Interior Mood Lighting.... Phase 1of 3 Complete!

[ChargerRTRT]

EDITED: Check out http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=762237&postcount=26 for Phase 2 - Tapping into the dash / IP dimmer signal!

So one thing that has bothered me about our cars (and the other LX's for that matter) is the lack of ambient lighting, like in the Toyotas, MBs, and BMW's - So I set out to change that!

I picked up some aqua (505nm) colored LED's from superbrightleds.com - I figured that I'd try to match the interior as close as possible.

Next, I took the entire center section outta my car using the instrutions on the forums (I love you guys!) Any way, I took all the parts to the basement and started soldering.

I added accents to the bin below the climate controls, above the rear a/c vents, and to the center console (its impossible to see in there at night!)

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14176&stc=1&d=1167971075

This is how I did the light for the center console:

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14177&stc=1&d=1167971075

Lighting in the rear HVAC ducts:
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14178&stc=1&d=1167971075

I didn't want to make the writeup too long winded, but I'd be happy to answer any questions ya'll have on the details!

Ugh, oh yeah... At this point, they are running off of a battery pack :shifty: Special thanks to YCCharger and Green_Manalishi though, as Phase 2/3 is to take off the auto headlight switch and tap into the dimmer for the rest of the panel lights - that way they will match the rest of the lights and not be so bright.

The last Phase is to take off the door panels and put a LED either in the round "pod" to accent the door handle or to put one in the handle itself... Stay posted!

[RedAlert]

Pretty nice. I'd like to have a light in the center console. I might have to use your methods!

[Green_Manalishi]

That does look good. I'll be interested to see a pic once it's all hooked up.

Keep up the modding! :rockon:

[ChargerRTRT]

Thanks! I'll admit, it was a PITA gettin all the stuff out, but if you're already going to take the console out for the ESP mod or for the iPod connector, its not that bad to do.

I ordered the acrylic rod from McMaster (Only $1.97 and $17 to ship!). One thing you can do is go to Home Deopt or Lowes and go to the mini blind secion and ask if they have any clear rods to replace a broken one - those will work too. I've got a .pdf that's too big to host on here that I can email if anyone wants.

[ChargerRTRT]

Guess they're doing it on the new vans:

http://www.allpar.com/model/m/2008-minivans.html

[PikeBoy98]

I have the same train of thought. I replaced the dome lights and the rear pull handle lights with green LED's. I am also planning on running lights under the seats. Now I need to run one in the center console!!

[ChargerRTRT]

Yeah, its nice having lights in there. Even though they're dim, just a little light in there goes a loooong way!

[COOKZ32]

I really like what your doing, keep posting those pics and instructions, right here, appreciated.

[ChargerRTRT]

I had some time today to do a few other write-ups. Hopefully these give ya'll some ideas on how to do lighting for the interior of your car, or even home.

The first one is how to use acrylic rod to make a custom light:

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14241&d=1168126457

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14242&d=1168126465

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14243&d=1168126472

[ChargerRTRT]

This entails how to make poor man's neon lighting with acrylic rod and LED's

A straight piece would work well to light the inside of the storage bins in the doors... just tuck it under the lip.

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14244&d=1168127000

See the Sign I made on Page 2!

[ChargerRTRT]

Here's a way to make a nice holder for a 3mm LED.

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14245&d=1168127079

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14246&d=1168127088

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14247&d=1168127097

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14248&d=1168127104

[ChargerRTRT]

Lastly, here's a 5mm holder design.

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14249&d=1168127156

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14250&d=1168127164

[INTREPER]

Cool stuff guys. I love LED's :D

[PaCharger]

Very cool! Nice pics and write up as well.

[Fix8ed]

great idea and nice work so far. When you hook these into the car's wiring can you post up a how-to tap into the car, instead of the battery pack?

[Spankis]

Are you aware that led's often require resistors in line w/ the cars 12 volt source to operate at maximum efficiency/brightness? I remember when we used to work with these in my Contour's interior, they would often light only dimly when used w/o a resistor.....As I understood it, at least, more power was often indirectly related to light output. I could be wrong, or perhaps out of a different application, but I'm just trying to be sure maximum possible coolness is achieved! :)

Anyway, great write-up! I too love stuff like this.

