LED flashers doubling as break lights??

I am wanting to wire up some LED's into my tool box. I am wanting to them operate as break lights as well as be able to use them as "dust lights" when wheeling. I was thinking perhaps I can somehow wire them to a switch that toggle between flash-off/break light.

I am looking at getting LED's that are the oval 6" flush mount with the rubber gaskets. Similar to what are on fire engines and rescue vehicles.

My question to all of you lighting and wiring geniuses is would this be possible? And if so, can you point into the right direction on how to get these working!!

Thanks in advance TW family!

 

ya its possible...

only problem i see is that since theyre red, theyre not legal to act as "flashers"

edit nvm you can probably use them since youre a firefighter

 

Do you know how one would go about doing this? And if possible do they have LED's that have both red and ambers in one?

 

I would love to help answer all the questions you have but I'm like half asleep lol
And ya it's possible...
But I know they sell dual color lights for that purpose...ill check tomorrow morning for you just bump this thread to remind me

 

Not on his personal vehicle except when used for "work".

And I'm curious about the idea of using red lights for dust lights for off road.. thought they were normally amber.

In that case, they could be used as both dust lights and turn signals... but brake lights must be red (and flashing red turn signals would be legal).


As for how to do it....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-2012-T...yota|Model:Tacoma&hash=item231578fcae&vxp=mtr

The circuit converts the existing 6-filament system into a 3-filament system.... parking lights on one pin, brake and right turn on one, brake and left turn on the another.

 

I would normally highly advise against this idea, buy then I would be a hypocrite...




Rich is correct, a flashing red light on your vehicle (even in the rear) is illegal, regardless of who you are, unless it is a factory brake light blinker combo light some vehicles have.

Just be forewarned, that activating the "flashing" feature of these lights would be a very bad idea unless you are in a clearly designated OHV area. It will be tempting, trust me, but dont do it.

Now, to complete your wiring....

You wil first need to locate a pair of these:



except with the amber/red leds combined and with a clear lens. A colored lens will only be available if the leds are only 1 color. This will be a hardest step. IF you can locate them, you then need to purchase this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHO-ME-LED-...992?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337dcc92b0



you will have 2 switches inside the cab. 1 that turns the flasher on/off, and the other a momentary switch that selects flash pattern. This will be wired to the amber portion of the light.

then your brake lights can be wired to the red portion of the lights. I wouldnt use them as signals, because you cant use dual intensity lighting to distinguish between signal and brake.

All of this is IF you find the dual color lights, which will be difficult to find. If you choose to run 2 solid red lights, I can make a diagram so that you can use them as your flasher (dust lights) as well as a brake which will override the flasher at anytime and make the lights solid when the brakes are depressed. This will work with or without the switch turned on. That will require the flasher box shown above, plus 2 standard 5-pin automotive relays. If you really wanted to do signals as well, its possible. That would require 2 more relays for a total of 4. Problem with this is again no dual intensity for signal vs brake which is bad, and also red lights for "dust" lighting is not typical, ideal, standard, nor desired.

Your last option, which is the one I highly recommend, is go ahead and get the oval leds like shown above that you wanted, but just stay with 2 solid amber lights. No need for red at all! Unless you have glass bedsides and its caged with LT and you have no OEM tail lights, then sure, go ahead and add red lights to make it legal. Other than that, no need for red. The main purpose of these is going to be dust lights anyways, right?

I dont see a need to add any additional brake lighting. The LEDs tails are already pretty darn bright as it is.

One last option is if you had a lightbar like mine that has 6 amber lights in the middle, and the outer 2 are red, then you can disable the red lights from the flash pattern, as use them as brake lights instead, or just add the brake light override on just those 2 red lights. This is something I have been wanting to do with mine, just havent gotten around to it. However, that bar is about $200 shipped, plus you'll need a bar to mount it too since its too big to but on the rail of the bed. And besides, I dont want you to copy my lights cuz im the only one who has that setup (as far as i know atleast).

You decide what you want, let me know, i can either assist you by offering a wiring diagram for you if you know how to wire and how relays work, or if your close enough, I can offer install services for a nominal fee Just decide how you want it, and we can go from there.

