DIY - Footwell LED lighting In tune with Dome Light

[markmass]

I have successfully hooked up footwell lighting to the Interior dome light so that it goes on/off with door open/close and manually turning on.
I have a bunch a photo's to post up here - but - and I apologize in advance... i want to separate each picture with text to explain what's going on -- and I can't figure out how to do that?? Is there a 'Dummies' guide anywhere???

This is the finished product --- looks pretty cool me thinks, But I would like to share......

Parts list all from Advanced Automotive Concepts
1 x Dome light LED http://automotivelightstore.com/2009...ersionkit.aspx - Blue $31
1x LED Light tubes (PAIR) http://automotivelightstore.com/orac...htingpair.aspx - 15" Blue $40

Heat shrink
Electrical tape
18 gauge or better wire (to extend to inverter cables)
Tie wraps




Cheers

[Edrock]

Originally Posted by markmass

I have successfully hooked up footwell lighting to the Interior dome light so that it goes on/off with door open/close and manually turning on.
I have a bunch a photo's to post up here - but - and I apologize in advance... i want to separate each picture with text to explain what's going on -- and I can't figure out how to do that?? Is there a 'Dummies' guide anywhere???

This is the finished product --- looks pretty cool me thinks, But I would like to share......

Cheers

Wow. Too cool. How difficult was the installation?

[markmass]

Probably near 2 hours with finding the right wire to tap into and threading the wires to the passenger side - but overall pretty straightforward, You do have to hook a wire to the dome light and run that across and down the post. I changed the existing 5w dome bulb to LED also, that way Im pretty sure I don't need a relay (will lose the dimming if I used a relay)
I used the 15" LED tubes from Advanced Automotive Concepts - just looked and cant see them now - weird..Anyway, I will post the instructions when i figure out how to separate the piccies

[Edrock]

Originally Posted by markmass

Probably near 2 hours with finding the right wire to tap into and threading the wires to the passenger side - but overall pretty straightforward, You do have to hook a wire to the dome light and run that across and down the post. I changed the existing 5w dome bulb to LED also, that way Im pretty sure I don't need a relay (will lose the dimming if I used a relay)
I used the 15" LED tubes from Advanced Automotive Concepts - just looked and cant see them now - weird..Anyway, I will post the instructions when i figure out how to separate the piccies

Cool. Might have to look into this if it does not entail dismantling the dash and it's not too expensive. What would one expect to drop ($) on a setup like this?

[Michael_Js]

Very cool!

[markmass]

LED lights - Dome - $30 (5 LED, 3 Chip) 2x15" tubes $35, bits and pieces..wire, heat shrink, tie wraps - $5 So all told around $70....Gotta luv DIY

[Edrock]

Originally Posted by markmass

LED lights - Dome - $30 (5 LED, 3 Chip) 2x15" tubes $35, bits and pieces..wire, heat shrink, tie wraps - $5 So all told around $70....Gotta luv DIY

To post pics with text in between, I think you just type your text, click the paperclip button at the top of the editor which will open the file upload window, then on that screen browse to photo, click upload. When you are ready to insert it above or below text, just click in the body of your message where you want the pic to go (cursor will then blink there), then click the down arrow beside the paperclip button in the editor and select the pic file you want to attach. Then you should see an "[ATTACH] picture file [/ATTACH]" entry show up in your post where the pic is going to be. Just repeat these steps to create multiple. I bet you probably could upload all your pics in one step then select as you go from the drop down menu on the paperclip button but have not tried this. Something like that. Hope this helps.

[Michael_Js]

Originally Posted by Edrock

To post pics with text in between, I think you just type your text, click the paperclip button at the top of the editor which will open the file upload window, then on that screen browse to photo, click upload. When you are ready to insert it above or below text, just click in the body of your message where you want the pic to go (cursor will then blink there), then click the down arrow beside the paperclip button in the editor and select the pic file you want to attach. Then you should see an "[ATTACH] picture file [/ATTACH]" entry show up in your post where the pic is going to be. Just repeat these steps to create multiple. I bet you probably could upload all your pics in one step then select as you go from the drop down menu on the paperclip button but have not tried this. Something like that. Hope this helps.

