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LCI Taillights retrofit - finally managed to get this working

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Old 09-29-2007, 01:48 AM
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Originally Posted by EuroCarFan' post='475638' date='Sep 29 2007, 03:36 AM
Any chance you would be willing to make a cable that will not strobe at all, regardless of light switch position and what would that cost...approximately?
I'm currently pushing the limits of the board space available in the current enclosure. I've managed to add components to remove the strobing for the LED turn light but the LED rods will still strobe in OFF position, but only on start up. Unless I can get a custom made PCB for my design I don't think I'll be able to easily add the strobing suppressor for the LED rods. Can be done but will be very very time consuming.
Old 09-29-2007, 04:46 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='474667' date='Sep 26 2007, 02:52 PM
I think I just may have resolved the strobing issue!! I'll be absolutely sure tomorrow when I get some good parts but today's experiments were a success. Finally there is hope for all those who have wanted a strobe free LCI light.
To keep time and costs down I am going to only add the circuit to the Turn lights because we know that the LED rods do not strobe if the Light switch is in the Auto or On position.
The strobing happens when the light module checks for burned-our bulbs. Why would the BMW engineers design a different scheme for checking the running and brake lights? My guess is that those light also strobe, but not at start-up. But then, who cares...
Old 09-29-2007, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='475717' date='Sep 29 2007, 10:48 AM
I'm currently pushing the limits of the board space available in the current enclosure. I've managed to add components to remove the strobing for the LED turn light but the LED rods will still strobe in OFF position, but only on start up. Unless I can get a custom made PCB for my design I don't think I'll be able to easily add the strobing suppressor for the LED rods. Can be done but will be very very time consuming.
Good work Bruce ! are you shipping to Europe as well now then ?
Could you quickly remind me: brake lights are both the outer and middle bulbs, right ?

Old 09-30-2007, 05:56 AM
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Originally Posted by DBU' post='475730' date='Sep 29 2007, 01:46 PM
The strobing happens when the light module checks for burned-our bulbs. Why would the BMW engineers design a different scheme for checking the running and brake lights? My guess is that those light also strobe, but not at start-up. But then, who cares...
The way the BMW engineers have designed this is truely amazing. It checks the lights only when you need it. All bulbs would stobe if you had LEDs connected to them but in the OEM lights you just have two sets of LEDs, the rods and the turn. So infact the Brake and Turn are checked once about every 5 mins. But because we dont have any LEDs connected to the Brake we dont get the strobing. The rods are connected to the tail which strobe only on start-up.
Old 09-30-2007, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='476056' date='Sep 30 2007, 06:56 AM
The way the BMW engineers have designed this is truely amazing. It checks the lights only when you need it. All bulbs would stobe if you had LEDs connected to them but in the OEM lights you just have two sets of LEDs, the rods and the turn. So infact the Brake and Turn are checked once about every 5 mins. But because we dont have any LEDs connected to the Brake we dont get the strobing. The rods are connected to the tail which strobe only on start-up.
You are of course correct. Not sure what I was thinking when I wrote my earlier post...
Old 09-30-2007, 02:16 PM
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One of my cables has the strobe free circuit, one doesn't. Can you tell the difference
Old 09-30-2007, 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='476240' date='Sep 30 2007, 03:16 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiAU4c_3YR8

One of my cables has the strobe free circuit, one doesn't. Can you tell the difference

Great job! Looks like you solved the strobing issue.
Old 09-30-2007, 11:45 PM
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the one on the left looks good to me!
Old 10-01-2007, 04:58 AM
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does the good left side pulse just because of the video? Im guessing you cant see that with the naked eye?
Old 10-01-2007, 05:19 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='476240' date='Oct 1 2007, 01:16 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiAU4c_3YR8

One of my cables has the strobe free circuit, one doesn't. Can you tell the difference
Congrats Bruce, Awesome job man!!


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