DIY-Interior illumination - Page 2

HabaneroGuy · 10-25-2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elementofhoops

Im guessing the rheostat contols the ground, but shouldn't it go on the other ground, not the one connected to the dome light? The dome light is already a controlled ground.

Opps, you are right. I was making the pic last night before I went to bed. Not a good idea to do things when you are tired.
The pic is fixed.

PBJames23 · 10-25-2006, 11:17 PM

Where did you find the wires leading to the dome light?

tomasro · 10-25-2006, 11:32 PM

don't use the LEDs, they are very expensive...get CCFL, the kind you'd find at circuit city or in geek-ed out computers. They are pretty efficient, and they produce much more and even light. You can pick up a pair of 12" Cold Cathodes for about $15-20 retail, or $5-10 online.

For the dome light leads, seach for "courtesy light" thread...or just click here.

PBJames23 · 10-25-2006, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HabaneroGuy

i used the dome wires. You will see when I get home from work.
Here is a pic on how I wired the LED strips.

looks great, but did you put a fuse in anywhere? or would that be pointless? sorry for all the questions but this is my first time ever working with leds.

HabaneroGuy · 10-25-2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBJames23

looks great, but did you put a fuse in anywhere? or would that be pointless? sorry for all the questions but this is my first time ever working with leds.

No fuse is needed because the LEDs are using the same fuse as the dome.

panthro · 10-26-2006, 11:22 AM

HabaneroGuy,

please post a DIY with pictures showing where you connected the wires. I really want to get this project going.

when you say its connected to the dome light do you actually connect the wire to the dome light wires on the roof or the fuse in the fuse box? if its the fuse which number is it?

thanx

pickle430 · 10-26-2006, 11:50 AM

isnt the LED's better to use than the CCFL because they use less power?

HabaneroGuy · 10-26-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickle430

isnt the LED's better to use than the CCFL because they use less power?

You will get better light coverage with the CCFL, buy ya LEDs use less power. Unless you use 3watt LEDs like I did. The 3watt LEDs are brighter than the CCFL and you get great floor coverage. Also the 3watt LEDs are $10 - $15 each. So the 3watt LED is the more expensive way to go but looks the best.

BLACKFG · 10-26-2006, 12:51 PM

got some of those the other day and tested them it wasnt very bright

PhoenixDown · 10-26-2006, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HabaneroGuy

You will get better light coverage with the CCFL, buy ya LEDs use less power. Unless you use 3watt LEDs like I did. The 3watt LEDs are brighter than the CCFL and you get great floor coverage. Also the 3watt LEDs are $10 - $15 each. So the 3watt LED is the more expensive way to go but looks the best.

Do you have a pic of how yours looks? I'm deciding between the two methods myself for some blue lights in my floorwells of my ex sedan

HabaneroGuy · 10-26-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panthro

HabaneroGuy,

please post a DIY with pictures showing where you connected the wires. I really want to get this project going.

when you say its connected to the dome light do you actually connect the wire to the dome light wires on the roof or the fuse in the fuse box? if its the fuse which number is it?

thanx

Sorry I do not have any pics of where the wires are. The wires are behind the panel where the hood popper is. I am sure someone has a pic.

pickle430 · 10-26-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HabaneroGuy

You will get better light coverage with the CCFL, buy ya LEDs use less power. Unless you use 3watt LEDs like I did. The 3watt LEDs are brighter than the CCFL and you get great floor coverage. Also the 3watt LEDs are $10 - $15 each. So the 3watt LED is the more expensive way to go but looks the best.

could you get me a link to your leds?

i prefer leds anyways

panthro · 10-26-2006, 02:54 PM

CaliGuy,

what did you connect your ground wire to? should i just connect to any negative in the fuse box with fuse tap?

thanx

stevenshizzle · 10-26-2006, 03:00 PM

The ground wire from the rehostat could probably just be a screw that you could get a good ground from or any negative in the fuse box, as long as that is a constant ground (not like the gauges).

***CaliGuy*** · 10-26-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panthro

CaliGuy,

what did you connect your ground wire to? should i just connect to any negative in the fuse box with fuse tap?

thanx

I just grounded to soem random screw that was connected to the fire wall...any ground will work..

brownsgolf · 10-26-2006, 08:13 PM

What's the purpose of the rheostat? I understand everything and would like to have them come on with the dome light as well as control when they come on. i hope to install them this weekend.

BTW where can i get a rheostat if its needed.

