LED question

Probably one for Mark this...
I need an led that can give me either red or yellow/orange light output by using different legs for the +ve input with a common -ve leg.
Also one that can give red/white outputs...
Does such a thing exist?
As bright as possible with a decent visible light angle....
I am playing with homemade LED rear light units, and would like to combine stop/tail and indicators into one cluster.
If anyone could point me towards a nice brightness control circuit too, either voltage or 555 time based that would be nice.

hi
what you are after does not exist

here are some from farnell
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=2031+203903&Ntk=gensearch&Ntt=tri+colour+led&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial

but not the colours you would like , also they are in the mc (mili candela) range so rather dim
so you would need 4 of one to make one candella (brightnes of one candle ) so you need to think a lot btighter
there are ultr bright , super brigth and mega bright

i use these ones for my clocks and dash stuff
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=2031+202997&Ntk=gensearch&Ntt=mega+bright+led&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial
7.8cd

but if your doing lights for a car ie stop indicators then you will need some thing with a very wide angle and extramly bright for daytime use and to pass an mot so you are going to need these
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=2031+202997&Ntk=gensearch&Ntt=luxeon+stars&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial
so candella to lumens 1 candella = 0.153 lumens
so 16lumens = 104 candella

here is a wider range
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=2031+202997&Ntk=gensearch&Ntt=luxeon&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&No=0&getResults=true&appliedparametrics=true&locale=en_UK&divisionLocale=en_UK&catalogId=&skipManufacturer=false&skipParametricAttributeId=&prevNValues=2031+202997&filtersHidden=false&appliedHidden=false&autoApply=false&originalQueryURL=%2Fjsp%2Fsearch%2Fbrowse.jsp%3FN%3D2031%2B202997%26Ntk%3Dgensearch%26Ntt%3Dluxeon%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchallpartial%26No%3D0%26getResults%3Dtrue%26appliedparametrics%3Dtrue%26locale%3Den_UK%26divisionLocale%3Den_UK%26catalogId%3D%26skipManufacturer%3Dfalse%26skipParametricAttributeId%3D%26prevNValues%3D2031%2B202997
you could look in RS
but as you can see 1 luxeon can cost £5.00

for my back lit dash i used 8 red ones at 4.50 each but powered them at 0.1A and they where bright

so i red could do brake and side so for side drive at 0.150A then put an supply from the brake to drive at 0.3A so there is a definate change in brightness but dont forget the current being supplied the leds will need a heat sink

what your proposing to do is not dificult if you do the maths (have a look at my how to in the how to section) and understand what your doing also be cairfull leds at high power can blind you

unfortunatly it will cost a bit of money but the results will be good

you could also mix leds so hyper bright for side and luxeon for brake , on my gixer bike i made up 2 rear lights using 5 stars per light 3 for brake and 2 for side lights

combining stop tail are ok together but keep indicators seperate or you will have colour bleed over red will mask the yellow

if this seems a lot to take in pm me and ill do a basic circuit for you
as for the 555 timer circuit i also could do a basic circuit and even get you some 555 timers to play with (use on the indicators for correct flash rate )

brigtness can be done with power resistors for cheapness if you wnt a proper controll circuit then your into 20.00 circutry for driving 2 stars
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=2031+203291+110424499+110424654+110381951&Ntk=gensearch&Ntt=led+drivers&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&No=0&getResults=true&appliedparametrics=true&locale=en_UK&divisionLocale=en_UK&catalogId=&skipManufacturer=false&skipParametricAttributeId=&prevNValues=2031+203291&filtersHidden=false&appliedHidden=false&autoApply=false&mm=1003617||,&originalQueryURL=%2Fjsp%2Fsearch%2Fbrowse.jsp%3FN%3D2031%2B203291%26Ntk%3Dgensearch%26Ntt%3Dled%2Bdrivers%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchallpartial%26No%3D0%26getResults%3Dtrue%26appliedparametrics%3Dtrue%26locale%3Den_UK%26divisionLocale%3Den_UK%26catalogId%3D%26skipManufacturer%3Dfalse%26skipParametricAttributeId%3D%26prevNValues%3D2031%2B203291

car manufactures have the advantage of buying power thats why they can have any design they want
ill be willing to help if needed

regards mark

Cheers Mark. I have two light units per side.
What I wanted was to have two sidelights per side, then use the outer ones as indicators too, ie switch the leds from red to yellow flash on and off, then back to red sidelights when i cancel the indicators.
Using 40 plus leds to try and get around the low output per led issue of bi colours...
I can use a 555 timer circuit to dim the red colour down for sidelights by pulse width control of the supply and then brighten them again for brake lights I beleive.
Am I able to do this?

you are not alowed to dim the side light when the indicators are on
nor aore you alowed to turn off the brake when indicators are on

if you where in the USA you could

but over here mot says seperate brake /side and indicators

using 40 + leds still will not get enough light in day light

been there and tryed several conbenations always came back to lots of megga bright or luxeons

Mark why is my one brake light passenger side brighter than the other ??
Ray I want red flashing lights

jan bulb wrong wattage bulb in wrong way round ie brake is acting on side lights
they are 2 filament bulbs so you can get them 180 deg out

They were fine before

What bulbs do I need ?
I have loads in my box I just don't know which ones :oops:

is it an easy job to do :pinch:

I have decided on a layout and using a load of megabright and a few of those those really expensive LEDs for fog and reverse... Just need a compass, mirror and clear perspex and lots of soldering :lol: