Installing flexible LED strips below your tails.

[Token]

Movies show the credits at the end. I do it at the beginning:

Original idea: hemiwagn; he's got a million great ideas
Sourced LEDs: Cdn_Magnum; nice find
Technical resource: jaak; keeps me from blowing stuff up unintentionally (he’ll also be the one laughing at my soldering soon)

Let’s get to it. After tinting them, the tail lights are not as easily seen as they were stock, but the bright red stock tails just had to go. So as a measure of security, I added a strip of flex LEDs under the tail lights.

This mod is really quite easy to do and should take about 30 minutes per side to complete.

I installed: 2 @ 9.5” RED Flex LED strips http://www.oznium.com/led-flex-strips

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0201.jpg
You will need to cut 3 LEDs off of the strip you get, because it’s too long for this application. Using a utility knife or scissors cut the 3 LEDs from the strip. Dab a little silicone onto the cut end to maintain water resistance.

Tools and other stuff you’ll need:
2 @ Weatherproof flat electrical connectors. Purchased locally at an auto parts store
4 @ diodes, I used IN4001 because that’s what I had on hand
2 @ resistors, I used 1K 1/2w 5%CF again had these on hand
Wire Cutters
Small Utility Knife
Soldering Iron & Solder
Heat shrink tube
Electrical tape
Silicone
Wire, I had 20ga. http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0176.jpg

For the purposes of illustration, I have removed the wiring harness from the back of the tail lamp, this can easily be done with it in place, but it’s so much easier with it removed and so easy to take out, there’s no reason not to. Just twist & pull the bulb sockets and the whole thing comes off with the bulbs still installed.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0171.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0174.jpg
Trim away some of the insulation from the Solid Brown wire, going to the parking lamp, the Brown & Violet wire, going to the brake lamp, and the Black ground wire. http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0177.jpg
When tapping into an existing wire I always separate the strands and feed the new wire through, before winding, soldering and taping

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0190.jpg
Attach the black wire in the harness to the negative lead on the connector.
Attach the Solid Brown wire (running light) to the diode, then the resistor, then the positive lead on the connector. I attached these, soldered then heat-shrink.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0196.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0197.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0198.jpg
Attach the Brown & Violet (brake light) wire to the diode, then to the positive lead on the connector.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/IMG_0199.jpg
Attach the other end of the connector to the leads on the LED
Use a couple of drops of silicone to affix the LED strip to the top of the facia.
Plug in the LED connector, plug in the tail lamp connector into the body harness, and re-install the tail light
It should look a little like this:

XUX8JS3urms

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/th_tls.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/token44/tailled/?action=view&current=tls.flv)

[Crazy R/T]

Do you install the strip in the light houssing or below?

[Magma]

Its in the gap below the tails.

[dumpster]

would you be able to put them straight to the brake light without the use of all the diodes and resistors? i say this because im not sure what the heck is going on (sorry im a bit on the slow side when it comes to the teck part of why you use these) with everything here. i would very much want to use your idea but i dont need the leds to be on with the tails just the brake.

thanks token for sharing

[Token]

would you be able to put them straight to the brake light without the use of all the diodes and resistors? You sure can. Then you just need to tap into the black wire (ground) and the brown/violet wire (+12v) and you're good to go.

[dumpster]

thanks i just put my order in for the red 9.5

[36 chambers]

i like those looks nice!!!!!!!!!

[Jaak]

Lookin' good Dave!


http://www.costumesbyscavenge.com/images/category/disco.jpg

OK, just teasing about the disco crap...

[MR. J]

Awesome idea, looks good.

[joseph]

This place also sells flexible LED strips, red or amber, just tape it up with the 3M tape and connect.

http://www.customdynamics.com/flex_led_array.htm

[BlsdEsq]

Can you post a close up of the finished install? I will definately be doing this when I tint my tails.

[Hemi Mag]

what happens w/o the diodes and resistors? I assume they are just there to make them come on the same time the regulars do?

AC

[Token]

what happens w/o the diodes and resistors? I assume they are just there to make them come on the same time the regulars do?

ACThe resistors are there to dim the LEDs like the running lights, the LED strip takes very little power and would be on full bright all of the time, essentially negating the transition from running light to brake light.
Because the +12v is being pulled from both the running light and brake light and fed into 1 (one) LED strip the diodes assure there is no current flow back onto the other circuit.

Can you post a close up of the finished install? I will definately be doing this when I tint my tails.I'll get some more shots as soon as I wash the car LOL

[hemiwagn]

Nice write-up Dave. I've seen those on your car and they just flat out look great! It is amazing the 'presence' that little strip has -- it has the same impact as a full tail light!

[blackmagnum06]

hey token those look awesome! i was wondering if you can do a set for me and ill pay you for it.