HabaneroGuy · 10-26-2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickle430

could you get me a link to your leds?

i prefer leds anyways

Sorry I don't have any pics yet. But will soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownsgolf

What's the purpose of the rheostat? I understand everything and would like to have them come on with the dome light as well as control when they come on. i hope to install them this weekend.

BTW where can i get a rheostat if its needed.

The purpose of the rheostat is to control the brightness of the LEDs when the switch is in the on position.
You can get a rheostat at radio shack, any electronics shop. I used a 1K ohmrheostat.

brownsgolf · 10-26-2006, 09:56 PM

Thanks, where exactly do I put the rheostat in the circuit. It looks like it goes between the one on position and the power from the dome light? I assume that the other on position attaches to a constant power source. I plan on using t-taps to connect the wires from the LEDs to the power source wires.

Also where does the off position attach to? Is that where the ground goes?

EDIT: I just looked at the picture again and realized that the off position is the ground.

Seemund · 10-26-2006, 10:19 PM

Just bought my Cold Cathode Lights Today..
THEY'RE -- ULTRA-VIOLET.. couldn't find RED :)
I'll post some pics later :)

HabaneroGuy · 10-26-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownsgolf

Thanks, where exactly do I put the rheostat in the circuit. It looks like it goes between the one on position and the power from the dome light? I assume that the other on position attaches to a constant power source. I plan on using t-taps to connect the wires from the LEDs to the power source wires.

Also where does the off position attach to? Is that where the ground goes?

EDIT: I just looked at the picture again and realized that the off position is the ground.

The rheostat goes between the ground of the car and a on position of the switch. The other on position goes to the pink wire from the dome. And the off position goes to the negative of the LEDs.

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10-25-2006, 11:17 PM	#22 (permalink)
PBJames23 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Madison, WI Age: 22 Posts: 375 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Where did you find the wires leading to the dome light?

10-25-2006, 11:32 PM	#23 (permalink)
tomasro Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Carlos, CA Age: 25 Posts: 1,583 Turner iTrader: 2 / 100%	don't use the LEDs, they are very expensive...get CCFL, the kind you'd find at circuit city or in geek-ed out computers. They are pretty efficient, and they produce much more and even light. You can pick up a pair of 12" Cold Cathodes for about $15-20 retail, or $5-10 online. For the dome light leads, seach for "courtesy light" thread...or just click here.

10-26-2006, 11:22 AM	#26 (permalink)
panthro Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 32 iTrader: 0 / 0%	HabaneroGuy, please post a DIY with pictures showing where you connected the wires. I really want to get this project going. when you say its connected to the dome light do you actually connect the wire to the dome light wires on the roof or the fuse in the fuse box? if its the fuse which number is it? thanx

10-26-2006, 11:50 AM	#27 (permalink)
pickle430 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 374 iTrader: 3 / 100%	isnt the LED's better to use than the CCFL because they use less power?

10-26-2006, 12:51 PM	#29 (permalink)
BLACKFG Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 604 iTrader: 0 / 0%	got some of those the other day and tested them it wasnt very bright

10-26-2006, 02:54 PM	#33 (permalink)
panthro Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 32 iTrader: 0 / 0%	CaliGuy, what did you connect your ground wire to? should i just connect to any negative in the fuse box with fuse tap? thanx

10-26-2006, 03:00 PM	#34 (permalink)
stevenshizzle Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belleville, IL Age: 23 Posts: 793 Steven iTrader: 0 / 0%	The ground wire from the rehostat could probably just be a screw that you could get a good ground from or any negative in the fuse box, as long as that is a constant ground (not like the gauges).

10-26-2006, 08:13 PM	#36 (permalink)
brownsgolf Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 219 iTrader: 1 / 100%	What's the purpose of the rheostat? I understand everything and would like to have them come on with the dome light as well as control when they come on. i hope to install them this weekend. BTW where can i get a rheostat if its needed.

10-26-2006, 09:56 PM	#38 (permalink)
brownsgolf Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 219 iTrader: 1 / 100%	Thanks, where exactly do I put the rheostat in the circuit. It looks like it goes between the one on position and the power from the dome light? I assume that the other on position attaches to a constant power source. I plan on using t-taps to connect the wires from the LEDs to the power source wires. Also where does the off position attach to? Is that where the ground goes? EDIT: I just looked at the picture again and realized that the off position is the ground.

10-26-2006, 10:19 PM	#39 (permalink)
Seemund Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,556 iTrader: 2 / 100%	Just bought my Cold Cathode Lights Today.. THEY'RE -- ULTRA-VIOLET.. couldn't find RED :) I'll post some pics later :)