DIY: Here it is Dashboard ambient lighting ABL - Page 9 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

KJS · 08-06-2009, 10:50 PM

Another great mod by another great Camaro5 member!
Thanks!!!

496BIGBLOCK · 08-07-2009, 03:32 AM

Being an L.E.D. engineer... this has been something that has perplexed me since the news of no dash ABL... tinkered with some L.E.D. "dragontape" options, but too narrow degree of light output. Didnt try it in the dash, but figured it would cause "spots". I was looking into some wide distribution SMT L.E.D.s, but cost wasnt friendly and SMT's have a knack for generating a lot of driver heat and being sensitive to such heat... BUT, this looks pretty sweet and is something I will probably do. This is pretty cool getting to see Electroluminescent getting some good use... last time I saw it was in some Cast Aluminum exit light designs that Dual-Lite emergency lighting systems used. Ive actually got one of them somewhere around here. But in my field, L.E.D. came in and killed compact flourescent with a very quick and brutal stroke, electroluminescent next, and finally ye olde INCANDESCENT slug of energy wasting exit lights...

anyways, back off of my yesteryear memories...

nice job!

Jack · 08-07-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hylton

With respect to why GM used FO vs EL, I can onlyt speculate but the maintenance of FO is that you will only have to replace the bulb once in a while. EL wire dies when the phophate stops reacting to the current. You will actually see areas slowly die off. The entire wire will need to be replaced when that happens.

Hylton,

Thanks very much for all of the great info.

Jack

WySS · 08-07-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musclebee

That looks cool, but GM probably did not put it on the dash because it might be a little distracting.

Had it on the CTS and its not distracting at all, you barely notice it. I loved the ABL in that car. It looked awesome at night, probably my favorite feature.

Doc · 08-07-2009, 12:32 PM

In all the ridiculous number of threads and posts I've read on this forum, I think somewhere I remember reading something by fbodfather about the ABL allowing you to see inside the illuminated area and see "behind the scenes" items which didn't look good to the design team. And I also think he mentioned something about the ABL interfering with night-vision and getting fatiguing over time on a long drive; or something along those lines.

But maybe they were using actual lights versus an EL strip which might not put out as much light.

Interesting thread.

qbert48 · 08-07-2009, 04:22 PM

techboxx when you do your right up will you be posting links to the hardware you used?

Ammo7 · 08-07-2009, 04:25 PM

The 2ss comes with the ambiant lighting correct ?

mrgm · 08-07-2009, 04:49 PM

in for the win.

Rikarus · 08-07-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammo7

The 2ss comes with the ambiant lighting correct ?

only on doors.

CamaroBAMF28 · 08-07-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisgalles

I'm currently working on doing the same thing to mine. I'm going to have orange ABL and I'm also changing it in the doors to orange to go along with my color scheme.

i might want to change that lighting to red in mine. what did you use to change it?.....also there is that aqua color lighting around the speedometer guage and tac guage. would you know how to change that too?

kga10734 · 08-07-2009, 08:22 PM

This is just to cool!

Nice job.

CamaroScotty · 08-07-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beowulf80

Per one of the reps at a car show, it was not the heat of the lighting. It was what happened in high-heat environments such as Phoienix. Apparantly the dash warps slightly, as all dashes will in those environments. The problem was that the ABL quite literally lighted this area up, making it look terrible.

Its the word of a car show rep, so take it as you will. He seemed nice enough and had pretty good knowledge of the car as a whole. Situation seems plausible enough, and is a heck of alot more complicated than a simple light. That said, living in Illinois I totally want this. Yesterday.

I asked this question during an IDL, and posted the repsonse some time ago - it was due to glare / safety issues.

Evil_SS · 08-07-2009, 09:28 PM

Is it possible to have it switch from red to blue and back by a switch?

SummoneR · 08-07-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil_SS

Is it possible to have it switch from red to blue and back by a switch?

Not if you use EL, the color is determined by the color of the plastic wrapped around the phosphorus as mentioned earlier.

08-06-2009, 10:50 PM	#113
KJS Drives: '10 RJT,'95&'14 Vette Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cut Throat, NY Posts: 1,722 View My Garage	Can't wait! Another great mod by another great Camaro5 member! Thanks!!! __________________ *"As ye sow, so shall ye reap" - Me* Mine at sunset

08-07-2009, 12:32 PM	#117
Doc Dances With Mustangs Drives: 2010 1SS/RS MT Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Posts: 3,819 View My Garage	In all the ridiculous number of threads and posts I've read on this forum, I think somewhere I remember reading something by fbodfather about the ABL allowing you to see inside the illuminated area and see "behind the scenes" items which didn't look good to the design team. And I also think he mentioned something about the ABL interfering with night-vision and getting fatiguing over time on a long drive; or something along those lines. But maybe they were using actual lights versus an EL strip which might not put out as much light. Interesting thread. __________________ Blue Angel is here!! 1SS/RS LS3 M6 IBM

08-07-2009, 04:22 PM	#118
qbert48 Drives: 2SS SIM Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: texas panhandle BFE Posts: 1,127	techboxx when you do your right up will you be posting links to the hardware you used? __________________ 2SS RS SIM gray leather stick shift ground FX thank you gary richards @ classic chevy in sugarland welcome home 1100 4-27-09 6000 6-27-09 yes i got to the dance late don't hate me Last edited by qbert48; 08-08-2009 at 02:32 PM.

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08-07-2009, 03:32 AM	#114
496BIGBLOCK L18 8.1 Liter 496 CID Drives: 2008 Caddy DTS Performance Ed. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 32 View My Garage	Being an L.E.D. engineer... this has been something that has perplexed me since the news of no dash ABL... tinkered with some L.E.D. "dragontape" options, but too narrow degree of light output. Didnt try it in the dash, but figured it would cause "spots". I was looking into some wide distribution SMT L.E.D.s, but cost wasnt friendly and SMT's have a knack for generating a lot of driver heat and being sensitive to such heat... BUT, this looks pretty sweet and is something I will probably do. This is pretty cool getting to see Electroluminescent getting some good use... last time I saw it was in some Cast Aluminum exit light designs that Dual-Lite emergency lighting systems used. Ive actually got one of them somewhere around here. But in my field, L.E.D. came in and killed compact flourescent with a very quick and brutal stroke, electroluminescent next, and finally ye olde INCANDESCENT slug of energy wasting exit lights... anyways, back off of my yesteryear memories... nice job!

08-07-2009, 04:25 PM	#119
Ammo7 I GOT HER Drives: 2010 Camaro 2ss/rs RJT Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Duluth Ga 30097 Posts: 399	The 2ss comes with the ambiant lighting correct ?

08-07-2009, 04:49 PM	#120
mrgm cheap and fast Drives: older Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Abilene, TX Posts: 236	in for the win.

08-07-2009, 08:22 PM	#123
kga10734 Don't Feed the Troll Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT/RS & 1999 Corvette Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Montgomery, TX Posts: 774	This is just to cool! Nice job.

08-07-2009, 09:28 PM	#125
Evil_SS Kitt's in my driveway Drives: 08 Silverado ltz,84 T/A Join Date: May 2009 Location: jersey Posts: 80	Is it possible to have it switch from red to blue and back by a switch?