LED Tail light question

[techno]

Has anyone bought the LED tail light from nippy Normans or similar?

I am interested to know what it is like before I buy one or make one.

If anyone has one does it come with any electronics on the back (current limiting circuitry) or is it just a load of LEDs with a few resistors on the back (and a gold high power 6 ohm ish one if you have IBS)

Just the £60 seems a lot of money for 24 LEDs (which are 50p each) and 8 100 ohm resistors (using brake) and 8 1k8 ohm ones at tail and 4 diodes wich are pennies.

I have designed a circuit do do the above and drive 30 LEDS at constant current. If I make it anyone else be interested?

 

[mike wright]

I was going to buy it but found a much cheaper option which works just as well. Using the existing reflector I drilled four 5mm holes 3/4 of the way up and pushed in four red leds (not requiring resistors). The two outer ones wired to the tail light the inner two to the brake light.

Its works a treat and if the normal bulb blows I stil have tail and brake lights. I took out the blb to leave just the LEDs and its not any different than when it was just a bulb. With all of them it gives a clear light across the whole of the lens and then very bright when I apply the brakes. Total cost of LEDs (had to have 20 in a pack) £8.

 

[alimey4u2]

The Nippy product is "brilliant", a quality item & reliable due to surface mount technology. Make your own & there's a good chance the solid copper wire on the components will eventually frag due to vibration (due to work hardening.) You will need to pot them for ultimate reliability...

PS This is an unsolicited testimonial....

 

[mike wright]

Just came back from 2500 mile ride around the Pyrenees including tracks etc and some very bumpy rides and not had any problems yet. Also if the LED unit fails in any way I still have the standard bulb. Personally I prefer having both.

 

[alimey4u2]

Just came back from 2500 mile ride around the Pyrenees including tracks etc and some very bumpy rides and not had any problems yet. Also if the LED unit fails in any way I still have the standard bulb. Personally I prefer having both.

Your bike, your choice....

 

[mike wright]

Your bike, your choice....

Very true... For a few quid its a worth while mod I think. Depends on your budget etc and what you want. Although there are cheaper alternatives I think inc one on e-bay inc a rear clear lens for less than £60. My only concern with the full LED one is I dont think your so visable from the side.

Have you compared it with a standard one?... what do you think? A mate has the LED NN one and it hasnt failed on some rough tracks so true they do last and are well made.

 

[techno]

The Nippy product is "brilliant", a quality item & reliable due to surface mount technology. Make your own & there's a good chance the solid copper wire on the components will eventually frag due to vibration (due to work hardening.) You will need to pot them for ultimate reliability...

PS This is an unsolicited testimonial....

Well the LEDs Annode and Cathode are through the board but they have dual pins for reliability. I intend to make mine with SMT. The question is, does the NN one have any transistors, i.e. active current limiting or is it just resistors?

There can only be 3-4 LEDs in the string as each LED drops 2.8 volts. Also the bike will feed 12 -14v odd so is there any voltage regulation on the NN one?

 

[techno]

The NN ones are 60 degree veiwing angle with a maximum current of 70mA

 

[Slowdown]

I'd love to be able to say they're great, but I'm still waiting delivery - Come on Nippy - it's been a week

 

[Gas'd Off]

Has anyone bought the LED tail light from nippy Normans or similar?

I am interested to know what it is like before I buy one or make one.

If anyone has one does it come with any electronics on the back (current limiting circuitry) or is it just a load of LEDs with a few resistors on the back (and a gold high power 6 ohm ish one if you have IBS)

Just the £60 seems a lot of money for 24 LEDs (which are 50p each) and 8 100 ohm resistors (using brake) and 8 1k8 ohm ones at tail and 4 diodes wich are pennies.

I have designed a circuit do do the above and drive 30 LEDS at constant current. If I make it anyone else be interested?

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119922

 

[Stewart H]

I am using a multi LED (48 I think) bulb replacement from ultraleds, direct replacement for the standard stop/tail bulb, a lot brighter, only downside seems to be that it does not have any white leds for number plate illumination, around a tenner from memory, I have a sidelight LED in the front too which is brighter than stock.
Stewart

 

[Pauly S]

safety rear lights

Hi all, i made this for my bike, total cost about £1.00
It consists of 4 hyperbright white leds fitted to the original rear lamp assembly using 2 resistors.
Its wired in parallel with the original sidelamp bulb, so in the event of bulb failure i still have rear illumination.
the second piccy shows the unit with the sidelamp bulb removed but the leds still glowing.
so thats £59 saved to spend with Chunk on bling!!!

 

[mike wright]

Hi all, i made this for my bike, total cost about £1.00
It consists of 4 hyperbright white leds fitted to the original rear lamp assembly using 2 resistors.
Its wired in parallel with the original sidelamp bulb, so in the event of bulb failure i still have rear illumination.
the second piccy shows the unit with the sidelamp bulb removed but the leds still glowing.
so thats £59 saved to spend with Chunk on bling!!!

Thats the same principal as mine but I used 4 x 5mm non resistor type LEDS..Two for the brake light as well..Works a treat doesnt it!

 

[techno]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127452 has info on what I made...

 

[davegs]

LED back lights.

have had mine for a year, very good, just survived a hectic prang filled trip
through the Andes and all stations south, DO NOT buy nipp`s clear lens, I did and you get a white light shining to the rear, instane MOT failure. If any one wants mine (brand new ) send me a PM after 17.12.2007.
dave gs.

 

[CliveS]

2007 Model Question

I have been informed by many LED and alternate brake light manufacturers that LED do not work successfully on the 2007 model. Does any one have a 2007 model with LED's or modulating tail lights, if so what brand is it.
I would love to know what the changes were between the 2006 and 2006 electrics?

Safe Riding
CliveS

 

[techno]

LED do not work successfully on the 2007 model. Does any one have a 2007 model

Hi Clive,
A 2007 1200? I assume that the CAN bus on the 1200 senses the current flow and decides if there is a fault or not - if there is (too little current flowing) the computer shuts off the power because it thinks there is no bulb - so the LED cluster doesn't work. It's only electronics and they can be fooled the same way as my LED tail light does (fools the IBS - see my other thread). Maybe the 2007 bikes had newer firmware?

Don't know as I haven't got a 1200, but sounds like that is what is going on.

 

[Roger Chatterton]

I am using a multi LED (48 I think) bulb replacement from ultraleds, direct replacement for the standard stop/tail bulb, a lot brighter, only downside seems to be that it does not have any white leds for number plate illumination, around a tenner from memory, I have a sidelight LED in the front too which is brighter than stock.
Stewart

Hi Stewart,
don't want to hijack this posting but........
did you need to fit a resistor to stop the "Fault" light coming on ?
I have just bought a couple of similar LED rear/brake lights for my 1150 GSAdv, and the "Fault" light comes on ! However, I have the TT replacement rear light assembly, which takes 2 bulbs, plus a festoon bulb for the number plate . Any ideas ??

 

[techno]

If you have IBS then the warning light will come on. Buy mine and it won't and it will a lot look better too!

 

[Roger Chatterton]

If you have IBS then the warning light will come on. Buy mine and it won't and it will a lot look better too!

Hi Techno, will it fit into the TT rear light assembly though ??
http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/product_info.php?products_id=7019

And, yes, I've been following the thread, and do like the look of your lights !!
However, if I get no joy trying to fit a resistor to make my existing LED's work, then I'll maybe give yours a try (if they'd fit ??)