EDIT: I just searched for like 15 minutes and could not find a single dual color light in the style you want. They have:
amber w/ clear lens
amber w/ amber lens
red w/ clear lens
red w/ red lens

but not amber/red w/ clear lens. Your not going to find that.

You could always do something similar to this, but maybe rearrange the colors slightly different or have 4 lights. Maybe the center red and outsides amber. The possibilities are endless. The wiring is the easy part. Its just deciding how you want it to look.




or do something light this route:

 

First off, I have seen your light bar before and here and loved it! and still love it! haha

Alright after reading this and everyone else's response I think I would just like to mount four clear lensed ambers onto the tool box. although I am a firefighter, I don't use my personal vehicle for responses.

With that being said, I would still like to have two of the four ambers double as both "chase" lights as well as turn signals. Sticking with the same design of light as well, the 6" oval with rubber grommets.

If you could show me the items I will need as well as how to wire it I would appreciate it. I have a blue seas fuse block with the negative bus as well as a blue seas circuit breaker.

SIDE NOTE:

I just ordered a crap ton of lights that I will be adding to the truck. I want to know how to figure out how much is too much to run on a single battery. I am mounting one 21" single row LED light bar, two 6" Single row LED light bars, three Hella 700FF's, as well as these four ambers that I would like to mount shortly... I also have my CB radio hooked up to the blue seas...

Any help or insight would be great!

 

Your fine with your stock battery. Not saying don't get a bigger/better one or add a second one, but yours will power the lights just fine, as long as you wire correctly. More power never hurts though

You said 2 of the 4 will be chase lights and signals... what will the other 2 be?

 

Yeah im thinking of getting an Optima Red Top here prettttyyyy quick. What size should I get?

The 2 lights mounted on the face of the tool box will be turn signals and chase lights.

The other two will go on each side used only as chase lights..

 

Careful on the Optima.
4, 5, 6 years ago, they were "the shit", but lately they have been reported to have problems. Apparently Costco has dropped the line.

 

What is happening with them?

Also, if not optima, what do you suggest?

 

Apparently they've had some quality issues... coming from a Costco employee, read that between the lines as "we've had a lot of returns"

Die Hard is one of the better batteries, I've always had good luck with Delco, but honestly, there's only 2 or 3 battery manufacturers outside of Optima, and the main quality differences are reflected in their cost.

Get the highest CCA available/budgetable.

 

Alright, Thank you for your input, I will do some research before I go out and grab a new battery, mine is still running strong though so I am happy!

Anyone want to help me out with wiring this though? diagrams are greatly appreciated!

 

I'll work on one for you. Might not be today but I'll get one done.

 

As Rich said, Optima's are of terrible quality since they moved their factory from Colorado to Mexico. No quality control so the products they push out have all kinds of issues.

Die Hard Platinum's are similar to Optima's in that they are sealed batteries and have an AGM construction. The Platinum's are made by Odyssey, but are cheaper than Odyssey batteries. And the warranty on Platinum's are phenomenal and it's kind of nice to have a plethora of Sears locations to take in the battery should you have any issues with it.

 

No worries buddy, btw where in SoCal are you located?

 

Good to know, I won't be getting an optima any longer! Looks like odyssey or die hard now for me!

 

Hey buddy, any luck yet? also where do you live? maybe once I get the lights and everything we could get together for a little mod day and you could give me a hand

 

Oh sorry, been kinda busy. So just to clarify, you want 4 lights total all facing the rear correct? All 4 will be dust lights and 2 will be signals? Or brakes? Or am I confused. Clarify exactly whats getting installed so I can make a diagram.

Oh and I live off the 57fwy at Temple by Cal Poly Pomona and Mt SAC.

 

No problem man, just trying to get my game plan together for these! I want all four used as dust lights and 2 of the four doubling as turn signals. They will all be mounted to my toolbox. The lights will be clear lenses amber LED's with the 6" oval shape with the rubber gaskets.

Perhaps when I get all the supplies you could give me a hand and just chill and go wheelin after we finish?