I see around here that some of us have put in LED light bulbs to replace the rear brake/flasher lights.
I also understand that a "electronic" flasher unit had to be installed.
How does this effect the relays (in the engine compartment).
Are they removed?

Also,
Does anybody know where I can get a "single" red LED rated for 12volts. I want to install a couple (about 4) of them that will be on 24/7.
TIA!!!

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1984 SE - 30800 out of 136840. About to be modified!

Try Digi-Key -> www.digikey.com as a place to purchase them. A few good venders would be Stanley Electric or QT optoelectronics.

Worse comes to worse there is always radio shack.

The electronic flasher replaces only the original Thermal Flasher (located under the steering column). No other changes need to be made with any other relays.

And yes, I'd check Digikey for individual LEDs (or your local Radio Shack may carry them).

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Looking for Fiero posters?

And remember that LED's are light emmiting DIODES. They operate on current, not an actual voltage. There is a max and min voltage range, but the main thing is current. That's why you'll see "15ma" on the package. If you were to hook it straight to a battery, the current would go WAY over that in about a millisecond, and it'd go pop. That's why you need a resistor in series with it.

For an easy way to just do tail lights, pop in to your nearest Wal-Mart and pick up direct drop in replacement 1157 LED 'bulbs'. You can grab your electronic flasher at the same time.

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87/88 V6 5spd Notchback Hybrid

Okay, on the swapping of taillights to LED.
How does the Thermal Flasher unit actually work?
I mean, if the Taillights are powered off of a relay (in the engine compartment), what causes the "draw" on the flasher unit?

I guess I should have clarified that I have a (relatively) stock 84 SE.

Thanks for the info on the single LED's. I am still learning about "electronics". Does anybody have any info on what I would need to get a few LED's to light up 24/7 on the car? One thing I do know is that the LED are an EXTREMELY slow draw on the battery and it shouldn't be a big deal, especially since this is a daily driver.

Thanks a lot so far!

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1984 SE - 30800 out of 136840. About to be modified!

Just make sure the flasher usit is "variable resistance". Oh, and your break lights will make your hazards go on solid if you don't also do the one unfer the glove-box area.

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[]image dropped temporarilly[]
TRiAD Motorsports ~ Performance Tuning of European, Japanese and Domestic Automobiles
Project MR1 / Let the modding begin! ~ triadtuning@hotmail.com * AIM ~ Michael Blue 72
Only the dead have seen the end of war. ~ Plato

Brake/turn and hazard circuits don't use relays. none. zero.

You need likely to change both flasher modules to "electronic" ones.

I think www.howstuffworks.com explains how turn signal cans work.

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11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.

LED's operate at relative low voltages between about 1 and 4 volts, and draw currents between about 10 and 40 milliamperes.

Things to keep in mind...
The two biggest specs you need to worry about, Forward Current = If and Forward Voltage = Vf.
If you exceed the current limit the pn junction will get to hot and will fail.
The current is regulated by adding an inseries resistance. To determine the correct resistance value you just plug into an equation.
Vin= Power supply, probably 12V in your case.
R= (Vin-Vf)/If
The resistor must have the correct wattage rating. (Vin-Vf) * If. Make sure your resistor has a larger wattage rating then this or it will smoke and could be a fire hazard.

VIP = measure your battery (while the car is running) if you are using 12V supply! Cars battery voltage can be much higher then 12V. You may want to use a zener diode and resistor to better regulate your LED supply, but this is probably over kill.

Some LEDs have the resistance built in them so you do not have to worry about it. Most voltages you would be dealing with are covered 5V, 12V ect...

Other specs:
Luminous Intensity -> brightness measured in mcd. Anything over 10 is pretty bright.
Spatial Distribution - > viewing angle. Measured from top. 20 degrees means that the light can be seen from the top to 20 degrees down towards the bottom.

Switching tip:
The best way to switch an LED on or off is to use a FET on the Cathode side (ground side).

Recommend you pick up little booklets from radio shack. They will help you cover the basics, V=R*I, and show you how to do little projects.

BTW this is really all probably over kill. You could just use a POT and trim it until you have your desired brightness and current.

quote Originally posted by theogre: Brake/turn and hazard circuits don't use relays. none. zero. You need likely to change both flasher modules to "electronic" ones. I think www.howstuffworks.com explains how turn signal cans work.

I am sorry to disagree with you, Up until now I would agree with everything you have said (I really appreciate the info in The Cave)

But, I know that I have a relay that powers the brake lights. I can hear them clicking when I tap the brakes (Engine off - of course). If I disconnect the relay - no Lights.
I am wondering if the Relays only control the brakes and the turn signals are direct, or what??

Thanks a lot for thi advice on the POT - I may just go that way with the LEDs.

What the blazes year uses relays? everything for 87 says no relays in turn signals. I know the parking lights use relays in 87, but not my turn signals as far as I've seen. That or the realyas are really well hidden. That's a new one on me. Only time I've ever used relays are on certain truck models.

Also,,, look in the "mirror turn signal" thread I was messing with a couple years ago. It's in the arcives now I think. It covers a bunch of the stuff on using LEDs. (One of these days I still want to finish that project.)

theogre,
Thanks a lot - all I know is that my car - a 1984 - has the relays. I am still a newbie when it comes to the Fiero. I will look for that thread in the archives.
Don

Yep, the 84SE uses two relays, located just below the fuel pressure and a/c relays in the engine compartments. Not indicated in any of the wiring diagrams I've seen, but that's what they are for. I puzzled over it for months, till I had the decklid open, with the turn sigs on & heard the click.
Fotofrank asked the same thing last week right here.
LED's? Radio Shack has em by the boatload, with resistors built in, all current-voltage & types. Just put some in some pwr window switches.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 04-01-2002).]

Once again the 84 only bug bites

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1988 Coupe
Fiero - It's like an Actual Miniature Car