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Message started by joebothehobo on 11/24/07 at 18:22:56

Title: LEDs
Post by joebothehobo on 11/24/07 at 18:22:56

Now just for the record, I've always thought that undercarriage lighting on cars was silly and a waste of money, but it seems like there might be some practicality in doing it for a bike (other than just making you look pimped-out). Does anybody have any thoughts about the feasibility or legality of doing it to a Savage in California?

As far as i can tell, It looks like there're some pro-jobs that cost 200-300, and some do-it-yourselves that go for more like 10-15 per light. Would it be better to get a separate power source or to link it to the bike's electrical? It also seems like blue and red are questionable colors in terms of getting pulled over for wierd lighting. Anybody know anything different?


Title: Re: LEDs
Post by T-Mack1 on 11/24/07 at 19:35:40

Can't answer the Legal questions , but for power, the LED's don't draw a lot of current so you should be ok.  Unless you're talking Christmas looking install, then would need to look at the spec on the lights.


Title: Re: LEDs
Post by Paladin on 11/24/07 at 20:47:15

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
With the internet there is no excuse for ignorance of the law.

California Vehicle Code On-Line (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=veh&codebody=&hits=20)


Lighting is CVC 24000-26106

If you do get cited you can look up the code written on the citation to determine whether or not you should fight it.  Not to mention it would probably just be a fixit ticket.
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CVC 5200.  (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.
CVC 5201.  License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued

Wendy has been nailed in The Beast (http://www.andruschak.net/breyer/blog/archives/001925.html) under 5200.  More than once.  Finally gave in and mounted the front plate rather than simply having it in the front window (Common in South Los Angeles to help prevent theft of plates.)

Wendy equipped The Beauty (http://www.andruschak.net/breyer/blog/archives/001925.html) with a blue/white VW Logo Plate in the front, to help call attention to the fact that she is not displaying her second plate.  Just to see how long it would take to get pulled over for violation of CVC5200.  So far, four years and waiting.

(I mentioned this thread to Wendy -- she says if someone says she is missing her front plate she'll reply that she doesn't miss it at all!)  

Title: Re: LEDs
Post by joebothehobo on 11/24/07 at 23:14:17

Thanks for the link Paladin. Just what I needed.

it looks like the following is what i was looking for.

"25102.  In addition to the lamps otherwise permitted by this
chapter, any motor vehicle may be equipped with lamps on the sides
thereof, visible from the side of the vehicle but not from the front
or rear thereof, which lamps, together with mountings or receptacles,
shall be set into depressions or recesses in the body of the vehicle
and shall not protrude beyond or outside the body of the vehicle.
The light source in each of the lamps shall not exceed two
candlepower and shall emit diffused light of any color, except that
the color red is permitted only on authorized emergency vehicles."

Just to make sure I'm not misinterpreting this, it seems like you can have lights of any color on your bike, running at any time, just so long as they are not red, not visible from the front or back, and less than 2 candlepower each. At least, legally speaking.

Any other thoughts on technical feasibility?

Title: Re: LEDs
Post by joeh100 on 11/25/07 at 07:01:44

Hey joebothehobo, if your comfortable with soldering, you can do it yourself, but 10-15 per light is probably not that bad.  If you wanted to do it yourself, you could save quite a bit though.  The hardest part would be coming up with a way to mount them.  

Since your in CA you should get your parts from www.jameco.com
You'd need the LED's, resistors (value depends on LED), and a V-reg (optional).

If I were doing it I would run them off of a 5V regulator (< $ 0.50), but that's just me.  I could help you with the tech. details & I'm sure others here could also.

But, if your a pimp you could probably afford to have someone do it for you though  ;D

Title: Re: LEDs
Post by slowboy on 11/25/07 at 07:38:20

I got my lights at www. Boogey. com they have complete kits or any parts you might need.


Title: Re: LEDs
Post by thumperclone on 11/25/07 at 08:20:10

too bad about the red, my 06 is red so the under carriage led is also(ridin on a red cloud)its a automotive clearance light from wally world mounted to the under side of the swingarm cross brace..
red and blue visiable from the front not permitted here in colorado..got to get the blues off thumper clone,engine,under head lamp,bottom of neck shines on front chrome fender may leave that one and just shove it up into the neck further...
here if you get a improper equiptment citation you fix it and get an officer to sign off and you're good to go

Title: Re: LEDs
Post by jrm8486 on 11/25/07 at 14:15:35

I use these,Fantasy Lights, used for floral arrangements 36" long bendable wire w/35 LEDs built in.3 AA batteries.I have two sets of Amethyest Purple I'll be posting for sale.


http://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2007/11/25/bikepics-1098131-800.jpg

Title: Re: LEDs
Post by firsts40 on 11/25/07 at 22:34:50

How long will those batteries last running the lights continously?   8)
Also, where can you get them?


Title: Re: LEDs
Post by jrm8486 on 11/26/07 at 04:30:43

I've only used them at our local bike nights, but mine still work after 2 years. I bought mine from a flower shop I use to work at.

Title: Re: LEDs
Post by firsts40 on 11/26/07 at 05:53:45

This is what I would be using them for also, just special occassions.  Thanks for the info

Ride Safe

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