DIY MOD: Ambient lighting from map light

[gshadow325]

Thanks [MENTION=51046]theliman[/MENTION] for asking the question. With out the question being asked. there will not be this write up.

CONCEPT: You are taking a 3v led and using 2 resistors to bring voltage back down from 12v to the LEDs 3-3.4v usable voltage

Items needed to duplicate exactly what i did
-910ohm resistor
-365ohm resistor
-3v 5mm flat top wide angle LED 5mm LED - Blue - Ultra Bright Flat Top
-13/64 drill bit
-some wire

total dollars spent $0.21 for LED, $0.55 for a pack of DEI 654t(wholesale cost)
$0.76 priceless

You do not need to use resistors, you can try to find 12v flat top LEDs, they usually cost 1000x more. like the varad ILK-BL (google it, its around $15-20 for a set of 4)

also you dont need specifically those resistors.

use this calculator when you at radio shack to buy what ever they got.
Voltage Divider Calculator

using the above guide R1 was 910ohm and R2 was 365 ohm.
use the chart above it on how to wire it up.

basically the 910ohm is on the + line and the 365ohm is across the + and - of the led.

like in this diagram
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15923874341" title="IMG_20141201_164859 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7553/15923874341_3df2c6fc4c_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20141201_164859"></a>

You drill a hole using the 13/64 drill bit like so.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15923083131" title="IMG_20141201_145406 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7524/15923083131_53b30dbb42_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20141201_145406"></a>

LED, longer leg is negative
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15737730840" title="IMG_20141201_144442 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7476/15737730840_b83f3cab63_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20141201_144442"></a>

resistor attached to red is the 910ohm
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15737582588" title="IMG_20141201_144510 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8652/15737582588_7ba5e50e4e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20141201_144510"></a>

Power connections? Easy, i attached them to the existing map light power feed. positiive to the red and negative to the brown. Why steve, this circuit has power when ever the car is on. It also stays on for a few seconds to a few minutes once the truck is turn off? Yes correct, during the daytime you'll never see it on since it flush mounted, well at least i didnt notice it. also when i arm my alarm it will lock the dorrs and it will "timeout" in a few seconds anyways. plus its only a 20ma draw if it was on all the time!

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15739469369" title="IMG_20141201_160401 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7484/15739469369_14c979dd7b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20141201_160401"></a>


LED very flush mounted
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15739729837" title="IMG_20141201_155843 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/15739729837_f4dc9950a2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20141201_155843"></a>


Pictures pictures!!!!
best i could do since its low powered, honestly pictures dont do it justice!!!
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15303252904" title="IMG_20141201_160247 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7463/15303252904_7365b118da_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20141201_160247"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15303251514" title="IMG_20141201_160234 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/15303251514_c0ec6aefb5_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20141201_160234"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15305825663" title="IMG_20141201_155901 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/15305825663_210fe43c5a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20141201_155901"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15739729837" title="IMG_20141201_155843 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/15739729837_f4dc9950a2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20141201_155843"></a>

 

[theliman]

Thank you for doing this - it looks great. When I get around to trying it, I will post my results as well.

Can you see it out of the corner of your eye or in the mirror at night? That is why I was thinking I would have mine recessed somewhat.

Thanks again

 

[theliman]

[MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION] -

how do you feel about the output after a few days (nights)?

can you see it at all out of the corner of your eye in any distracting way?

did you consider putting it between the sunglass holder handle and the lights? (that strip more in the middle). i haven't taken it down so i don't know what's behind there and if there was anything to your choice of location.

not sure i need a pack of resistors, will the internet be the place to get one or two or should i make a trip to radioshack?

finally, this is reaaaaally not my area but i still want to try.. i know you posted a lot of pictures but do you have any more? i am having trouble trying to figure out exactly where the 365 resistor went, assuming it is the blue thing attached to the black wire?

 

[woznin49]

This is great. I was just thinking about doing this after noticing my roomates IS250 has this.

 

[java]

My Audi has these, in red, very nice at night. I may have to do this now..... Not in blue though.

Ic you can figure out a way to recess it into the hole a bit, your eye won't really catch on it.

 

[swapmeet]

My company car is a Chevy Malibu and it has these in light blue. They are recessed.
I've been wanting to do something similar but wanted it recessed so I was struggling with a location to do that.

Either way, thanks for the write up!!!!!

 

[HokieRunner]

Recessed leds would be just as easy. Just need a small gauge tube of some sort to set back the led. Could even cut down a small diameter pen casing or something similar and glue it in place. Then glue the led holder to it. Voila!

I will be doing that eventually with red leds. Also going to put a red led under each door pull so passengers can see the door/window control switches. Then hook it all to a dimmer (rheostat) so you can have it as bright or dim as you want!

 

[CookieRoe]

Steve, you've got skills. Nice!

 

[gshadow325]

[MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION] -

how do you feel about the output after a few days (nights)?

can you see it at all out of the corner of your eye in any distracting way?

did you consider putting it between the sunglass holder handle and the lights? (that strip more in the middle). i haven't taken it down so i don't know what's behind there and if there was anything to your choice of location.

not sure i need a pack of resistors, will the internet be the place to get one or two or should i make a trip to radioshack?

finally, this is reaaaaally not my area but i still want to try.. i know you posted a lot of pictures but do you have any more? i am having trouble trying to figure out exactly where the 365 resistor went, assuming it is the blue thing attached to the black wire?

its been a few days. so its a little bright. so i have used a thin layer of white out to lessen the light output. its much better now.

considered doing it in the middle sunglass but didnt want to have it more visible than it is now.

look at my first hand drawn masterpiece of artwork lol, its a series then parallel config on the resistors.
what you can do is use the link to the calculator and put different numbers in them to get around 3.4v as the final. basically you need to get two resistors the larger needs to be 3x bigger than the smaller one approximatly.
example 9000 and 3000, 21000 and 7000, 600 and 200.

