Tail lighting mod (Also works with Gen II)

Swapping the rear lights to LEDs is too easy and no control. I thought I add a little twist ok a big twist. I'm adding http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...about-60-led-drl-turn-signal-in-one-bulb.html to the rear turn signals and have the reverse activate the white LEDs so I'd have 4 reverse lights.

While reading http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...elp-finding-l7-connector-auto-headlights.html Post 15 got my attention, REAR FOG LIGHTS!. After some searching and researching, it's just a bright red light that some countries are required to have. http://www.cararticles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/toyota-prius.jpg bottom right tail light. I want one too but didn't want red lights. People would get confused and thought I was riding my brakes.

I started this thread to see what tail lights annoy people most http://priuschat.com/forums/freds-house-pancakes/85892-poll-tail-lights-annoy-you-most.html No one cared about solid yellow light. As far as I know there are no law against solid yellow tail lights. Besides this will only gets turn on during heavy fog. So, this feature gets added to my tail lgiht.

While I'm turning on the yellow rear lights, might as well have the ability to turn on all the white lights for the occasional rear lighting needs.

Early on during some wire testing, some how I got the wires crossed and accidentally activated the reverse camera with my turn sginal. I thought COOL!! I'll add this in too.

When I first got the switchbacks I wired them up and immediately found a flaw. When activating the amber only, the white LED lights up then quickly switch to amber. To remedy this I need to convert turn signal to constant. I started this thread http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...help-converting-turn-signal-constant-12v.html seeking help but ended up finding a diagram that would fix the problem. I'll go ahead and add that in too.

During planning and testing, I ran into a few problems and had to design the wiring around them.
1, white-amber flash (solved - convert turn signal into constant, another problem arise see below)
2, Isolation - Each input and output had to be isolated so there's interference. Example, reverse and turn signal from the vehicle are isolated from the white/rear fog switch. Turning on the white lights from the switch will not activate the reverse camera. (Solved - lots of relays and diodes)
3, Converting turn signal into constant solved the white/ amber flash but created another problem. The white stayed on too long causing the white LEDs to turn on after the turn signal had stopped. (solved - discharge the cap faster by adding more load. In my case, total of 3 relays is the sweet spot. 1st for turn signal to constant for the rear. 2nd for the front. 3rd to activate the rear camera while turn signal is on - also isolated from reverse lights.) If you're using only 1 relay, a 3300 uf cap should work.
4, Parts - Diodes, SPDT, 4PDT relays, relay terminals and 10k uf capacitor (solved - I had quite a few diodes, relays and terminals left over from my install days. I bought some 4PDT 12V relays from ebay and allelectronics.com in Van Nuys. 10k uf capacitors were no where to be found locally for resonable price ($10 ea). I found some on ebay 5 for $7.25 shipped 10000 uF / 16V ALUMINUM ELECTROLYIC CAPACITORS (5 pcs) - eBay (item 170406038755 end time Dec-06-10 23:09:01 PST)
5, Keeping LEDs as bright as possible. Diodes have a .6v voltage drop. power coming from the ECU also have voltage drop. (Solved - feed everything to 86 on the relay, 30 to the LEDs and 87 to battery - fused.)
6, keeping turn signal flash when rear fog lights are on. (solved - using a relay to cut power to the amber LED to mimic turn signal flash)

After all said and done, I have 5 SPDT relays, 1 4PDT relay, 4 diodes and a 10000uf cap for one tail light. The switch I used is a micro On(White)-Off-On(Amber) switch, Philmore 30-004 to be exact.

My tail lights

when I shift to reverse, it lights up the regular reverse light plus the switchbacks totally 4 LED bulbs and activate the rear cameras.

When I activate the turn signals of either directions it will activate the rear camera but is isolated from the cars ECU (does not back feed into the reverse wire.)

When I activate the hazard signal, only the amber lights flash. Reverse camera is not activated.

When I switch on the white LEDs, all 4 bulbs lights up but are isolated from the cars ECU and the reverse camera is not activated.

When I switch on the amber LEDs as rear fog lights, the amber LEDs light up but is isolated from the cars ECU and flasher. The reverse camera is not activated.

While I switch on the amber LEDs as rear fog lights and I activate the turn signals of either direction, the amber LEDs flash according to the direction I activate and also activate the rear camera.

Future upgrades
The tail light relays can serve another function, camera control. I'm planning on adding a camera on each of the 4 corners of the car to serve as cross traffic/blind spot detection. right signal activates the front right camera, left signal activates the front left camera, shift into reverse and right signal activates the rear right camera, shift into reverse and left signal activates the rear left camera. Hazard signal will not activate any cameras. The cameras will probably placed under the front and rear bumpers.

 

Notes 1

 

Notes 2

 

Notes 3

 

It's ok, I've seen people getting away with worst lighting mods than yellow tail lights. I'll take my chances. Besides, it's not like I'll be driving with them on all the time.