Rollbar Lights -- custom animated run/brake/turn

[Austin David]

A writeup of my run/brake/turn lights across the rollbar.

 

For history, here's my first attempt: 

 

- Econoseal male/female Y-cables to insert between the tail lights on the corners, for the run/brake/turn signal

- 12v from a switched ignition line for power

 

My first setup was a pair of inexpensive run/brake/turn lights from Amazon, wired in via those econoseal.  I wired only one signal on each side, so when the left blinker was on only the left side would blink.  It worked fine, but the lights just didn't last long and a few LEDs went dead within a few months.  I'm sure the CaterLED uses much higher-quality parts, but I believe the setup is similar: LED strips wired directly inline with the tail lights, and powered directly.

 

I then swapped out the lights, and wired in a microcontroller.  I added a 12v-5v converter, a several-channel opto converter (for switching 12v-ish to 3.3v or so), and wired it out to an addressible LED strip.  I used an aluminum channel with frosted lens, and designed some brackets to hold it against the rollbar.

 

The MCU program uses the run/brake/turn signals:

- a run light is always on (when powered), dim red.  When the tail running light is on (ie, headlights) the run light dims slightly. Brighter during the day, not so overpowering at night.

- brake lights pulse for about a second, then solid red.  very bright.

- left/right turn signals are on the left or right third, and animated

 

The MCU, coupler, and converter are housed in a small box in my boot, with wiring running up one stay to the roll bar.  It's weatherproof and unobtrusive, but also really bright.

 

I'll post some followup day and night videos to see if i can get just how bright they really are...

 

The funny part: last christmas (2024) I coded a "christmastime" mode that makes the run light alternate red/green.  It automatically comes on in the month of December, otherwise is solid red.

[Austin David]

A quick daytime video.  I didn't screw with HDR much, but the camera kinda washes out the LEDs; it's more obvious to the eye.

   

 

 

rollbar light - SD 480p.mov

Edited December 28, 2025 by Austin David
subbing in the YT video

[Yoram]

Very slick.  I may bug you for more details once my Amazon center light (running and brake) on the roll bar craps out.

[Austin David]

I'm open to building several at cost, as long as they're all at the same time.  IIRC the econoseals were the hardest to figure out.