DIY LED light strip

itsdanny

Hi, I've always had, recently anyway, the idea of making my own light set up, and technology looks to have caught up with it. Basically the idea is a set or led lights, which you can buy in strips, wired up to a battery, these can be easily fixed to anywhere on your frame, and it would really illuminate ones bike, in the dark. I've seen blogs where people have gone as far as including a raspberry pi, allowing you to get code which in effect, creates a bit of a light show. The point being too be very visible from our mates in there cars etc. Has anyone done a project like this
? I'm after ideas and direction on what needs to be done. I don't think much electronic experience is required, just some nounce!

fudgey

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19715021#p19715021]itsdanny[/url] wrote:

Hi, I've always had, recently anyway, the idea of making my own light set up, and technology looks to have caught up with it. Basically the idea is a set or led lights, which you can buy in strips, wired up to a battery, these can be easily fixed to anywhere on your frame, and it would really illuminate ones bike, in the dark. I've seen blogs where people have gone as far as including a raspberry pi, allowing you to get code which in effect, creates a bit of a light show. The point being too be very visible from our mates in there cars etc. Has anyone done a project like this
? I'm after ideas and direction on what needs to be done. I don't think much electronic experience is required, just some nounce!

Last year for mountain mayhem (24h mtb race) my mate got hold of some 3M red led strip tape, it was self adhesive but didnt stick to his bike all that well.

Anyway its very simple to use, just cut to length and solder on some tails to your battery pack. He used a short 3" piece with a 9v battery, tbh it wasnt all that bright but i tested it to 24v and it was very bright at that. No idea if the leds would have burnt out tho, and i suspect you will struggle to find a 24v battery.

He also got hold of some quite thin blue led stuff, again not that bright but looked quite cool in pitch black.
I cant recall what brand that was tho.