L.E.D.'s in the Velocity Stacks

[Old Geezer Richard]

 I ran across this Valk on you tube and while his bike was ideling the red LED's were flickering on and off inside the Vel. stacks giving the impression the lites were firing off the plugs .....  Is it possible to hook-up led's to the plugs wires I would think thats too much volts for those lites or maybe this guy had a control box he can program the lites to flicker like on Christmas lites ... I was just curious it looked real interesting ..... thinking about putting LED's in the Vel. stacks on my bike to go with the other LED's I have already  ...  By the way , I get a real kick out of these Harley guys when their bent over really looking inside the Stacks to see if they really work ... Thanks the Geezer

[RP#62]

I built a controller that does that - it "fires" the individual LEDs based on the tach pulses, so it revs with the throttle.  Best effect is at idle.
-RP

[custom1]

Here is the video or one like it. I had to see it. I would rather have them respond to the RPM or be triggered off each cylinder somehow. The randomness of it just doesn't work for me.

Must be a different video...I don't see any Harley guys.

Valkyrie Velocity Stacks LED Flame Pods	powered by Aeva

Close Up Valkyrie Velocity Stacks LED Flame Pods	powered by Aeva

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Hey RP#62 , how involved is it to make a controller box like you describe ? or can I buy a box similar to yours on line to do the same thing ?

[Skinhead]

Could you fire them off the coil primary leads?

[dustytrader]

those are freakin awesome....must have 

[RP#62]

Hey RP#62 , how involved is it to make a controller box like you describe ? or can I buy a box similar to yours on line to do the same thing ?

I haven't seen any on-line, which is why I made one, but its been several years, may be something out now.  Mine's made from an IC, a handful of transistors and some miscellaneous tiny bits to make them all play nicely together and not screw up the tach signal.  It took some trial an error to keep from letting the smoke out of the IC but its been working well since '03.
-RP

[greggh]

Hey RP#62 , how involved is it to make a controller box like you describe ? or can I buy a box similar to yours on line to do the same thing ?

I haven't seen any on-line, which is why I made one, but its been several years, may be something out now.  Mine's made from an IC, a handful of transistors and some miscellaneous tiny bits to make them all play nicely together and not screw up the tach signal.  It took some trial an error to keep from letting the smoke out of the IC but its been working well since '03.
-RP

Might you be interested in building some for those of us who are electrically challenged?

[BF]

If someone were inclinded to build a Valk specific led kit for the stacks that could be turned on/off with a switch, I'd be all over it in a heart beat.  Hint hint.   

[RP#62]

Hey RP#62 , how involved is it to make a controller box like you describe ? or can I buy a box similar to yours on line to do the same thing ?

I haven't seen any on-line, which is why I made one, but its been several years, may be something out now.  Mine's made from an IC, a handful of transistors and some miscellaneous tiny bits to make them all play nicely together and not screw up the tach signal.  It took some trial an error to keep from letting the smoke out of the IC but its been working well since '03.
-RP

It could happen.  Mine's set up to turn off/on with a sub-mini toggle switch.  Would most folks have a single LED in each stack? 
-RP


Might you be interested in building some for those of us who are electrically challenged?

[dustytrader]

Ditto for me!!

If someone were inclinded to build a Valk specific led kit for the stacks that could be turned on/off with a switch, I'd be all over it in a heart beat.  Hint hint.   

[X Ring]

Ditto for me!!

If someone were inclinded to build a Valk specific led kit for the stacks that could be turned on/off with a switch, I'd be all over it in a heart beat.  Hint hint.   

ME TOO!!   

[Old Geezer Richard]

 I have found some small round LED's in red that I found at Advance auto parts for about $14.00  ... these I will be fitting down at the bottom of the stacks .... need to drill one small hole at the base so the wires will feed thru and then connect them to my existing LED's I have already ...... it sure will be a real HOOT to see these know it all HD riders just stand there in amazement looking at those stacks firing AND I have bubble wire mesh screens mounted on top of the stacks so you can't see clearly if these things are really functional  too funny .... Thanks the Geezer     PS ... Hey Skinhead , I had thought about somehow hooking them up to the plug wires BUT I realized (1) I might chance shorting out the spark  ...(2) I don't think those LED's can withstand the electrical jolt from the coils  over a period of time  .... The Geezer

[Garfield]

If someone were inclinded to build a Valk specific led kit for the stacks that could be turned on/off with a switch, I'd be all over it in a heart beat.  Hint hint.   

Same here

[WynneBear]

I'd be in too....

[Skinhead]

I'm not an electrical whiz, (more of a cheesewhiz) but I believe the primary voltage on the coils is 12V, and the three coils fire once per rev, so the LEDs would be firing at 2X engine speed, so I would think it would work.  I tried an induction coil on a plug wire, but that didn't work. (no injineering, just a wild ass guess on # of turns) so some one who knew what they were doing might be able to get that to work to. 

[BF]

Personally, I really wouldn't care if they were in sinc with the plugs or not....beside, I'd think that they'd loose a little something at highway speeds anyway. 

