Okay im going to order a bunch of leds to just go nuts in the truck but... i have found some infromation on the viewing angle, but it is confusing as hell. the ones that i have found have a 10% veiwing angle is 10% fine of should do i need something the has a veiwing angle of say 60%...

 

Are you sure it's percent and not degrees?

 

I am not sure but is the viewing angle how focused the beam of light is. Would simply frosting an LED correct the problem of such a fine veiwing angle.

 

Frosting is not sufficient, the best solution I've seen so far is the one suggested by N3ELZ to file the LED tip into a curved pyramid shape. That seems to disperse light most effectively.

 

"to just go nuts in the truck"... what are you going to use them for specifically?

Look at my Cardomain site on these pages for a fairly complete how-to on using LED's. I also mention cutting or sanding the dome to increase dispersion.

LED's in foglight switch: http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...=296394&page=6

LED's in headlight switch: http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...296394&page=12

LED general tutorial: http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...296394&page=13

These should answer most of your questions and give you further ideas to go nuts on!

 

I second this. I did this in my HVAC controls and ended up w/ just one minor 'hot-spot'..

 

For some things, frosting is fine -- for others, no. Just depends on the applicatoin. I usually try something with the frosting, then cut it if I have to. I can frost and LED with a small file in about 10 seconds. I have to get the dremel out to cut it, lol. [lazy boy that I am...]

 

okay so by frosting you mean to scuff up the upper dome part of the LED.. also would it be better to use 5mm or 3mm LED's

 

5mm (T1-3/4 type) are easier to work with MOST of the time. They also generally have the larger outputs. However, if small ones are needed, use small ones!

And yes, you scuff it up real good and ROUGH, not just a smooth whiteness. All the grooves and what not (I use a file because it makes a rough cut) disperse the light better.

 

and yet again, mr. griggs, you cease to amaze me. ive thought of doing lights but i think id do the street glow bars or something similar instead of just single LEDs. maybe if i could find some bucket seats i could get into that with my console or something.

 

Oh no! I've ceased to amaze you!!!

I'm going to have to come up with something new...

 

man shoot...did i mess that one up? lol.
anybody wantin to trade or get rid of some bucket seats?

 

I used a file to 'pyramid' them. It took me a few minutes, but wasn't that bad..

 

LEDs are COOL!

 

That's because, generally, they don't get hot!

 

Thats why they're cool, get it!