Interior/Exterior Light that boot! (LED trunk light MOD)
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: VA
Thanks for the walkthrough YD. Another question now - if I want to keep the stock light assembly in, using the resistor, how do I connect the wires from the LEDs? Strip a little section of insulation from the stock wires and connect the LEDs to the bare spots?
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: VA
Let me take a stab at it in a day or two... Honestly, since I was figuring these things out as i was going along, I neglected to shoot "in progress" pics. It's really simple though - the install basically takes advantage of the existing OEM white foot well light wiring - you're simply shooting for hooking the LED strips' positive and ground wires to the white lights' wires - since the strips draw so little power (less than the white OEM bulb you're replacing) you don't need to worry about additional fuses or anything else fancy.
Look under the dashboard and you'll see the OEM white foot well light - it pops out with a small flat screwdriver. You'll snip the wires leading to that light (turn off the cabin lights first, or, even better, discomnnect the negative battery terminal in the book to avoid a short) and use them with the LED strips. The nice thing about this sort of install is that the OEM ligjht is still there, just disconnected, so if you want to reverse it, all you have to do is remove the LED strips and re-connect the white lamps - literally a 5 minute reversal.
There's a bar under the dash that's perfect for zip-tying the LEDs to. I think it will be pretty clear when you look - it was for me anyway - but I'll give proper documentation a stab.
Look under the dashboard and you'll see the OEM white foot well light - it pops out with a small flat screwdriver. You'll snip the wires leading to that light (turn off the cabin lights first, or, even better, discomnnect the negative battery terminal in the book to avoid a short) and use them with the LED strips. The nice thing about this sort of install is that the OEM ligjht is still there, just disconnected, so if you want to reverse it, all you have to do is remove the LED strips and re-connect the white lamps - literally a 5 minute reversal.
There's a bar under the dash that's perfect for zip-tying the LEDs to. I think it will be pretty clear when you look - it was for me anyway - but I'll give proper documentation a stab.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
And YES, in MY install, I literally snipped the wires, since I did not want the white light to light up along with the LEDs.
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: VA
. How would you recommend the stock light be reconnected if you wanted to do that? Soldering?Thanks for bearing with me, by the way
.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 942
Likes: 4
Turcicus, what I did to connect the wires to the car's el system was to just pull the stock connectors off of the stock fixture, then stick one LED wire through the hole in the male connector and twist it and snip off any xs. Same for the other connector, then push the stock connectors back on.... no wire cutting. This makes it extra easy to go back to stock.... just remove the wired, take out the resistor and put the bulb back in.
YD
YD
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
That's actually a GREAT install idea if you plan to put the resistor inside the light housing... I plan to do that as soon as I get my power plug, actually. Yo's Dad had a real;y wonderful install idea with that - kudos!! 
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: VA
Turcicus, what I did to connect the wires to the car's el system was to just pull the stock connectors off of the stock fixture, then stick one LED wire through the hole in the male connector and twist it and snip off any xs. Same for the other connector, then push the stock connectors back on.... no wire cutting. This makes it extra easy to go back to stock.... just remove the wired, take out the resistor and put the bulb back in.
YD
YD
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: VA
YD, would it be possible to use the cord from a pair of headphones for the quick connect? I've got an old pair laying around with a 90 degree bend connector that I could cannibalize. If so, how do you know which wires in the cord go to the correct wires from the LED?
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
Just hook them up and try them out - if you have the polarity reversed then they just won't light. A few seconds of reversed current won't hurt the strips - I accidentally hooked them up the wrong way once to my test power supply (a modified PC power supply) and it had no ill effect. That or test them with a volt meter if you have one.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,233
Likes: 127
From: San Francisco
Here are more photos of the 3 LED strip installation on my cabrio. The connection is a headphone cable/plug.
Love this mod. ImagoX, you should ask Oznium whether they are seeing a jump in sales on the LED strip. You should get a commission!
Love this mod. ImagoX, you should ask Oznium whether they are seeing a jump in sales on the LED strip. You should get a commission!
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 19
From: Bedford, TX.
ImagoX, my son,
I didn't get it at RS. I found them at a mom and pop electonics supply house in Knoxville, TN.
