Adding lighting to cars?
Hey, guys. I just had another brilliant idea. What if our cars had lights, yeah? I mean, I know that most of us host races during the day, but would lights be awesome or what? I could literally use lights for my cars!
Discussion
Dr. Dodge built some emergency vehicles with flashing lights a year or so ago.
I think epvideos did a race with light up cars years ago
- For SURE! I mean the kit for the effects was something above $40 per car, but night racing with EP's filming skills, no one could deny how awesome they looked!! — Chris_Hood
Yeah brother if you want to spend the doubloons, you can have headlights, tail lights, emergency lights, neon underglow too
We truly live in a world of straight-up miracles
I had to dig deep into the archives for this one...but I'd love to do another "Lights Race" although it's been pointed out that it's tough to get weight into it for racing.
I used a watch battery
fire truck has fiber optics in it
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRORvJucUZA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3lNM7hbnVg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Ab2RiSX8g
dr
What's really needed here is for someone to develop some small (tiny really) circuit boards to more easily distribute/connect voltage and ground etc. while also having a retainer clip for very small battery. Which is very doable in today's world as there are many vertical integrators in China and Taiwan who offer free online design tools for PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) design along with full build services. Basically one stop one shop. In my pre-die cast days I designed a small battery powered guitar amp PCB using such a service in China.
I have little interest in lighted up Hot Wheels currently as I'm just focused on trying to make fast Hot Wheels. The struggle is real.
Could you just use an LED and a single flat battery? Like CR32 or something and put a pull tab or something so the host then pulls the tab to turn on the light - kinda like when you get stuff at the store that has a battery in it?
I know that means the light would just be on permanently and die once the battery runs out...but wouldn't that be enough for a race that wants it? I get it's kind of a one-way trip for that battery and light but they're cheap.
An article in the archive mentions this website that seemingly does light kits for cars but they're custom made and such - can't confirm/verify the qualify but worth a look for ideas even - www.technickldesigns.com
- I bought some of the circuit boards and some component LEDs. I thought the smaller the better for the LEDs and bought the "204" LEDs. They are tiny, almost too small. I haven't had a chance to use them yet, I need some type of magnifier to see the LED leads. I was planning to put them into emergency vehicles, but the boards can't provide enough power for the number of LEDs that I wanted to use. If I ever get them wired up, I will let you know. The basic light circuit board is pretty small and would be easier to work with. — johnson9195
I think the big issue when it comes to adding lights to cars is that they take up a lot of room in the body's of the cars which leave basically no room for anything else. Perfectly fine if the car is purely for backdrops, but for actually being competitive on the track it means you basically no room for weight. The only time I could think of a car on the track wirh lights was little green men's garage from king of the mountain in season 3.
- I think if you used an SUV or van there would be room for the components. The biggest issues I see is when the body has the tail lights and the chassis has the headlights or vice versa. Cars that have both lights in the body would be easier. You could contain the light components into the ceiling of the car and the weights below on the chassis. The center of gravity could be off though. Only one way to find out! — johnson9195
I always thought the idea of adding a magnetic reed switch to the light cirsuit would make a cool way to turn the lights in the car off and on. but it would be tricky not not lose the pill that actvates the reed switch while racing.
www.technickldesigns.com/ is the link.