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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:06 PM
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LED Strips

So...I recently picked up a couple of these:

LINK



Install was easy...just had to get the mounting right. Well, it was finally dark out so I took some pics of the output. Here they are:









The LED reverse lights are from V-LEDs (search for vleds on ebay).

I'm going to have to recenter the license plate ones a bit more to the left. The dots on the plate are a reflection. The LED's themselves are not visible unless you're on the ground looking up at them.

Thought I'd share it with you guys in case anyone was interested in something like this.

Last edited by IlyaK; Jul 3, 2009 at 02:11 PM.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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**** NOTE: If installing in the trunk like I did, or setting them against metal, put electric tape between LED strip and metal surface. Otherwise, you'll short the strips. ****
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:15 PM
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pretty bright!
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:16 PM
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How's the reverse light output of those leds?
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:16 PM
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Best thing is...those strips are cuttable. They come 4 or 5 per group...and like 5 groups per strip. You can cut off the ones you don't need to use so it's not as bright, etc.

I spliced the trunk ones to the trunk light (red wire I believe - or maybe it was purple? lol). Had to remove the rear seats and remove the rear deck lid to get to the wiring but I've done that so many time for speakers so it only took me like 20 min total.

License plate I just unhooked the stock harness, shove the wires in to the connector (didn't cut or splice anything) and then taped the crap out of it so the wires don't pop out. Been good so far.

As for mounting, I completely removed the bracket and just zip tied the lights to the bumper. You'll see where to zip tie them.

Last edited by IlyaK; Jul 3, 2009 at 02:13 PM.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Dave H.
How's the reverse light output of those leds?




Pretty damn good lol.

They are 921 LED's bulbs from V-Leds (on ebay). Just search for vleds.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:18 PM
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you wont get bothered with lights that bright? they are nice lookin, but where i am from i would probably get pulled over.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:18 PM
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those look awesome, I was just looking for something like that
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Xfactor22
you wont get bothered with lights that bright? they are nice lookin, but where i am from i would probably get pulled over.
No. New Lexus GS's and LS's (I think) come with HID white LED license plates.

I had a cop behind me the first night I had em and he did a u-turn after realizing he had nothing to pull me over for. If anything, it helps the cops cause they don't have to get up to your bumper to read your plates hahaha.

I have to re-center the license plate strip, but I'm pleased. For $15 or whatever I spent, not bad.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:24 PM
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they look great, thinking of getting these too, but i wouldnt put them on the license plate area, now the cops wont ever have any problem seeing your license plate.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:28 PM
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I don't mind. I ain't got nothing to hide. If he wants to say what's up, I'll gladly pull over. lol.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by IlyaK
I don't mind. I ain't got nothing to hide. If he wants to say what's up, I'll gladly pull over. lol.
lol the cops around here love me....just paid a $235 speeding ticket, I don't need anymore attention
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:54 PM
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slow down and learn your roads and where the cops hide, took me a couple of tickets before i got to know. i even know their shift changes....
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by max ride 41
slow down and learn your roads and where the cops hide, took me a couple of tickets before i got to know. i even know their shift changes....
Yea the road I got the ticket on, I drive it everyday at least twice and have never seen a cop. He was hiding in the garage of this house that is under construction too...sneaky ****
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 09:01 PM
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nice mods
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 09:17 PM
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Do you suggest the LED's that you have or the neon tubes?
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 09:19 PM
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LED's. They'll last longer. And they tend to be more resilient to outside elements.
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 09:39 PM
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look sick
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 08:28 AM
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Good use of the strips.

One question though, are they flexible? I plan on opening a set of black bumper lights and LEDing them and was considering using these strips.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 08:44 AM
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No. They are on a stiffish type of board. They have a little flex, but not enough to do bumper lights.

Google LED strips. There are a couple I also considered which were ultra flexible. I didn't use those because I knew where I was putting them and I wanted something 'rigid' that wouldn't flop around, etc. That's what she said...hahaha.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 08:46 AM
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I'm actually thinking of picking up two more strips of blue and cutting them down to size to have a nice glow (not too bright - kind of like the 07-08 TL's) on when the lights are on under the dash and seats.

Also, my headunit (Kenwood DNX8120) has a couple of 'switches' options that you can connect external things to and I can enable/disable the lights via the headunit.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by IlyaK
No. They are on a stiffish type of board. They have a little flex, but not enough to do bumper lights.

Google LED strips. There are a couple I also considered which were ultra flexible. I didn't use those because I knew where I was putting them and I wanted something 'rigid' that wouldn't flop around, etc. That's what she said...hahaha.


Gotcha, thanks!
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 09:15 AM
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Originally Posted by IlyaK


Pretty damn good lol.

They are 921 LED's bulbs from V-Leds (on ebay). Just search for vleds.
I would use those, but my 95/96 Maxima uses 1156 bulbs. I've heard since the bulb is at an angle in the taillight housing, the led bulbs won't produce a good output.

Thanks.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Dave H.
I would use those, but my 95/96 Maxima uses 1156 bulbs. I've heard since the bulb is at an angle in the taillight housing, the led bulbs won't produce a good output.

Thanks.
here you go:
http://www.v-leds.com/1156-7507-LED/...orLanding/true

expensive though.

Ilya - did you have to put a resistor in to make your reverse lights work or is it inside the bulb? i'm asking because i got led bulbs for my front blinkers and they don't work...so i'm assuming i'll need a resistor for those (got them cheap on ebay).
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 09:54 AM
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You'll need a resistor. Resistor is only needed for blinking lights as far as I know. Reverse lights don't blink.

V-Leds has turn signal ones...which should be okay. I dunno which ones you got though. I haven't had issues with any LED's inside or outside.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 10:43 AM
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Wow they look great, Im def puting this on my future mod list.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 10:49 AM
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Yo those look hot nice mod
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 11:54 AM
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Thanks guys. I just need to add LED tails and my TL projectors and my exterior will finally be complete. No more mods planned.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 01:42 PM
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Rather than make a new thread, I'll ask here. Since you mentioned the use of LED bulbs...I got a few from PepBoys before for my bumper light side marker, and it didn't work. I got one for my dome light, and it too didn't work. Any idea why that would be? The bulbs are the correct kind I know that..

But those LED Strips looks great. They come pre-wired I assume, just power and ground?
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 01:47 PM
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But the neons are more of a bright glow. Im tryin to light up the whole inside of my car. Are LED's strong enough?
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Bigmike73
But the neons are more of a bright glow. Im tryin to light up the whole inside of my car. Are LED's strong enough?
If you get enough, yes.

Look at my cardomain. If I turn my lights on inside the car, it's as clear as day. I used 24 LED boards in my dome light and 12 LED boards in my map light.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Eyce
Rather than make a new thread, I'll ask here. Since you mentioned the use of LED bulbs...I got a few from PepBoys before for my bumper light side marker, and it didn't work. I got one for my dome light, and it too didn't work. Any idea why that would be? The bulbs are the correct kind I know that..

But those LED Strips looks great. They come pre-wired I assume, just power and ground?
Did you turn them around? They only work one way, but plug in multiple ways.

Yes, they come with wires. Just splice to a power, and splice to a ground.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 03:36 PM
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Yep, I turned them around. Got nothing! Weird.

Ahh well. Thanks for the info, I'll probably buy some of these soon! They look great!

Edit: I also just visited the site and saw this --and I was wondering if this would be useful anywhere? At first I was thinking hey this would be easy to just plug into the door light harness but then...that wouldn't work would it..because it's like male to male so to speak?

Last edited by Eyce; Mar 31, 2009 at 03:42 PM.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 03:43 PM
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Nice look. It seems that you can see your plates clearly from quite a distance.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Eyce
Yep, I turned them around. Got nothing! Weird.

Ahh well. Thanks for the info, I'll probably buy some of these soon! They look great!

Edit: I also just visited the site and saw this --and I was wondering if this would be useful anywhere? At first I was thinking hey this would be easy to just plug into the door light harness but then...that wouldn't work would it..because it's like male to male so to speak?
The ones I got came with such wiring. And no it doesn't work with our wiring.

Originally Posted by maxified
Nice look. It seems that you can see your plates clearly from quite a distance.
Yes you can.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 05:19 PM
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looks good
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 05:41 PM
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you should have kept your led tails.
Zhalka
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 06:23 PM
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Don't you worry. I'll have em again. And the projectors. lol.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 08:48 PM
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I got the same effect on the license place lightning by putting 2 blue LEDs 194 in the stock housing.
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by tosheto
I got the same effect on the license place lightning by putting 2 blue LEDs 194 in the stock housing.
Been there done that. Bulb gets loose, goes out. Ain't nothin gettin loose here.

Here is a picture with the bulbs:



Nowhere near as bright and even. You can see two globs of light. Unattractive in my opinion.



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