DIY: C-Bar taillight retrofit

[SitKneelBend]

Looks good, I just think the amber looks funny behind the lens.

Agreed, but I think once its installed the whiter light of the incandescent will drown it out. We'll see...I really just wanted a dimmer light for running and Amber seems to fit the bill.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[SitKneelBend]

Lookin good!

Crazy it took the chrome off.

I know! At first I thought I hit it when I was drilling until I saw the chrome stuck to the tape.

Maybe it adheres a little too well and the sticky chemical mix doesn't play well with chrome...

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rzrman328]

Agreed, but I think once its installed the whiter light of the incandescent will drown it out. We'll see...I really just wanted a dimmer light for running and Amber seems to fit the bill.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

I thought the amber was for the turn and white for running?

You were able to reverse those with no issue?

 

[SitKneelBend]

I thought the amber was for the turn and white for running?

You were able to reverse those with no issue?

Yep, I just re-pinned on the LED side. The white "looked" much brighter so I decided that should be the blinker/brake. Tomorrow we'll find out if it plays nice with the truck wires....

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[BlownGP]

Yeah, I'm interested in seeing pics.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Yeah, I'm interested in seeing pics.

Me too! If it wasn't midnight, and I wasn't inebriated I'd be installing these...

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Mpgrimm2]

Me too! If it wasn't midnight, and I wasn't inebriated I'd be installing these...

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

I really like what you've got going on with this. Hopefully you sketch out some wiring diagrams and pictures of how you tied everything in and any changes you made to the light tube's dual wiring/module.

Up All Night Sleep All Day via my LG G4 on Tapatalk

 

[SitKneelBend]

It worked! I'll get some night shots later...





Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rzrman328]

Good job dude....night pics are a must.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Night, really hard to take a picture that shows it on the flasher/brake setting...





I think I'll try some dusk pictures tomorrow to get the exposure right.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rzrman328]

Can you explain all the operations...

Does the oem Tailight bulb stay on all the time with the tubes?

Does it blink with LED tube or tube only?

Do both bulb and tube brighten together when brakes applied?


I may consider doin the switchback but I want them to operate a certain way before I tear them open again.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Can you explain all the operations...

Does the oem Tailight bulb stay on all the time with the tubes?

Does it blink with LED tube or tube only?

Do both bulb and tube brighten together when brakes applied?


I may consider doin the switchback but I want them to operate a certain way before I tear them open again.

I'm gonna try a video at dusk so you can see it in action. To answer all of your questions, YES!

When the truck tail lights are on, the factory bulb is on with the Amber LED.

When the brake is pressed, the factory bulb brightens and the LED switches to white (much brighter). The same for turn signal, the wire flashes with the factory bulb, with the switchback chip in, it takes about 1-2 seconds for Amber to kick back on after the flashing has occurred.

You could not use the switchback chip and get the same/similar functionality. The chip shuts off power to the running light when flashing is on (brake or turn). I switched the pins to have the white light as the flasher because it is brighter.

If you don't use the chip, it would be even brighter when flashing as it will turn on both white and Amber at the same time during flashing.

The Amber doesn't look so Amber when coupled with the factory bulb. It kinda looks like lava or boiling hot magma!

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Mpgrimm2]

... It kinda looks like lava or boiling hot magma!

Alright there Dr. Evil. We will await your video and write-up.

Up All Night Sleep All Day via my LG G4 on Tapatalk

 

[BlownGP]

The Amber doesn't look so Amber when coupled with the factory bulb. It kinda looks like lava or boiling hot magma!

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

LOL, That's sorta what I thought when you first posted pics.

I do want to see a video. Sounds complicated but going to look good.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Sorry no video tonight, it stormed pretty good at dusk. I'll try again tomorrow.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rzrman328]

Sorry no video tonight, it stormed pretty good at dusk. I'll try again tomorrow.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Is it tomorrow where your at yet?

 

[SitKneelBend]

Within the hour...

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[SitKneelBend]

Ok, here's about the best I can do on pictures and video.

Comparison (left running/right flash)


Flash


Close up flash (attempting to correct for exposure)



Video (flash, return to running x2)

https://youtu.be/beRBY9sYTLo

 

[Rzrman328]

Came out good dude. Glad it worked out for ya.

 

[BlownGP]

Not bad, can't really see it during the day. I wonder how it looks at night. lol