Headlight mod

[InGaN]

I'm new to this forum and I want to build a headlight mod. Before my 3mm blue LEDs come I want to test a 4 component (excluding batteries and LEDs) circuit that turns the lights on when it is dark and off when it is bright out. Would this be too big or too heavy with normal sized components? It contains a transistor, photocell, pot, and a resistor.

[bill]

It should be any heavier than putting those lights and a switch. Just find the smallest parts you can. Sounds like a good idea but what's the point in driving in total darkness?

[InGaN]

I don't know, it makes more sense to me than to use a micro switch. I could probably drill holes through the plastic by the lights to increase brightness.

[bill]

Ok, in my first post, it should have read "It shouldn't be any heavier...."

Anyway, on to my comments. Assuming you threw everything together in your car and when the lights get dim/dark, your headlights/taillights come on. What are you going to do when you're done playing? Store the car in a room with the room lights on? Either you'll end up putting a switch in it anyway, take the battery out when you're done playing, or let the battery drain and die at night.

[InGaN]

you're right, I would need a switch. I just meant it made sense for the lights to switch themselves, so the batteries wouldn't be wasted while it is light out.

[isk8blind]

take one of those glow in the dark stars and cut it to the size of the lights and glue it there and itll glow when dark tada

[kitkat]

Originally posted by InGaN
I don't know, it makes more sense to me than to use a micro switch. I could probably drill holes through the plastic by the lights to increase brightness.

What you could do is take the 1.2V comming from the PCB in the car as a reference voltage to activate the lights. This way, you eliminate the switch all toghether. That is what I am working on.

Making a PCB to put in the car with a 3V coin cell for the power. The head lamps and tail lights will light when the forward button is pressed. the right and left flashers will be activated when when either right or left button are pressed. when in forward motion, if you release the forward button, it will light the brake lights for a few seconds. And of cours when your in reverse, it will light the backup light.

That is what I am working on and doing some testing.

So far, still gathering the parts needed. Still trying to find out what IC Mike's kit uses. I think it's either a TLC555 or a LM3909.

I though of purchasing the ultimate light kit from Mike's page but by the time it gets to me, it will have cost me over 60$ canadian. I can easely make this for less. Once the testing is done, I will then contact a PCB manufacture and get a quote on etching some boards to the smalest size possible, or etch them myself since I have the chemicals to do so.

Later! /Kit

[InGaN]

I could probably run it off of the car's power, but I would need at least 4.8 volts or so. It might be better using separate batteries though. I can't tell which he uses either. You might be able to guess or test them.

[micmic]

hm..for his Ultimate Light mod kit, it's a 14-pin IC, which the TLC555 is. The TLC555 only has 1 output i think, so if that's the chip, then he must be somehow managing to switch between the left and right blinkers. the LM3909 is out of production..so..
dunno.

[InGaN]

He might use a 556, which has 14 pins and two outputs.

[micmic]

hmm i c i c. i looked up some surface mount LEDs, and i found some that blink yellow. so you really don't need a blinking circuit..
can't really tell what else he has on that board..resistors..and what else?