Make sure you hit GO ADVANCED first. Then, he's got it - type text, attach a photo. Type more text, attach another photo. Preview post and go!

Thanks!

[markmass]

Thanks Edrock....

I used the 15" Blue LED from Advanced Automotive Concepts - I had 2 inverters
I also took the opportunity to wire in the Escort Radar detector - alas its on permanent power from a spare in the fuse box, can't find any that operates on the ignition... anyway

First remove the Door Pillar post cover - I found removing the seal gives you easy access. Once removed you can grab the door pillar cover and it actually comes away pretty easily




Next is to remove the dome light assy. There are other threads on this, but gently - take a flat head screwdriver and remove the lens cover and the silver reflector. they basically just need easing out all round. The main 'white' piece is a little tricky. Two spring clips hold it in place and they toward the front of the car



I used a long nail to push clip up while using a screwdriver behind to leverage it out, bit awkward to explain but I think you'll see what I mean - Don't let go---it will spring back - It does come down easily when they are released.
Next take out the wire harness, it has a clip so depress that first.
The dome light wire is the one on the left -



Don't ask what color - im color blind....but it is the one with a space between it.

You should be able to see at the front of the headliner a small hole. I fed a wire through this from the windshield side -- i.e toward you



you can just about see the cutout in the picture. Once fed through the headliner, go ahead and run behind the headliner over to the post - you will feel a small gap between the headliner and wind shield. Once over to the post run it down to the fuse box. At this point I spliced it to the dome light - but you may want to do this last - just in case of a short



Now secure the inverters:
Drivers side is perfect fit in the fuse box:



Next - the passenger side - you will need to extend the power wires to these - bit of solder and heat shrink...Placement of the inverter is not too bad either



Next secure the LED strips. Passenger side - drill 3 holes - its ok, they don't go through to he inside, use tie wraps to lightly secure the LED - plug in to the inverter



Drivers side has existing holes that you can use to secure the LED tube:



Next step is to secure the ground wire - There is a convenient black colored bolt just above the bank of fuses that i used a ring terminal for both inverters, - you can see this in the pictures below
Connect both +ve wires from the inverters to the wire you ran from the dome lights previously - i soldered and insulated them
At a later date i may add switch so i can have them on without the Dome light - pretty easy mod to do....

I think that sums it up - probably 90 minutes work.

JOB DONE


And I have no idea where these next pictures came from --- so please ignore!!

[Michael_Js]

Great! Which wire is the dome light in the fuse box? I'm not asking for color, but is it labeled?

Also, what kind of inverters did you have - meaning what should we buy?

Thanks!

EDIT: Never mind on the inverter. It indicates it comes with the inverter: http://automotivelightstore.com/orac...htingpair.aspx

[markmass]

Originally Posted by Michael_Js

Great! Which wire is the dome light in the fuse box? I'm not asking for color, but is it labeled?

Thanks!

There isn't one --- you have to run one from the Dome light itself, across the headliner and down the post...Need to splice it to the wire in the headliner

Inverters came with the LED tubes as kit -- "Oracle CCFL Ambient lighting" pair 15" AAC Lighting

[Michael_Js]

Originally Posted by markmass

There isn't one --- you have to run one from the Dome light itself, across the headliner and down the post...Need to splice it to the wire in the headliner

Inverters came with the LED tubes as kit -- "Oracle CCFL Ambient lighting" pair 15" AAC Lighting

Ok, so is the wire from the dome light the one that is going INTO the inverter?

Thanks,
Michael J.

[markmass]

Originally Posted by Michael_Js

Ok, so is the wire from the dome light the one that is going INTO the inverter?

Thanks,
Michael J.

Yup - You need to connect the wire you just ran to the +VE wires on the both inverters. I'm sure one day someone will find the wire....but no-one has yet... so we're stuck with having to run the wire and splice into the existing Dome light wire, and run/hide the new wire.

[Michael_Js]

Thanks!

I hope the blue will look good with my IOM interior since they don't have an orange option. Wonder if the red is close?