Tail light .... lights?

[Blackbyrd]

Sorry for the wonky title name best I could come up with

I have some old tail lights I've had on display in my garage and I was thinking it would be cool to light them.

Trying to guage the best way of doing this? Just appropriate 110 to 12v adapter and branch tail lamp harness off the power supply?

Just looking to discuss ideas

Tail lights are off a 71 camaro and an 06 GTO so 8 led bulbs at most?

 

[Black300zx]

A 110-12v power supply sounds like it would be the ticket. You should be able to google the bulb part number to find the per-bulb current draw, or simply hook it up to a 12V battery and measure it so that you know how much current the supply needs to provide.

 

[larry4406]

I think in the “what did you do in your garage thread” a guy recently posted his tail light display lit up via white Christmas lights.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Saw that! Kind of what started the idea however he had them mounted to a plaque and had enough to justify a string of Christmas lights.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Automotive LED bulbs use DC. (they also won't work if the polarity is reversed)
Get a 120 to 12VDC converter.

 

[Jinks]

Automotive LED bulbs use DC. (they also won't work if the polarity is reversed)
Get a 120 to 12VDC converter.

Or use any 120 v to 12 v converter & grab a few diodes & build your own converter for a few cents...........

 

[snyder]

I used an old 12 volt laptop charger to power my car/garage stereo.

 

[The Cobbler]

or rig up some candelabra base 120volt LED bulbs & sockets

 

[no704]

Just dig through your old box of cables and wall warts and find a 12v dc one. Or get one on Amazon for $10.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Yeah I got some plans now, gonna need some pigtails for the gto lights....

Thanks guys!

 

[whateg01]

I vote for the Christmas lights. No need for external power supply. I would even go so far as to 3d print new sockets that fit the lights but then again if it isn't overkill, is not enough

 

[F-22]

You can also google a bit for a nice E17 fitting that could be riveted on the reflector, something like this:

Drill the reflector, rivet (or screw) this on, and use a standard 110V bulb.
E17 come in very small sizes (for fridges, microwaves...)


BTW I did not know LED bulbs can be both 120V and 220V. Good thing the standard size (E26/27) fittings are interchangeable, so I expect this makes global production way cheaper than back when the filaments were different.

 

[alfredeneuman]

This would make more sense.
12V is low voltage, and doesn't need the "added protection" that 120 needs. It would cost less too.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/12-Volt-...ision-Planar-Sony-Princeton-Slimage/508931476

 

[Vintage_MPG]

This would make more sense.
12V is low voltage, and doesn't need the "added protection" that 120 needs. It would cost less too.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/12-Volt-...ision-Planar-Sony-Princeton-Slimage/508931476

Dusting off an older thread -

Can I just use this to power my brake lights? Cut back the insulation and wore it to a headlight or taillight pigtail?

That's a super cheap option....

 

[Vintage_MPG]

What about this guy:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y64QLBM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Is 5A and 60W enough to push a few headlights? Preferably at a less-than-full-blast volume of light?

 

[Vintage_MPG]

There's actually dozens of options online; just not sure which one I'll need....

I need to do some research on 50's auto headlights. Would it matter if they were 6v or 12v? I'm guessing 12v would be much preferable. Just guessing.

 

[dave*99]

A sealed beam headlight (old incandescent type) can be in the 40-60 Watt range. Use the bulb part number to look it up. Or connect it to your car battery and measure the current with an ammeter or multimeter.

I suspect you don't want full brightness indoors. So a reduced voltage may be best. A series resistor (high wattage type) or a lower voltage power supply may be employed.

You can also connect some of the bulbs in series. To get the brightness you like.

 

[RPH]

It’s not unknown to run filament type light bulbs at lower voltages. Many times it’s just to increase durability and lifespan of the bulb.

 

[bwringer]

or rig up some candelabra base 120volt LED bulbs & sockets

This is the way. Cheap, reliable, etc. Or LED Christmas lights or strip lights.

In this application, LEDs have the big advantage of not producing much heat. You can use hot snot to glue things into place, which should also help prevent damage to the piece.

 

[Vintage_MPG]

This is the way. Cheap, reliable, etc. Or LED Christmas lights or strip lights.

In this application, LEDs have the big advantage of not producing much heat. You can use hot snot to glue things into place, which should also help prevent damage to the piece.

This sounds like the safest and easiest way to get it done.

Anybody have any pics of something like this? Does it look authentic? Can I use the headlight glass up front but light it up with the candelabra lights as my illumination?

 

[Vintage_MPG]

I have one of these power converters; I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect it's not enough to push juice to run headlights....

 

[Vintage_MPG]

I have several front clips/rear clips that I'd like to hang up; if I can figure this out it will transform my garage! haha!

 

[softailgarage]

Wanna be real cool and impress the women and neighbors? Rig the tail lights to blink with the beat of music.

 

[Vintage_MPG]

Wanna be real cool and impress the women and neighbors? Rig the tail lights to blink with the beat of music.

BRILLIANT!

 

[Vintage_MPG]

I'm thinking the easiest way to get this done would be to cut the backs off of a round headlight, then figure out how to mount some standard 110v light bulbs.

What's the easiest way to cut off the back of a round headlight? In a clean manner that would allow for the replacement of bulbs with 110v bulbs? Surely there's an easy way to drill off the backside of a headlight...

 

[dougf]

Wanna be real cool and impress the women and neighbors? Rig the tail lights to blink with the beat of music.

In all the years I've been restoring classic vehicles or do anything shop related, I've yet to impress or attract a woman... Just other old men

 

[Blackbyrd]

well I see this is still among the living hahahaha. Granted Ive done nothing with the project kind of forgot about it till I saw this thread haha

 

[toolmiser]

Wanna be real cool and impress the women and neighbors? Rig the tail lights to blink with the beat of music.

Like a "color organ"? Yes I lived thru the 70's

 

[AntonLargiader]

If you're adding and powering LEDs for these lights for indoor decorative use, there's no need to stick with 12V. Many LEDs are 5V and you can get dirt cheap USB power cubes for that.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

Like a "color organ"? Yes I lived thru the 70's

I had one.

I find it odd that I was just thinking about it the other day, wondering whatever happened to it and now, up pops your mention.

What does it all mean?

 

[Vintage_MPG]

If you're adding and powering LEDs for these lights for indoor decorative use, there's no need to stick with 12V. Many LEDs are 5V and you can get dirt cheap USB power cubes for that.

Can I still use the headlight faces - just so that things look relatively authentic?

I like the LED idea; much less power, much less heat, and a much more manageable light output. Win all the way around.

Now how to cut the backs off of those round headlights....

 

[drmarkr]

Can I still use the headlight faces - just so that things look relatively authentic?

I like the LED idea; much less power, much less heat, and a much more manageable light output. Win all the way around.

Now how to cut the backs off of those round headlights....

Dremel with a cutoff wheel?

Post a pic and you'll get some more suggestions, I'm sure.

 

[mogandave]

If you have ten of them, just use the original bulbs and wire them in series,,,

 

[Vintage_MPG]

Here's what I'm using for my wall hanging, and then a few shots of the bulbs I have...

 

[backupbeeper]

Just use a 120v ac to 12v dc converter ,
I’ve seen some that even had adjustable dc output voltage ,
If 12 was too bright you could switch it to 8 or whatever

Or just use Christmas lights .

 

[Vintage_MPG]

What about this guy?

It's got the adjustable dial - but only pushes 2 amps.....is that enough? I don't believe it's enough to power a headlight - you think?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MZZPB53/?tag=atomicindus08-20