 on each fog light.
im trying to make it similar to this one
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/Angel800.jpg
so, what kind of resistor do i need to light those up? cuz total, i will have maybe 24 or 30 LEDs.
10-21-2009, 03:44 AM
#11
Or you can buy my PIAA LED Fog Lights. With custom mounting brackets
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=172978
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=172978
wow, thats really nice. props. but thats the thing, i really dont have that much money to be spending. thats why im making my own. and plus, i thought it would be kinda fun, u know? but thanks anyways.
10-21-2009, 03:58 AM
#12
Depends how you wire up the LEDs... Most LEDs have a 3.3V drop. Best way would be to wire them as sets of 3 in series, and the sets of them in parallel. Then take 14.4V - 9.9 V = 4.5V / 20mA (typical LED current draw) = 225 ohm resistor needed. Here is a basic wiring diagram per this method:
MSpaint wiring diagram ftw!
MSpaint wiring diagram ftw!
10-21-2009, 04:41 AM
#13
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You COULD tap any +12V line for power, but I would strongly recommend not doing this. I would recommend you calculate the total current draw you will be accumulating, and put a fuse from the battery and draw your power straight from there. It would be closer than the cigarette lighter, and safer if you use the proper fuse.
Here is an estimation of the power draw you can expect, but it will vary based on the specs of your system:
I per set of three diodes = 20mA (this is the maximum allowable current before you run the risk of burning up LEDs)
Total current = 20mA * 10 sets of LEDs (30 total) = 200mA. This current draw is small enough you would be ok to tap another 12V source, but if you just got a 1A inline fuse, you could run straight from the battery, which would be much closer to your fog lights. Just grab a ring terminal, run it to an ATC fuse holder, pop in a 1A fuse, and then run it to your sets of LEDs and you're good to go. Pretty simple wiring.
(I am a senior electrical engineering student at a prestigious Big Ten school, if you are wondering about my credentials.)
Here is an estimation of the power draw you can expect, but it will vary based on the specs of your system:
I per set of three diodes = 20mA (this is the maximum allowable current before you run the risk of burning up LEDs)
Total current = 20mA * 10 sets of LEDs (30 total) = 200mA. This current draw is small enough you would be ok to tap another 12V source, but if you just got a 1A inline fuse, you could run straight from the battery, which would be much closer to your fog lights. Just grab a ring terminal, run it to an ATC fuse holder, pop in a 1A fuse, and then run it to your sets of LEDs and you're good to go. Pretty simple wiring.
(I am a senior electrical engineering student at a prestigious Big Ten school, if you are wondering about my credentials.)
10-22-2009, 07:15 PM
#14
You COULD tap any +12V line for power, but I would strongly recommend not doing this. I would recommend you calculate the total current draw you will be accumulating, and put a fuse from the battery and draw your power straight from there. It would be closer than the cigarette lighter, and safer if you use the proper fuse.
Here is an estimation of the power draw you can expect, but it will vary based on the specs of your system:
I per set of three diodes = 20mA (this is the maximum allowable current before you run the risk of burning up LEDs)
Total current = 20mA * 10 sets of LEDs (30 total) = 200mA. This current draw is small enough you would be ok to tap another 12V source, but if you just got a 1A inline fuse, you could run straight from the battery, which would be much closer to your fog lights. Just grab a ring terminal, run it to an ATC fuse holder, pop in a 1A fuse, and then run it to your sets of LEDs and you're good to go. Pretty simple wiring.
(I am a senior electrical engineering student at a prestigious Big Ten school, if you are wondering about my credentials.)
Here is an estimation of the power draw you can expect, but it will vary based on the specs of your system:
I per set of three diodes = 20mA (this is the maximum allowable current before you run the risk of burning up LEDs)
Total current = 20mA * 10 sets of LEDs (30 total) = 200mA. This current draw is small enough you would be ok to tap another 12V source, but if you just got a 1A inline fuse, you could run straight from the battery, which would be much closer to your fog lights. Just grab a ring terminal, run it to an ATC fuse holder, pop in a 1A fuse, and then run it to your sets of LEDs and you're good to go. Pretty simple wiring.
(I am a senior electrical engineering student at a prestigious Big Ten school, if you are wondering about my credentials.)
10-23-2009, 12:21 AM
#15
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This should clear things up. Otherwise, I recommend doing some reading on basic electrical components before working on your car... Bad things can happen otherwise (fires, burnt out components, etc.)
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