I was sitting around thinking it would be a good idea to install some headlights (LED's) onto the body of my truck. Anyone done this before, and how powerful are these lights? Ive been searching around and see all these pics of different style and color lights, but havent seen any outdoor shots. Id like to rip the little Jato around while drinking beer one of these night [8D]

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=685

I'm in the process of doing the same.

the light kits are cool because they keep things simple, but if you really want an impressive kit you have to build it yourself.

I usually buy my LED's from [link=http://www.superbrightleds.com/]http://www.superbrightleds.com/[/link]
They have some white and red LED's that are soooooooooo bright that they can damage your eyes .

I plan to use these ones as headlights
[link=http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/w18015_specs.htm]http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/w18015_specs.htm[/link]

That is an 18000 mcd led with a 15 degree viewing angle, so they should actually project a super bright beam just like real headlights.

I ordered these ones for taillights
[link=http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/r_specs.htm]http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/r_specs.htm[/link]

If you decide to wire your own, just remember that you need to wire resistors in-line with LED's. There are numerous guides online for how to do so. And if you want to get really tricky, you can double feed the taillights through different resistors with a switch that is activated when the servo applies the brakes, so that you can have them increase in brightness when the brakes are applied.

I have a new crowd pleazer shell on order for my rusty, that I plan to spray with candy apple red and then backspray with metallic black, then mount the lights on under the clear lexan headlight and tailight spots that i won't be painting. It may be a while before I get everythign in and get it done, but I will post pics to my gallery once I finish it.

TTC, excellent response man...

I've been toying with this for a while, I may give it a shot over the weekend with my on road car.. there was an article in a recent RC magazine about this also, I think RC Driver, but not sure.. you may want to check it out..

The article in that magazine makes it more complicated in my opinion.

to be honest with you, I just scanned through it and noted it for a later date.. I'm electronically impaired anyhow (spelled r-e-t-a-r-d-e-d when it comes to electricity) so anything is complicated for me

Well, I've put LED's on three of my vehicles now and definitely find them to be both cool and convenient! However, if you're expecting to have them illuminate your path like a full-size car, you'll probably be a little let down. My LED's function to show me where my car is, not so much where it is going. LED's are so strange to me because looking at them head on is enough to just about blind you, but somehow they don't put out the same useable, brilliant light that say a halogen does. But like I said before I think they're totally cool on cars!

As far as getting the LED's, I recommend Hong Kong. On a couple different occasions I have purchased 100 LED's on eBay from Hong Kong for about $.10 a piece ([link=http://cgi.ebay.com/100pcs-Electronic-Components-Parts-5mm-LED-Light-Bulbs_W0QQitemZ7624549933QQihZ017QQcategoryZ66954Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem]Hong Kong LED Source[/link]). I haven't found anything nearly that cheap in the States. Anyhow, as tommythecat said earlier you'll also need resistors, but they aren't too hard to figure out as there are countless calculators and guides on the net. I used a couple different switches to turn my lights on and off. The PicoSwitch works great, is all electronic, and plugs right into an open receiver channel, but is a little pricey at $20([link=http://www.dimensionengineering.com/PicoSwitch.htm]PicoSwitch Link[/link]). A micro switch like this one ([link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXWB25]Tamiya Micro Switch[/link]) works great and is very cheap, but it requires a servo to flip the switch. I use it on my Nitro Rustler for the brake lights. There are many options out there and perhaps the most fun is personally designing a system that works for you.

I'll leave you with a few pictures of my vehicles in the splendor of LED's. The first is a Nitro Rustler, the second a Nitro Redcat Volcano, and the third is an electric Tamiya TT-01.

Thanks Tommy. I (like everyone else) has a Jato. Im thinking of putting the LED's in the stock body for night driving.... aka beer drinking at night. It would be nice to actually find my car in the dark and have an idea as to which way its pointing.

Sweet Stew, that piccoswitch is exactly what I've been looking for. Thanks.

You are right about the LED's not working like a halogen. It's because the lensing built into LEDs precludes the use of focusing mirrors to contentrate and direct the beam. You can get 360 degree LEDs and then use focusing mirrors, but the diffusion typically keeps them from being comparable to halogens or typical incandecents. Directed driving lights wouldn't be a whole lot of help on an RC anyway, unless of course you are small enough to sint on the model while driving it, but as your pics show they are definately cool as all hell.

Nice models and great lighting jobs BTW.