Recessed leds would be just as easy. Just need a small gauge tube of some sort to set back the led. Could even cut down a small diameter pen casing or something similar and glue it in place. Then glue the led holder to it. Voila!

I will be doing that eventually with red leds. Also going to put a red led under each door pull so passengers can see the door/window control switches. Then hook it all to a dimmer (rheostat) so you can have it as bright or dim as you want!

you can try and recess it with a tube but its not needed or probably will not work since that area is pressed up against the headliner material. maybe more towards the middle of the sunglass holder.

also consider this, leds i chose are 10000-12000mcd. there are leds that are not as bright. these red output 6-8000mcd 5mm Diffused LED - Red - Ultra Bright Flat Top

guys please read the specs of the LEDs, the diffused ones need 1.9v- 2.1v so you have to adjust your resistor values accordingly. they didnt have lower powered blue 5mm leds

also, the panel is pretty thick Matt, so you can recess it back in. when you get the panel off you will be able to see that the led can be actually be taped to the panel and forced to shine thru the hole.

I'm actually going to try that idea before i go changing out the colors to a lower powered one. i'll report back after a drive tonight.

 

[theliman]

look at my first hand drawn masterpiece of artwork lol, its a series then parallel config on the resistors.
what you can do is use the link to the calculator and put different numbers in them to get around 3.4v as the final. basically you need to get two resistors the larger needs to be 3x bigger than the smaller one approximatly.
example 9000 and 3000, 21000 and 7000, 600 and 200.

thanks again for the help. i'm having some trouble reconciling the drawing with the picture of your hand, but i will figure it out.

so if i got the LED you did, could i use different resistors to make it even dimmer (while keeping 3:1)? and as far as you know, there is no dimmer blue LED?

 

[gshadow325]

thanks again for the help. i'm having some trouble reconciling the drawing with the picture of your hand, but i will figure it out.

so if i got the LED you did, could i use different resistors to make it even dimmer (while keeping 3:1)? and as far as you know, there is no dimmer blue LED?

i saw your post yesterday. before i was going to reply, i executed your theory this morning.

i used a 9100ohm and a 2700ohm to get 2.7volts

@2.7volts the LED didnt even want to fire up. it was a dimly lit little blue spec.

as for diagram, i'll draw another one for you with the 9100 and 2700 for a reference idea.

 

[gshadow325]

Here is your picture

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Nice writeup steve, I've been toying with the idea of doing this ever since I saw someone swap in the lexus overhead console with the ambient led's. Definitely something to put on the to do list.

 

[theliman]

Here is your picture

thanks for the picture. i think the disconnect is that i can't tell how you have the blue resistor connecting the + and - of the LED. it looks like there is just the brown resistor for + and blue for -.

is the brown resistor wrapped around the positive lead then hooked to red?

and then the blue resistor is wrapped around the negative lead, and then the brown resistor, and then hooked to black?

thanks again for your help, just trying to clarify!

 

[nitrag]

resistor attached to red is the 910ohm
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129154214@N04/15737582588" title="IMG_20141201_144510 by gshadow3225 .., on Flickr">

</a>

Why are you shorting these? Is this some voodoo magic?

 

[gshadow325]

Why are you shorting these? Is this some voodoo magic?

i'm not shorting them. thats not the finished connected product.

 

[me_rikey]

If I am understanding this correctly: I use an led with 1.9-2.1 volts, I could use a 600 and 100 ohm resistors to get input volts of 15 down to 2.1xx, based on that calculator, and that should work, correct?

Thanks in advance.

 

[me_rikey]

If I am understanding this correctly: I use an led with 1.9-2.1 volts, I could use a 600 and 100 ohm resistors to get input volts of 15 down to 2.1xx, based on that calculator, and that should work, correct?

Thanks in advance.

Can anyone fill me in on this?


TIA

 

[gshadow325]

If I am understanding this correctly: I use an led with 1.9-2.1 volts, I could use a 600 and 100 ohm resistors to get input volts of 15 down to 2.1xx, based on that calculator, and that should work, correct?

Thanks in advance.

question for you is, where do you get input voltage of 15?

Modern day cars are running at a 12volt system with charging circuits usually peaking at 14.1volts.

Sure, based on your calculations. thats correct. like i asked you in the above question, where do you get 15 volts from?

Replacing your 15 with a 12 will net you 1.7 volts output that is too low.

basically you need resistors that is 1/4 of the larger one.

example 800 and 200, 1000 and 250, 2000 and 500, 2400 and 600 etc, you get the idea right? INPUT is 12 volts

 

[me_rikey]

question for you is, where do you get input voltage of 15?



Modern day cars are running at a 12volt system with charging circuits usually peaking at 14.1volts.



Sure, based on your calculations. thats correct. like i asked you in the above question, where do you get 15 volts from?



Replacing your 15 with a 12 will net you 1.7 volts output that is too low.



basically you need resistors that is 1/4 of the larger one.



example 800 and 200, 1000 and 250, 2000 and 500, 2400 and 600 etc, you get the idea right? INPUT is 12 volts

Thanks for clarifying. I'm not sure where/ why I came up with 15v. If I go off 12v power that goes on/ off with headlights, I can use resistors in ohms that you referenced in your post. I'm not sure if there would be any difference between using 800/ 200 or 2400/ 600. Would there be a difference with the led's output?


Thanks