Just the effect of those all flashing out of sequence at idle would be good enough for me.  Parked and at idle is when you're gonna wanna play with people anyway. 

[Bobbo]

I'm not an electrical whiz, (more of a cheesewhiz) but I believe the primary voltage on the coils is 12V, and the three coils fire once per rev, so the LEDs would be firing at 2X engine speed, so I would think it would work.  I tried an induction coil on a plug wire, but that didn't work. (no injineering, just a wild ass guess on # of turns) so some one who knew what they were doing might be able to get that to work to. 

You're correct that it fires every revolution, so it is twice as fast.  An induction coil wound around the plug wire works, but you need to rectify, amplify, and filter it to get a good pulse signal.  Picking up a signal on the switched side of the coil (primary) would be easier to use, as well as the signal from the trigger wheel.

A really cool effect would be to use an RGB LEDs and change color from a deep red at idle, to yellow at midrange and blue at high RPM.  A microprocessor would make it easy to do.

[BonS]

I just used self-blinking  red and amber super-bright led's for mine. The two colors seem more flame like. I ended up using three in each v-stack. Some stacks have two reds and one amber while others have two ambers and one red. A little piece of screen over the perforated circuit boards covers the circuits up and completes the look. The random blinking works for me and the superbright led's are daylight visible so it's a light show that can be shown off whenever/wherever; until the cops pull you over; but, no, that hasn't happened to me yet as I'm petty conservative in their use.

You have to be cautious with your install though. Remember, water runs right into the v-stacks and it has to have a way out to avoid the inevitable. I used hot glue to seal the exposed electrical leads but left some of the perforated pcb holes open to allow for drainage.

Generally I don't recommend doing what I did with the leds because it sure wasn't easy. Things are quite tight in there and if you're like me and don't want to see wires then the job is considerably harder again. And besides: I want to be one of the few that have them!   

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Hey bonS , Thank you for the answer I have wondering about how you did it ever since I saw the video   where did you find the self blinking lites by chance ?  .....  like you said you have a one of a kind my friend , I really like the effects the lites have  ...  really cool like the kids say   ... Thanks the Geezer

[LilAbner]

Those are real cool. someone tell me how to do this, i need some.
smith2596@comcast.net

[BonS]

The blinking red LED's are these:  http://www.lc-led.com/View/itemNumber/144.
The blinking amber LED's are these: http://www.lc-led.com/View/itemNumber/145
I bought "samples" listed at $18.75 for 25 pieces.

Because these are blinking they have more circuitry in them than a simple LED. For that reason each LED needs to have its own current limiting resistor. I probably used a 470 ohm resistor for each LED. It's been a couple of years so I forget exactly but 470 ohms @ 14.5 volts, less the 1.8 voltage drop across the LED will get you around 27 ma forward current and the LED's are rated for 30 ma.

By the way, those videos are not of my LED-V-Stacks but they look very similar.

[BF]

Do you have a video of yours.  I'm sure that we'd all like a look-see.   

[Garfield]

Do you have a video of yours.  I'm sure that we'd all like a look-see.   

+1

[Russell Rice]

how about useing real neon for spark plug wires

[BonS]

Okay, here you go. It's the first time I've used my Android to make a video - pretty easy.
The independently blinking led's and their mixed amber/red colors means that the pattern
and its colors slowly drift and change over time. I'd still like to add some steady blue leds
around the engine area to complete the theme.

Valkyrie LED V Stacks	powered by Aeva

[BIG--T]

Hey bonS , Thank you for the answer I have wondering about how you did it ever since I saw the video   where did you find the self blinking lites by chance ?  .....  like you said you have a one of a kind my friend , I really like the effects the lites have  ...  really cool like the kids say   ... Thanks the Geezer

Hey Geezer, Please be sure to posts some pics. I'm looking for my stacks to come in any day now. Wonder where I can find some s/s screen?

Thanks

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Hey XGUY , I got my screens from another VRCC member from New Mexico , who makes them and I bought all six screens for $ 20.00  ....  they look like a minature dome screen strainers ......  I glued to the top of the stacks with the bubble screen facing up  ...  at Bike Nite down here in SA , I'll be parked and I have my LED's turned on and those HD riders are forever looking in the stacks to see IF they really work    its too funny to watch and I gotta tell them its ONLY Bling-Bling for looks  ....  Who in their right mind would run an engine with Vel. Stacks without air filters down here in Texas where its dusty   .... I'll ask him if he still make those little screens and let you know , OK ..... I'll take some pictures and see if I can get them posted ....... Thanks the Geezer  

[BIG--T]

Hey XGUY , I got my screens from another VRCC member from New Mexico , who makes them and I bought all six screens for $ 20.00  ....  they look like a minature dome screen strainers ......  I glued to the top of the stacks with the bubble screen facing up  ...  at Bike Nite down here in SA , I'll be parked and I have my LED's turned on and those HD riders are forever looking in the stacks to see IF they really work    its too funny to watch and I gotta tell them its ONLY Bling-Bling for looks  ....  Who in their right mind would run an engine with Vel. Stacks without air filters down here in Texas where its dusty  .... I ask him if he still make those little screens and let you know , OK ..... I'll take some pictures and see if I can get them posted ....... Thanks the Geezer 

