License Plate LEDs

Have a few LEDs and resistors laying around. Why not convert your license plate lights to LEDs.

Step 1: Gather the Tools & Parts

Parts:
White 5mm LEDs (you determine how many to use)
¼ resistors (value determined by how many LEDs you use)
Proto Board

Tools:
Diagonal Cutters
Solder & Soldering Iron

Comments

[Insonicbloom]

I stumbled on this little instructable and thought you may be interested (for the front of your car) in a stripboard layout for a knight rider LED scanner HERE

[purpulhaze]

Kewl! I've recently graduated to etching my own PCBs but I may use the circuit...

[luka1324]

where did u buyed that protoboard and that tool that helps u hold board while u soldering...btw very helpful instructable...did the same thing to my golf mk1 78'...thank you ;)

[purpulhaze]

Can't remember exactly because I've had it for years. If I had to guess I would say Radio Shack.

[curious youth]

throw a couple IR LED's in and license plates are invisible to traffic cams ;)

[macwhiz]

Nah, that would just provide better light for the camera....unless they were highly powerful like an IR Cree led

[curious youth]

IR's do blind alot of cameras when the main beam is pointed directly at them. which wouldnt be hard to do with this project :)

[KT Gadget]

Be careful with the voltage though, the alternator voltage can range up and down depending on the RPM of the engine (you can see this if you rev the engine and pay attention to the dash lights, they will get slightly brighter). Had 2 LED bulbs burn out due to the voltage change and the high current going through them (had no load to help with it :( )

A voltage regulator can solve this by dropping it to a steady, lower voltage and then use a resistor for each LED (maybe a couple of capacitors to smooth out any other voltage variation).

Other than that, great replacement that will last a while! Been wanting to replace all the lights in mines with LEDs, just have to find powerful ones for the headlights haha

[veryken]

I think this is awesome. LEDs are the future. I have some designs and fixes involving LEDs that I've been putting off, so seeing this project is very inspiring. The link to the online calculator is also helpful.