Bulge Effects

What's the latest on this? Still interested.

 

Let's get a group buy going... Lol

 

those are bad ass!

 

Hello are you selling that Bulge LED light strip yet?

 

Any news on selling ideas

 

Yeah me too..waiting....

 

Hey everyone, sorry for the long delay in response, I have been away from the forum for a bit. (life gets crazy sometimes)
As for an update on the light bar:

I'm not satisfied with it yet, in doing more testing I have found some problems I'm trying to work out. Some of the pre-wired solder connections on it have become loose and the power gets cut unless you tweak & hold it at a certain angle. Also, at full brightness (100% power, white) there is some fading and I'm testing different ways to supply power to both ends of the strip to provide better power distribution.
I've also found a newer version of the LED strip that I'm going to test out, which in theory should work with 12v power and not require a large 5v adapter, and it also has a data backup channel so if one LED breaks it doesn't take down the entire strip after it.
I'm also not sure how well it holds up in different temperature ranges so I can't guarantee the quality and lifetime of it.


At this point, I think I'm going to release all my info and make this a DIY kit. I'll post up some info on that soon with parts and where to get them. I don't want to sell someone a product that I'm not 100% confident in. I'll try to finish up the software and/or make it open source. For anyone who isn't tech-savvy I might sell that part alone for anyone that needs it and just provide it at cost.

I'll have time to do some more work on it this weekend and I'll give another update soon!

 

I’m glad you’re back. I was thinking of buying the NSV but budget is tight and maybe I should use the money for MT tires. I’m following this thread and will wait for your post soon. This might be an inexpensive way of doing a hoodbulge led light mod.

 

Just so it's clear, what I am creating is pretty much just decorative. The NSV bar is brighter and can actually be used for off-road lighting.

 

Copy that

 

In for info...Interested.

 

Thanks for the update

 

That’s a mighty impressive bulge you have there sir.


Mighty. Impressive.

 

Would you be able to program it to show “raptor lights”? That would be cool

 

i really just wanna be able to have my bulge do the knight rider thing

 

Sliverhack OP. Seen this article about your work creating the light bar and joined tundras.com instantly. Just so I can follow along and see your future developments. Keep up the great work!!!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

I completed the bench testing of the light bar, controller and wiring. So I finally have it mounted and installed in the truck. So now I'm on to real-world testing to see how this holds up to outside temperatures, weather, and vibrations.
Here's a quick sample. I'll post the results of testing once I know how it does in the real world.

 

If testing goes well, this is my plan for releasing the light bar:

I've realized that I mostly just want the cylon / knight rider effect a few times at power on. After that the light bar will be off the majority of the time due to California regulations. So, I don't even need the app finished to use mine. I'll be able to leave it installed and test it out while I work on the phone app some more. There may be others who also just want this basic feature and don't need to wait for the phone app to be finished. So I'll be releasing a few different versions.

Version 1
Static controller. You will be able to choose:
1) What you want the light bar to do one-time at power on
2) What you want the light bar to repeat continuously after that
In my example, I'll have the cylon-sweep 3-4 times at power on (stage 1) and then switch to 'off' and just repeat that continuously, so it will just be off most of the time
For version 1, these effects are programmed into the controller and the only way to change them are to reprogram the controller. You would have to ship just the controller piece back to me for reprogramming.

Version 2
iPhone/iPad app controlled. This requires a different controller hardware than version 1 to support Bluetooth communication. The iOS app will be able to be updated through the Apple App Store, but all of the effects and programming on the controller are static and would require shipping the controller back to me for reprogramming and new software updates I make for the controller.

Version 2.5
Android app controlled. Same as version 2 but I'll work on making an Android app.

Version 3
App controlled + controller programming updates via phone app. I'm researching a way to reprogram the controller from the phone app. It seems like it can be done, but it will take more work to figure it out. It also requires some different hardware from version 2.


So that's the current plan. Let me know what version you are interested in getting just so I can get an idea of the demand and where to spend my time. Also, since the difference between the versions is just the controller, you can easily disconnect the controller and change them out. They have a 4-pin JST connector. So upgrading from version 1 to version 2 or version 3 takes a few seconds to disconnect the controller and plug in a new one.


I'll post a few pics of the controller so you get the idea. Also, if anyone has a spare hood bulge they want to send my way, that would allow me to do more testing, and even make an install video.

 

If anyone wants to steal my idea and make a better one, please do! Maybe I'll buy yours instead so I can have more free time

Here are the parts I'm using if you want to get started:
- LED strip: 1meter, 144 pixels, WS2815 light strip (upgraded version of the 2812/2813) ==>

$28 BTF-LIGHTING WS2815 (Upgraded WS2812B) 3.2ft 144(2x72) Pixels Individually Digital Addressable RGB Dual Signal LED Flexible Strip Light 5050 SMD IP65 Waterproof Magic Dream Color DC12V Black PCB

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LG5VF73/
- Aluminum right angle channel to mount the LED strip ==>

LEDneighbor Black LED 90° Right Angle Aluminium Channel 1 Meter(39.4") 5-Pack 16 mm(H) x 16 mm(W) for Max Recessed 10mm Strip Light LED Profile with Arc Diffuse Cover

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079HQVLVX/
- 4-pin JST connectors ==>

$13 RGBZONE 20Pairs JST SM 4PIN Plug Male to Female EL Wire Cable Connector Adapter for 5050 3528 RGB LED Strip Light

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075K3M1TB/
- 4-wire RGB cable ==>

$8 22 Gauge 4Pin Extension Wire, EvZ 22AWG 4 Conductor Parallel Electric Cable Cord for RGB LED Strips 3528 5050, Black-Green-Red-Blue, 33ft/10M

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DPQMKBS/
- Buck converter (12v to 3.3v / 5v for controller ) ==>

$13 DROK 5v Regulator, 5pcs Mini Voltage Reducer DC 4.5-24V 12V 24V Step Down to 5V Buck Converter Board 3A Volt Step-Down Transformer Power Supply Module

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0758ZTS61/

For the v1 controller, currently using an Arduino Nano. Testing the light control using the NeoPixel libraries and the FastLED libraries.
I'm currently testing out the v2 controller using Adafruit Feather nRF52 Bluefruit LE. Version 3 controller will require different hardware possibly using the HC-10 or HC-11 module.

 

Following. so far so good. Keep it up

 

I'd like to have mine wired up to be on when the vehicle is in Park. Not sure how easy that would be. I'll add it to the to-do list!

 

Following this. This could be big.

 

How bout knight rider effect when arming and disarming alarm?

 

@silverhack

How bout for PRO hood scoop??? I'd be in for that!!!

 

Interesting idea. It would all be the same equipment, just a shorter LED strip (same cut, but just it shorter).

 

S.O.G!!! Just take my money Interested in version 1 Also how many bars could fit in your bulge

 

Seriously awesome. Would love to do something like this. Take my $$ now lol.

 

YES!!!! I was thinking about this aswell the other night. It to only come on when the transmissions was shifted into park and swipe for an hour past the truck had been shut of. So code be a "like" IF/ Then statement code If truck in P loop, If truck in D then turn off " shut off" 38 inch knight rider bar

 

@silverhack Did you ever get any further with this, just the Cylon mode?

Guess I could order the light strip and learn how to program it, I have been programming PHP daily for 20+ years so whatever one of these micro controllers use, can't be too off the charts.