DIY: Interior LED swap (cluster, HVAC, switches, window, *steering wheel)

[EagleRockRunner]

I'm in the process of swapping all my stuff to blue LEDS, the indicators for the HVAC are white.

Problem I'm having is hot spots for the 3 circles of the center console for the HVAC backlighting.

I ended up using 5mm LED for the blue, and 3mm LED for the white. I accidentally got the 5mm but found a way to make them work.

Has anybody found a better way to deal with the hot spots though? I am considering running a parallel array of them and using some regular wire/drilling holes to see if it will fix the issue



The LEDs i used are 12V source, 4V forward, and 20mA and require a 470 ohm resistor. If wiring 3 in parallel you won't need a resistor though. The size of the resistors was a problem, as was the size of the 5mm LEDs. I got creative and and the resistor on the outside of the bulb holder.

I found putting a couple of small pieces of paper stacked on top of each other helps diffuse the light to get rid of hot spots. Also, the HP ones have a larger angle of light and they are not that much brighter. They'll work everywhere on your HVAC Controls excpet the LCD Display. I know I have seen someone change the resistors out and did the calculations for the right resistor to make it work so it is possible and that will definitely make your LCD display much brighter.

 

[RunninUte]

I got my film from edmund optics. For the back lighting I used the hp LEDs. I use a dpt relay and tapped my ignition and illumination wires off of my wire harness for the nav unit. The film comes in sheets just pull the display apart razor blade the film off clean up the residue and install the new film rotated 90 degrees to create the inverted colors.

 

[zopperman]

I got my film from edmund optics. For the back lighting I used the hp LEDs. I use a dpt relay and tapped my ignition and illumination wires off of my wire harness for the nav unit. The film comes in sheets just pull the display apart razor blade the film off clean up the residue and install the new film rotated 90 degrees to create the inverted colors.

High Contrast Linear Polarizing Film | Edmund Optics

was that what you ordered? Have any extra that I could get from you?

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I'm in the process of swapping all my stuff to blue LEDS, the indicators for the HVAC are white.

Problem I'm having is hot spots for the 3 circles of the center console for the HVAC backlighting.

I ended up using 5mm LED for the blue, and 3mm LED for the white. I accidentally got the 5mm but found a way to make them work.

Has anybody found a better way to deal with the hot spots though? I am considering running a parallel array of them and using some regular wire/drilling holes to see if it will fix the issue



The LEDs i used are 12V source, 4V forward, and 20mA and require a 470 ohm resistor. If wiring 3 in parallel you won't need a resistor though. The size of the resistors was a problem, as was the size of the 5mm LEDs. I got creative and and the resistor on the outside of the bulb holder.

I switched from regular led bulbs to SMD led bulbs to spread the light out and my hot spots went away

 

[tollboothwilley]

I switched from regular led bulbs to SMD led bulbs to spread the light out and my hot spots went away

which lights did you do that for? only have a few hot spots but they are annoying

did you have to change the resistor value as well? or did you make sure to get the SMD with the same current/forwarding voltage as the others?

also, the backlighting for the LED section w/ the temp display isn't as bright as i'd like it to be...did you guys use diff LED here?

 

[zopperman]

which lights did you do that for? only have a few hot spots but they are annoying

did you have to change the resistor value as well? or did you make sure to get the SMD with the same current/forwarding voltage as the others?

also, the backlighting for the LED section w/ the temp display isn't as bright as i'd like it to be...did you guys use diff LED here?

Just saw your similarly worded PM.

I didnt use neo leds, I used regular ones

I just aimed them so the hot spots werent as bad lol

 

[HokieRunner]

High Contrast Linear Polarizing Film | Edmund Optics

was that what you ordered? Have any extra that I could get from you?

Another option is polarization.com

Used them when I did mine. Check out post #81, top of page 9 of this thread for some how to pics and a Linky to an in depth how to. Easy but cool mod.

 

[tollboothwilley]

Just saw your similarly worded PM.

I didnt use neo leds, I used regular ones

I just aimed them so the hot spots werent as bad lol

For the 3 circular parts of the center console (fan speed, HVAC, vents) those LEDs can't really be aimed much for the tight location...at least I was not able to do much with them. These are the ones with the hot spots that are buggin

i should take a pic of it

 

[97BlackAckCL]

which lights did you do that for? only have a few hot spots but they are annoying

did you have to change the resistor value as well? or did you make sure to get the SMD with the same current/forwarding voltage as the others?

also, the backlighting for the LED section w/ the temp display isn't as bright as i'd like it to be...did you guys use diff LED here?

I swapped neo bulbs from regular to SMD

 

[zopperman]

For the 3 circular parts of the center console (fan speed, HVAC, vents) those LEDs can't really be aimed much for the tight location...at least I was not able to do much with them. These are the ones with the hot spots that are buggin

i should take a pic of it

Please do.

I was able to aim mine pretty easily, i just bent the leads

 

[tollboothwilley]

Please do.

I was able to aim mine pretty easily, i just bent the leads

Problem for me is that the LED i have are 5mm in there, not the 3mm - so there isn't much space for bending!!

 

[zopperman]

Problem for me is that the LED i have are 5mm in there, not the 3mm - so there isn't much space for bending!!

Grind them with a dremel. Mine are 5 too

 

[tollboothwilley]

Grind them with a dremel. Mine are 5 too

haha - how long did you spend grinding down the LEDs ??

did you grind them down on all sides and the top?

 

[zopperman]

haha - how long did you spend grinding down the LEDs ??

did you grind them down on all sides and the top?

About 5 mins. I just took it in my hand and pressed it against the grinding wheel.

And I ground around the sides. I can post a photo later if you want.

 

[CookieRoe]

Whoa!! That's awesome. ALEX ( emelianenkov ) Can you do this???

How difficult is this film to put on yourself?

 

[zopperman]

Whoa!! That's awesome. ALEX ( emelianenkov ) Can you do this???

How difficult is this film to put on yourself?

ANyone have some leftover film they would be willing to sell??

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Wow I love that black look on the digital screen

 

[RunninUte]

I'll check my sheet to see how many screens it can do and i'll post it. Then I can flat rate some film to whoever wants some.

 

[zopperman]

I'll check my sheet to see how many screens it can do and i'll post it. Then I can flat rate some film to whoever wants some.

That would be awesome. Calling some dibs right now!

What color LEDS did you use for backlighting?

 

[emelianenkov]

Yes I can do the film. Just about to order some for mine!