Five-O LR11 modification, completed

[tsquale]

Had a Five-O with a bad bulb. Thought it would be neat to put a Whelen LR11 in it.

EDIT 4/13/15: This is an extremely easy upgrade that will take 5 minutes to do. The LR mounts perfectly without trouble in the original spot. All you need to do is wire it in properly. Positive to positive, ground to ground.

Completed Video:

Original post: The fit is perfect. The LR mounts with little effort. The issue is the circuit board for it. It detects the "flaw" of the Five-O using a contact for power due to the rotating assembly, so the circuit doesn't power the LR.

After a few hours of trying to improve the contact system to no avail, I came up with this crude concept of independently powering the LR with a 9v battery secured to the rotating mechanism. Very crude for now, just secured with electrical tape. But it works!

http://youtu.be/5isX-GHMaUA

 

[wilsonbr90]

My bet would be on the nearly non existent amperage draw. The high amperage of the halogen is what draws the contactor to send current. What about putting in a load resistor to try to up the juice?

 

[tsquale]

My bet would be on the nearly non existent amperage draw. The high amperage of the halogen is what draws the contactor to send current. What about putting in a load resistor to try to up the juice?

Can you post an example of what you're talking about?

 

[7d9_z28]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-50W-6-ohm-Load-Resistor-Fix-LED-Bulb-Fast-Hyper-Flash-Turn-Signal-Blink-/271702729992?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f42bea508&vxp=mtr

Often used in vehicles when you replace stock halogen bulbs with LED bulbs, because the draw is so much less, the vehicle often thinks the bulb is out and wont function right. These fix those issues.

 

[tsquale]

Thanks, we'll give it a try

 

[7d9_z28]

Brian may have a different kind in mind but those are just the common ones I know of...

 

[rettoded]

Tsquale thank you for doing this! I have had this idea for a while of using both the LR11 and the Five-O light, but lacked either. I always wondered what it would look like, and it looks awesome! I am surprised by how the white light behind the colored lenses looks so incredibly bright! I will definitely be following this thread to see if the power issues get worked out.

So who wants to put an LR11 in a Whelen Cadet?

Better yet, who wants to put 2 degree Whelen PAR46 spotlight bulbs in an Unity RV46?

 

[unlisted]

Ah so this is what you did!


Add two more LR11s spaced out and multiple brushes for power. Should woek great. Also needs a slightly slower motor.


Bonus if you do the same to a pancake light.... true 360° low profile led beacon! Imagine a 3, 4 or even a 5 beam pancake beacon!


.... someone sell me some LR11s now!

 

[TritonBoulder47]

I'm diggin this, a lot!!!  

 

[tsquale]

Also needs a slightly slower motor.

I think the motor is going so fast because it is getting more power with the LR11 not sucking power too. I agree, it is a bit fast right now.

 

[JazzDad]

It's spinning so fast, I expected the centrifugal force to tear the electrical tape and break the lens.

 

[nerdly_dood]

Could you put in two LR11s side by side, in a more balanced configuration with the center bolt between them, or would that not fit?

 

[tsquale]

Could you put in two LR11s side by side, in a more balanced configuration with the center bolt between them, or would that not fit?

They may have to be angled a bit, but it might doable

 

[HILO]

I like the concept. I disagree with adding more LR11s. The reason rotators are effective is the dark time behind the reflector. With a flash back mirror, more heads would just become a blur.

 

[JazzDad]

I like the concept. I disagree with adding more LR11s. The reason rotators are effective is the dark time behind the reflector. With a flash back mirror, more heads would just become a blur.

So install half of the modules with burned out diodes.  :razz:

 

[tsquale]

Tried a few different capacitors resistors and was still unable to get the LR to illuminate. I have gone over the wiring over and over and find no issues. I have ensured the contact points are clean and making good contact. I'm at a loss.

 

[wilsonbr90]

I still bet you need more load than just the led. Capacitor won't fix that. You have used a dmm to check to make sure your getting continuity?

 

[Jarred J.]

probably because you need to use resistors and not capacitors?

may have to "reinvent the wheel"

 

[tsquale]

probably because you need to use resistors and not capacitors?

may have to "reinvent the wheel"

I mistyped. I used resistors, haha. Good catch Jarred.

