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New idea....if it works, there will be no need for nasty mercury rolling around inside the windscreen, waiting to be broken. I won't say exactly what it is until I get the parts in and try it, but I'm pretty confident it will work It also won't require any modifications to the screen shape.
Count me among "the believers" . I've wanted to do this mod myself since the day our Texas buddy first posted the thread (even subscribed to it to watch what became of it). Of course, it took you to make this mod a reality .
I'm crazy-interested in having this done to The Bruised Banana when you make it available . I love the idea of being able to dial in the color . I've done the blue tint dash...so although I'd have to juggle with the devil if I dialed into blue for my lighting on my wind-diffuser, I think it would compliment the interior efforts nicely. Other way I'd go would be to dial into yellow given the fact I own a Spa.
Additionally...as you can see in the pic immediately below, as an avid Community Organizer for s2ki.com, I've already laser etched a number of items ("THE BRUISED BANANA", "W1NGMAN", and "www.s2ki.com") into my Rick's Diffuser. I would LOVE to see the LEDs pick up all the laser etchings (as they seem to portray so well in Silver S2k Guy's original pics with his "S2000" logo'd wind-diffuser.
Again...put me on that list!!!
BTW...to those that have mentioned how they "hot-swap" their wind-diffuser for their camera mount...I've solved that by simply mounting my camera mount further back on the same "secret compartment" cover . Just something to consider . For me, I did it this way because I like my wind-diffuser both for function and information offered...so I really didn't want to give that up by swapping .
Ooooohhh...:rubbinghandstogether: Can't wait!!!...Just imagine how cool this pic below would have been if I'd have had your impending mod on my wind-diffuser SIGN ME UP!!!
To repent for my sins, I am hereby publicly proclaiming that I'm an idiot!
Did you ever spend so much time away from something that you forget how it should work or how to use it? How about spending so much time with something that you take it for granted and completely forget about it? I'm guilty of both, and in my haste and frustartion couldn't see the forest for the trees.
I kept throwing ideas down on paper for a control circuit but could never seem to get a circuit I was happy with (i.e., it wouldn't do what I wanted it to do). It's been so long since I've truly worked with transistors, I thought my troubles were due to a forgetful brain and that enough calculations would eventually show me a working circuit. Through the rush, I completely forgot about MOSFETs since I've been working with them so closely lately, but they're just what the doctor ordered.
I kept playing with the LEDs in an attempt to work out some fitment bugs (and to show SOME progress), but I knew the project would go nowhere without that control circuit. But I'm happy to say I finally put together a circuit that does exactly what I want (at least on paper)
So, tomorrow I will be spending some time during the day painting my office in my new place, but I will place an order for enough parts to make a few controllers. If they work as designed (and they should), I will start putting them together in bulk.
I need to pull out my stock screen to see what modifications need to be done to it. As it stands, I believe Rick will have my suggested mods to HIS windscreens finished by this weekend, which means all further orders will include a screen that requires no further mods to work with an LED kit (and not just mine, for you enterprising individuals). Previously manufactured windscreens, including stock screens, will need to be modified by hand.
Let me be the first to say, I truly love building stuff like this, and I generally help the local members put in their mods for free (stereos, intakes, etc.)...but this one is a BITCH AND A HALF. The fit is extremely tight in some areas, soldering all of these leads and stripping the wires in just the correct place is mind-numbing, and there's an annoying amount of Dremel work involved.
I will TRY to make these cost-effective, but I may have to set a price point that loses some potential customers. Even in bulk, by looking at the individual component costs I'm looking at a sizeable amount of money per screen...and that doesn't include my assembly time, which I estimate at anywhere from 4-8 hours per screen if I use one of the newly modified screens by Rick (and trust me, I'm seriously trying to cut down on that time). I want to be fair with the pricing, but I hope no one expects me to do bulk orders for practically free
Some good news...I have the 4 inner LEDs (out of 6) in place running at half-power, and they still look sweet The brightness is very uniform, with little to no visible "beams" shooting through the plexi above each LED. I still intend to use all 6 LEDs, just in case someone decides to use an extra large etching, but it's nice to know 4 would be enough for most cases. I'm still not completely happy with color uniformity between LEDs, but maybe I'm just being my usual anal self...I'll have Bass come over the next night or two to check it out and give a somewhat unbiased opinion.
Mac,
I'm a late comer to this thread, and I want this mod!!! How much room do you have to install the LEDs under the windscreen? I've made modifications like this to my Honda Goldwing's windshield using pre-built LEDs and a relay from NAPA.
Please put me on your list for when you finish the mod.
Go to Rick's site and download the instructions for installing his windscreen. Take a look at the pics that show the inside of the mechanism and note how little space there is, not just under the multitude of connectors that hold the clamshell together, but within the mechanism as a whole.
Based on recommendations made by MacGyver to accommodate this mod, we are revising our windscreen design within the mechanism itself. All windscreens ordered starting today will have these modifications.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rick Hesel
[B]Based on recommendations made by MacGyver to accommodate this mod, we are revising our windscreen design within the mechanism itself.
Dave: While pissing and moaning about the difficulty of putting multiple LEDs along a set of grouped wires (like telephone zip cord), I came up with another way to do it last night. I haven't actually been able to try it out yet, but if it works it will shorten my install time.
Due to the amount of Dremel work involved, proper routing of the wires, etc., I highly suggest allowing me to do all of the work. If anyone insists I will provide simple instructions and pics on what to do and where to place things, but I will make no guarantees as to quality of the light output or the installation of the components necessary to prevent lowering the soft top when the screen is down. Be that as it may, I'm sure there are several out there such as yourself who are interested in doing it yourself.
If it is offered as a ready to install kit, it will include a line with 6 LED clusters attached to it, pics and dimensions on where to cut the windscreen and mechanism, a tilt sensor for the soft top, and a control box with all associated electronics. Otherwise, you'll receive a completely built windscreen mechanism with a wire hanging out of it and the control box.
Jason: I think it will be a 50/50 mix of stock windscreens and Rick's screens. Most here in the local club will be using modificed Rick's screen, but at least one will be using stock. I would hope this project convinces others to buy Rick's screens, and it may do so after people have it on the stock screens for a while and want an upgrade.
It also won't require any modifications to the screen shape.
. I've wanted to do this mod myself since the day our Texas buddy first posted the thread (even subscribed to it to watch what became of it). Of course, it took you to make this mod a reality 
.
. I love the idea of being able to dial in the color 
.
The brightness is very uniform, with little to no visible "beams" shooting through the plexi above each LED. I still intend to use all 6 LEDs, just in case someone decides to use an extra large etching, but it's nice to know 4 would be enough for most cases. I'm still not completely happy with color uniformity between LEDs, but maybe I'm just being my usual anal self...I'll have Bass come over the next night or two to check it out and give a somewhat unbiased opinion.