[ChargerRTRT]

Are you aware that led's often require resistors in line w/ the cars 12 volt source to operate at maximum efficiency/brightness? I remember when we used to work with these in my Contour's interior, they would often light only dimly when used w/o a resistor.....As I understood it, at least, more power was often indirectly related to light output. I could be wrong, or perhaps out of a different application, but I'm just trying to be sure maximum possible coolness is achieved! :)

Anyway, great write-up! I too love stuff like this.

Oh yeah, I've got it wired to the battery pack because I wanted a way to test it out without having to tear apart the car... plus the garage was gettin cold (not fun modding weather)

At this point I'm considering hooking them up to an ignition source so they're always on, when the car is on.

This is a great little calculator I found to help calculate the resistor you need:

http://metku.net/?sect=view&n=1&path=mods/ledcalc/index_eng

I need to test the voltage to see what level gives the best brightness. With the 3 volt battery pack, theres a bright "One night in Paris" glow in the back above the hvac vents!

As far as the voltage/brightness for LED's, there is an upper limit - between 2.5 and 5 volts. Above that, you'll cook em... below it and they won't fire up at all.

Thanks for all the comments! Glad ya'll like it so far!

[COOKZ32]

[QUOTE=ChargerRTRT;475262]As far as the voltage/brightness for LED's, there is an upper limit - between 2.5 and 5 volts. Above that, you'll cook em... below it and they won't fire up at all.

Now I know why the floor lights I added keep burning out! :confused:

[ChargerRTRT]

Yep, that'll do 'er!

Not to get off topic, but here's a poor man's neon light I made for my old apartment...
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14306&stc=1&d=1168229366

Lots of shrink tube:
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14307&stc=1&d=1168229366

The back:
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14308&stc=1&d=1168229366

A little hot glue holds them in place:
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14309&stc=1&d=1168229366

Gettin more off track, does anyone know how to put the actual image on here, instead of the link?

[PaCharger]

copy and paste the LINKS you pasted in your text inside the little mountain icon.

so....copy the link, then PASTE inside the dialogue box that looks like a mountain and sun.

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14306&stc=1&d=1168229366

[ChargerRTRT]

Ah Hah! Thanks, Pa!

[ChargerIvy]

nice pictures....where did you get those awesome LEDs?

[mousegu]

That is pretty sick looking.

Any idea when you are gonna get to phase 2 and 3?

This may be my first mod when i get my charger..:rockon:

[ITsGOTaHEMI?]

Awesome write up. I am really excited for this mod. so easy, and fun. Just one question. How do i figure out which resistor to put in line for the LEDs. any help would be appreciated.


:rockon:

[ChargingD]

Wow! A lot of great info in here!

[ChargerRTRT]

So after sitting around with a battery pack under my seat, I figure it was about time to tap into the Dash/IP dimmer circuit to light up my LED's I installed back in January.

I called Autometer, they said the lights were probably on the CAN signal and I wouldn't be able to find the feed... but I figured, if there are little lights ON the switch that light up at night, there has to be a "raw" power feed.

After I searched through ther service manual and found the wiring diagram, I came to the conclusion that the Orange wire with the Gray (or is it grey) stripe was my feed. I grabed a 22-18 Ga wire tap and broke out my trusy DMM. Sure enough, it was the right wire!

(Note: Use any metal surface for ground (-). There's a metal support bar that runs just under the "knee" panel on the lowest part of the dashboard, that's what I used for my negative terminal)

To take off the switch, I stuck my Border's Rewards Card in the seam between dash and switch and used a dinner knife to pop out the tabs:
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22444&stc=1&d=1185418127

There are 2 tabs on top and one on bottom.

Next, isolate the ORANGE with GRAY stripe and use a wire crimp to tap into the feed.
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22445&stc=1&d=1185418127

At high dimmer setting, it puts out 12-13 volts and at low setting it is around 4 volts - perfect for aftermarket gauges, etc.

As for my LED's... I didnt get that far. I've got my feed from the IP and my wire to my LED's, I just need to pick the right resistor so they aren't too bright at night - they ARE accent lights, you know.

Stay posted for Phase 3 when I finally connect them both!

Thanks to sccharger for sending me a PM about this... I've actually had this done for about 3 months and haden't gotten around to posting this yet. Sorry to all for keeping this a secret!

Cheers!

[ChargerRTRT]

Oh.. and I've got auto lights... I can't see that the wiring for the bulbs in the switch is any different than the non-auto lights, but you never know!