They were off the rack, so to speak.
The brand is:
Philmore
LKG Industries
Rockford, IL
6ft DC Power Cord
2.5mm x 5.5mm DC plug No. TC250
DC Power Jack
2.5mm x 5.5mm No. 248
If you can't find them, let me know and I'll drive by and pick a set up and mail them to you.
If you call them, I'm sure they will send you a set also.
The store is:
Shields Electronics
865-588-2421
This is a very common item (except at RS) and should be easy to find. It was the 90° issue that made it more difficult for me. The straight ones were all over the place. But you know I had to have exactly what was perculating in my little beanie.
BTW, since you know the Oxnium people, mayhaps you might suggest that they carry a line of plugs and jacks??????
YD
I didn't get it at RS. I found them at a mom and pop electonics supply house in Knoxville, TN.
They were off the rack, so to speak.
The brand is:
Philmore
LKG Industries
Rockford, IL
6ft DC Power Cord
2.5mm x 5.5mm DC plug No. TC250
DC Power Jack
2.5mm x 5.5mm No. 248
If you can't find them, let me know and I'll drive by and pick a set up and mail them to you.
If you call them, I'm sure they will send you a set also.
The store is:
Shields Electronics
865-588-2421
This is a very common item (except at RS) and should be easy to find. It was the 90° issue that made it more difficult for me. The straight ones were all over the place. But you know I had to have exactly what was perculating in my little beanie.
BTW, since you know the Oxnium people, mayhaps you might suggest that they carry a line of plugs and jacks??????
YD
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: San Marcos, TX
Thanks for this approach. I especially like the ability to easily go "back to stock" if so desired at any point down the road.
Turcicus, what I did to connect the wires to the car's el system was to just pull the stock connectors off of the stock fixture, then stick one LED wire through the hole in the male connector and twist it and snip off any xs. Same for the other connector, then push the stock connectors back on.... no wire cutting. This makes it extra easy to go back to stock.... just remove the wired, take out the resistor and put the bulb back in. YD
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 19
From: Bedford, TX.
Yup that was me! I went to radio shack and they didn't really know what i was looking for, i found a DC plug and receptacle but it just didn't look as OEM as yours.
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, TN
Anybody know if the support tube on the shelf is hollow? It would be nice to tuck the wiring in there out of the way.
I made a plug in cord last night . I should be able to just unplug the factory light and plug the new cord in. It's got the resistor connected and everything shrink wrapped up to a headphone extension cord. I think I'm going to slip it out of the rubber boot around the seat latch. If I don't like how it looks I can always rewire it later. I'm considering adding one of the lighted switches from oznium to give me the ability to turn on the stock light if I had the shelf removed.
I made a plug in cord last night . I should be able to just unplug the factory light and plug the new cord in. It's got the resistor connected and everything shrink wrapped up to a headphone extension cord. I think I'm going to slip it out of the rubber boot around the seat latch. If I don't like how it looks I can always rewire it later. I'm considering adding one of the lighted switches from oznium to give me the ability to turn on the stock light if I had the shelf removed.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 942
Likes: 4
On the HT the support beam is hollow. I tried the same thing but when the fabric covering started grabbing the drill bit (like drilling through carpet) and was going to pull and make a mess, I abandoned the idea. If you can cut a small hole in the fabric to do your drilling, it will work. The beam is metal but thin.
YD
YD
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 698
Likes: 0
Is there a real advantage to putting the strips under the boot cover? Mine comes out fairly often, and I know one day or another I'd forget to unplug it and wind up damaging my work. I've not looked, but the bottom rear of the boot appeals to me; its out of the way, and the light should shine up just as well as down.
For me, the real issue is just getting up the nerve to try it. I love how it looks.
For me, the real issue is just getting up the nerve to try it. I love how it looks.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,233
Likes: 127
From: San Francisco
Is there a real advantage to putting the strips under the boot cover? Mine comes out fairly often, and I know one day or another I'd forget to unplug it and wind up damaging my work. I've not looked, but the bottom rear of the boot appeals to me; its out of the way, and the light should shine up just as well as down.