 

[Jarred J.]

is the motor that spinning drawing power from the same contacts?

 

[tsquale]

is the motor that spinning drawing power from the same contacts?

Yes it is. There is one power lead and one ground lead that both the motor and light bulb shared. I removed the original bulb and wired the LR in the same way.

 

[Jarred J.]

ok try this... run a positiveor the led  to the motors positive, ground the led where the halogen would have been grounded and then add a resistor to the motors wire.... it'll "think" the load of the halogen is there.

try it bare first to see what happens...

 

[tsquale]

ok try this... run a positiveor the led  to the motors positive, ground the led where the halogen would have been grounded and then add a resistor to the motors wire.... it'll "think" the load of the halogen is there.

try it bare first to see what happens...

I will give that a try tonight after work. Thanks for the idea.

 

[tsquale]

Well I have tinkered with a few different resistors, all to no avail. I am at a loss here. Anyone know if the LEDs will still work if I de-solder them and try to power them direct instead of going through the circuit board they are on?

 

[Jarred J.]

how big were the resistors?

try this....

get a paper clip and a nail...  wrap the paper clip around the nail leaving space between the winds... try different windings for different resistance values...

or.. start looking at the resistors they make for "e cig vapor sticks"

I tried to google some sites but work has "tobacco" related websites blocked

are you sure the led lights are actually 12v? (dumb question I know) but what if you get a mini adjustable voltage regulator and run through it... or get a "mini transformer" from 12 - 9v etc...

[Broken External Image]:http://d3i5bpxkxvwmz.cloudfront.net...to-9-volt-DC-converter-1366485715_387_219.gif

 

[7d9_z28]

I have a better Idea. Try a pair of SXTDLEDS in there instead, that should level out the amp draw......................

 

[wilsonbr90]

Well I have tinkered with a few different resistors, all to no avail. I am at a loss here. Anyone know if the LEDs will still work if I de-solder them and try to power them direct instead of going through the circuit board they are on?

No? Leds are only going to use a fraction of the voltage. Sure the positive and negatives are right. Have you tried reversing the leads on the lr11

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Thanks for sharing this! Always nice to see "odd" new projects from the membership!

Now, since there has been discussion in the past about colored diodes behind colored lenses versus "white" LED's behind colored lenses...

Seeing as it was a split lens, how effective would YOU say it was with the "white" diodes behind the two different colored lenses, and if you had a single color lens with the same colored diodes behind, do you think there would be an improvement, or less "loss"?

 

[tsquale]

I'm an idiot thanks to C17LVFD and wilsonbr90 for the assistance. I indeed had the polarity for the LR reversed. The motor accepts reverse polarity but the LR clearly didn't at 12v. Not sure why it did at 9v, but I probably shaved some of its life off.


In conclusion, this is an EXTREMELY easy upgrade with spectacular results when wired properly.


Zapp, as for your question, I think it is very effective behind the colored filters. It is much brighter than the halogen bulb and has a crisp color. I don't think colored LEDs are necessary but could be unique for a stealthy look. Example, red LEDs with no filters.

 

[tsquale]

New video of completed project added

 

[7d9_z28]

Fantastic, I'll take one in amber and one in A/C.

 

[tsquale]

Fantastic, I'll take one in amber and one in A/C.

I have TWO amber Five-O's for sale, supply your own LR11 and you'll have it!

 

[7d9_z28]

I have TWO amber Five-O's for sale, supply your own LR11 and you'll have it!

I had seriously considered trying to get you to throw one in as a partial trade on the Lightstorm, but I had to resist more lights!

 

[C17LVFD]

I liked the idea SOOO much I made myself one as well. Awesome idea and wicked bright!


Just have to finish cleaning up the lenses and it'll be like new


Great idea Tony!


Seth

 

[tsquale]

I liked the idea SOOO much I made myself one as well. Awesome idea and wicked bright!


Just have to finish cleaning up the lenses and it'll be like new


Great idea Tony!


Seth

I am glad it inspired you to create one as well and thanks again for helping me realize my wiring snafu.

 

[TritonBoulder47]

Absolutely SICK!!!  I love it man...  

 

[JazzDad]

Very smooth and balanced mechanism.