That'd be great Geez. I'd like to see the pics to get a better idea. Be nice to video the HD guys looking down the stacks! Lol

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Hey XGUY , I just spoke with my friend in Albuq. New Mexico F-6 Banger  ( Chuck Lane ) and he still has those screens and is still selling them for $20.00 plus shipping for six screens and he also sends a small tube of RTV to glue the screens down on the top of the stacks and that stuff really holds even after three yrs.  ......   you can either glue them with the dome side down or like what we did was glue them with the dome side up your choice  ....  he explained the whole process on how BonS did his stacks with those individual amber and red LED's and where to solder the resisters , thats what I'm going to do with mine to get the same effect  of the Blinking  .... HEY XGUY,  if you choose to put lites inside the stacks , remember you will need to notch out the base of the stack so the wires can come out SO you don't mash the wires when you tighten down the stacks , OK .....  Chuck said he will be posting some pictures of his two bikes with the screens attached to the stacks and pictures of the stacks light up with the lites inside , OK  shoot me a PM if you got any questions  ....  you can send him a PM later after posts his pictures and he will contact you with his address info .... ITS SO NEAT TO BE DIFFERENT  .... Thanks the Geezer

[F6BANGER]

Thanks GEEZER for mentioning the screens. Here are a couple pics of the screens with and without the leds on. 

Call me or email me......505-249-three six nine eight       Canelane(removethis)@yahoo.com

Thanks, Chuck

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Looking great Chuck  Good talking with ya  ..... can't wait to see what my " Fat Lady " will look like with the new lites in the stack at nite .... this will really mess with their HD minds I'll let you know who all will want any screens down here , OK ... Ride Safe & Say Howdy to Bandit for me ... Thanks the Geezer

[F6BANGER]

Sounds good Richard. Take care

[Old Geezer Richard]

  OK  XGUY ,  here are your pictures you asked for ...  these are pictures of Chuck's  two bikes with the screens and LED's inside the stacks  .... Happy dreaming  ..... Thanks the Geezer

[BIG--T]

  OK  XGUY ,  here are your pictures you asked for ...  these are pictures of Chuck's  two bikes with the screens and LED's inside the stacks  .... Happy dreaming  ..... Thanks the Geezer

Now that's some kind of cool! I will talk to Chuck about the screens. I haven't got mine in yet but someone told me when it rains or wash it, th e stacks fill up with water and have to blow them out. You wou think there would be so kind of drain holes?

[F6BANGER]

  OK  XGUY ,  here are your pictures you asked for ...  these are pictures of Chuck's  two bikes with the screens and LED's inside the stacks  .... Happy dreaming  ..... Thanks the Geezer

Now that's some kind of cool! I will talk to Chuck about the screens. I haven't got mine in yet but someone told me when it rains or wash it, th e stacks fill up with water and have to blow them out. You wou think there would be so kind of drain holes?

XGUY, I have had V-stacks on my bike for 8 years. I have never had a problem with them filling up with water. The water drains out in seconds.

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Hey XGUY , thats a bunch of Hooey uglystupid2: ... I have had my stacks on my bike for three yrs + and I go to the car wash sometimes and the water drains out , whether you like it or not .... now IF you seal those stacks with something then yes , but why would anybody want to seal them ?  just be carefull when you unscrew the chrome carb covers because there is a spring underneath , so just lift it off slowly and no problem and just mount the stacks where the OEM covers went and your good to go .... I'll be ordering those self blinking lites here soon & resisters and I'm really curious how my bike will look with the new additions , just some more Bling-Bling  for the big kid ... Thanks the Geezer

[BIG--T]

Thanks guy for clearing that up. The guy that told me that never had any on his and said he had "heard" they would. I didn't make sense to me when I first heard it or knew they had to be a drain.

Geez thanks for letting me know about the springs!! Kinda like when I was a kid and took a watch apart! Lol  I would love to learn how to synch the lights with the engine running. coil??   

[BonS]

You have to be cautious with your install though. Remember, water runs right into the v-stacks and it has to have a way out to avoid the inevitable. I used hot glue to seal the exposed electrical leads but left some of the perforated pcb holes open to allow for drainage.

Quoting myself, The water trapping and drainage that I'm talking about is if you hot glue in your pc board holding the leds into the bottom of the stack. The pcb itself must have a hole to let water drain through it. And as others have said the water will drain easily after that.

[JerryH]

Any of you experts on the Blinking LED's willing to put together a parts list and installation instructions for the rest of us?

Parts list:
LED's
wiring size
resistors size
soldering needs
shrink wrap
PC board
etc.

Step by step for at least one stack from the stack removal, notching, soldering, running the wires, combining  hot and ground wires as you run them to the hot and ground -   that can then be repeated for the others.

It would be a great help for this bling.
Anyone willing to buy a sample pack (looks like 25 led's) of each type and piece them out to others interested?


Jerry H
Yellowdragon