[Token]

hey token those look awesome! i was wondering if you can do a set for me and ill pay you for it.In order for me to make a set for you, I'd have to buy 2 new tail light wiring harnesses from the dealer, that would really cut into the cost effectiveness of this mod.

Nice write-up Dave. I've seen those on your car and they just flat out look great! It is amazing the 'presence' that little strip has -- it has the same impact as a full tail light!I'm really glad you like them, seeing as it was YOUR idea I stole. :beerchug:

[blackmagnum06]

how much are the tail lights harnessess?

[bluesteel]

That's a real nice look. Has anyone put it in the space where the chrome bumper strip goes?

[Silver Bullit]

Yes Mr token i will gladdly pay you set set some up for me to. Matter of fact if you can buy a set of white ones so i can do the same in the front..

[InfernoWagnum]

could this be done to the front head lamps as well? Is there space? I think that it would add very good look with an amber setup.

[Magma]

could this be done to the front head lamps as well? Is there space? I think that it would add very good look with an amber setup.

I beleive there has been a few people who have put it in their headlights. If I remember correctly they were put on the top of the light housing. There is a little ridge where it sits in perfectly.

[InfernoWagnum]

I beleive there has been a few people who have put it in their headlights. If I remember correctly they were put on the top of the light housing. There is a little ridge where it sits in perfectly.
Inside the actual housing?

[BUTWEET]

Outstanding write-up, Dave. I like your ingenuity! :beerchug:

[stitchmonkey]

nice!

[Jaak]

Yes Mr token i will gladdly pay you set set some up for me to. Matter of fact if you can buy a set of white ones so i can do the same in the front..

You haven't seen his hourly rates, have you!

[NJBatmobile]

How bright are those without the resistors? If they were white would they work for reverse lights?

[MoparPosterChild]

I haven't been a fan of similar LED mods I've seen in the past, but this looks pretty cool! Way to go.

[SRT-ED]

Hi, Has anyone done the amber strips under the headlights. And if you did is there a link to a pic?
TIA...

[Mag Dr]

That looks great, nice job, excellent write up.


Doc

[dodgerla]

Has this been done with a charger and were would the leds go?

[Mymopar]

Has this been done with a charger and were would the leds go?
36 Chambers ran a led strip under the rear trunk gap to bumper. On his white car it really looked good. For doing it under the housing, yuo just need to check to see if you have enough room, the LED strip is very flexible and can be compressed a bit to fit.
Wiring is similar.

[dodgerla]

O.K. Ive got everything but LEDs and electrical connector. Where will the electrical connector be used? In the instructions it says what wire to connect to but I dont see were you would hook it up(electrical connector)? I went to my local auto shop and could not find the flat connector, atleast not one that looks like the one in the pics. I did see 4-way connectors but I dont think thats it. Some help please finding the connector piece Im missing and were is it that I will plug it up to. Thanks

[DannyC]

I prefer the round connectors. When you push them together they seem tighter and no metal showing.

Here's a question: Has anyone noticed there is a brake bulb at the bottom of the magnum and the running light at the top but there is a 2 element bulb in one location, I think bottom but I can't remember, that never comes on. Wonder if it can be used as an additional running light circuit? Now days you need all the lights on the back you can get cus 80% of the drivers out there aren't paying attention or on the cell phone or both.

[Token]

O.K. Ive got everything but LEDs and electrical connector. Where will the electrical connector be used? In the instructions it says what wire to connect to but I dont see were you would hook it up(electrical connector)? I went to my local auto shop and could not find the flat connector, atleast not one that looks like the one in the pics. I did see 4-way connectors but I dont think thats it. Some help please finding the connector piece Im missing and were is it that I will plug it up to. ThanksYou don't have to use a connector at all, I just did it so the system can be unplugged for removal. It goes in between the LED strip and the tail light harness, because the strip is affixed to the rear facia, so if I remove the tail lamp I don't want to have to pull it off. Any 2 wire weatherproof connector from your local auto supply shop will do. It's been a year since I've done this mod, so I don't remember exactly which connector I used, was just a cheap one I picked up locally.

[dodgerla]

Do these work with the turn signal?

[Fam0516]

n ice!! u got a link to the page to get em .. pm me

[dodgerla]

n ice!! u got a link to the page to get em .. pm me
Its on the first post.

[dodgerla]

Can anyone help me wire these LEDs to the brake lights of a charger? Thanks

[dodgerla]

Installed it last night and it looks great I couldnt get it to work the way token has it with it staying on dim then full bright but thats O.K. Thanks guys

[LaMag]

Can you draw a diagram or anyone who has done this. I got lost(kinda slow)

[trav_d]

Nice looking lights when done. Nice Job.:beerchug: