4) Brake applied...

 

5) In reverse...

 

6) In reverse...

 

Lookin much better. For those wanting to attempt this install, getting the LEDS to stick to the windscreen took some effort because we didn't want to put superglue over or near the LED so we superglued the wires coming from the LED on either side and the taped it down to hold it in place. Dried very nicely but I'd say very difficult to angle and you have to be tender with the LED's we accidently broke a solder join on one of the wires; fortunately we repaired it ourselves. I still think in a perfect world 3 LEDS or even 4 would really light this up; though 4 could be much.

Angling the LEDS was almost impossible to do while ensuring no super glue on the glass or the LED itself.

Still an impressive mod to see. I think you'd have hotspots no matter what and you can kinda see them on the photos...but a 3rd or 4th LED would even it out enough I'd think

Just my 2 cents, but a great product and definately a must do to the ZR

 

Yeah, it looks like you guys didn't get any angle in there at all, just straight up and down, so the Z didn't get the brunt of the light aimed at it. I can't think of any reason why some clear silicone wouldn't work, including being able to cover the LED face itself. It would take longer to dry (about a day), so you'd need to temporarily mount the LEDs in place with tape or something similar, but it would allow you to get the needed angle.

Since the boxes have two outputs, I could put in a second LED strong with another 2 LEDs, but I'm still not totally convinced the 2 included can't do the job. I'm not convinced because 2 do an admirable job on a full-height S windscreen... I think angle is the key for this setup, and getting it right may take a bit of patience.

Good to see the brighter pictures, but I cringe at seeing the unevenly lit logo...I know my toys can do the job, if given the right opportunity. Wish you guys were closer so I could get my hands on it.




Oh, and I will have a new product coming out soon. It doesn't require a case, which means the "prototypes" will be production quality right from the start. No set price yet, but I'm thinking around the $40 mark, so it's affordable. No, I'm not telling what it is until it's ready for sale Parts order went in 10 minutes ago, and I'll probably order the boards Monday or Tuesday.

 

Mac,

I think it turned out alot brighter this time, even though we couldn't angle the LEDs. I was wondering how much you would charge me for another strip of 2 LEDS to put into the 2nd output on the windscreen control box (to light up the emblem a little more). Great work again Mac, I can't wait to install your footwell kit next weekend.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Mac:

I see your point about the LED's and the logo but I believe part of it has to do with the placement of the LEDs and the other part has to do with the 'Z' logo itself; I think the etched screens for the S (assuming you were talking about an etched one) by nature pickup the light better than the vinyl graphics would and that could be it. Like I said the LEDs were very tough to place with superglue and we didn't want to get superglue on the glass itself or the LED and its board. I know silicon would be an option; but it'd have taken a lot of securing and I'd still be worried some silicon could get on the LED. I believe most people when they purchase your screen will end up placing the LEDs similar to the way we have and not angle them at all.

I still thinkg the 2 LEDs on the Z screen are brighter than my current S windscreen now that Mike has the redone it & withuot the graphic coverage would be perfect. It just comes down to a coverage issue and the Z graphic being a 'grey' color versus something being etched in I believe.

 

Oh and Dan I want whatever it is you are planning; PM me on the S2k board when and where to send payment

 

Mac:

I temporarily installed the kit this weekend also. Great Job. I am just waiting on the Z logo now so I can properly and permanantly mount the LED's. But so far looks great.

Mike:

Thanks for all your help with the windscreen.

 

Rj:

I'm interested in seeing pics of yours when its installed to compare with Mike's!!

 

No problem. As soon as Logo arrives I will post some Pics

 

Dan,

Bryan and I have been debating the options for providing more light for the Z emblem...

1) Buy another strip of 2 LEDs from you and mount both directly below the Z and hook into 2nd output controller (price???)
2) Take the windscreen to a glass shop and get the Z emblem etched into the glass (I found some places that do, not sure about price yet - will call tomorrow)

What are your thoughts (which one would be the better choice IYO)?

O yeah, what is your new project (I'm sure it's good, I can't wait to see)!!!!!!

Mike

 

Make sure the sticker is pressed into the glass as much as possible. I hate to sound like a broken record, but angle seems to be everything here... the S screens show up just as bright when using stickers, no hot spots (see my company webpage for proof, like the Big Bird screen). Etching will help when the angle is not perfect, but why spend the extra money hen the solution is free and right at your fingertips? I'll gladly sell you guys another strip if that's what you think it'll take in your case, but I would think for the time and money, adjusted angle is the way to go.

Just let me know...

 

Dan:

Do you have a pic of the LEDs mounted to a screen to demonstrate the angling you are referring to? I cannot for the life of me figure out how you'd get the leds against the glass in a secure manner AND angle them...believe me when I say we tried but it just didn't seem feasible without risking getting glue on the LED or the glass. Am I just retarded on this one? Maybe you are thinking about angling it against the Z axis instead of the X axis?

I also think that the fact that the Z emblem is GREY may have something to do with it. All of the S graphics I have seem have been frosted white/clear. Is this the case with the big bird screen too?

If you look at Mike's screen along the top the LEDS are placed in a solid manner; the entire top is illuminated...I just think that the grey in the "Z" emblem requires more light to illuminate than a frosted emblem sticker or etched emblem would. You can see its illuminated I just think its diffusing the light enough so that towards the middle section it dims out...

What do you think?

 

Not sure what you mean by the sticker having a grey color... I thought frosted stickers were all the same, a kind of white in color deal. Because it's a sticker, and not a true etching, one portion of the logo is not going to have any real effect on the other, so there shouldn't be dead spots in the middle of a large sticker.

If you are looking at the screen face on, the LEDs should angle like this (assuming the <code> function works here):

Of course, the LEDs shouldn't angle so heavily, but the idea is to shine them towards the logo while keeping a good distance from it, allowing the light to fully illuminate it.

 

Yeah it was the damndest thing Dan; the graphic we got (and we got like 5 of em) were frosted a light grey...you can tell its colored if you look at the pic with the screen illuminated white.

I wouldn't recommend using the graphic until we've gotten back the etching. The LEDS are stuck on the rubber piece so they'll be in the exact same position they were when the last pics were taken.

I talked to mike; cheap to get it etched is good enough for him so we'll see what that results in...

 

Taking the glass to get etched tomorrow, will update with results...

 

OK, it's going to take me a few days to make up another LED string anyway, so should I wait and see how the etched version lights up before sending it?

 

Yeah, lets wait to see how the etching turns out before you make another strip of LEDs. Hopefully, the etching will take care of this issue (fingers crossed ).

 

Mac,

Logo arrived yesterday and I installed it tonight. Should have some initial pics posted tomorrow evening.

I played with the placement of the LED's for over an hour and couldn't get the angle you discussed to cean it up any.
At this point my windscreen looks similar to iu350Zatx's, but I'm not done playing yet. I have a couple of more ideas I want to play with over the next couple of days.

I have to wait on new roll bar covers to complete the install any way, when they replaced my top they destroyed them and they forgot to pre-order as per TSB.