Car Interior LED Lighting Multicolor

Finally a super project you will like when daylight goes by 6 and dark side captures. If you like or this helped you get into your shoes or inspired to do something similar or more creative than please don't feel shy to VOTE ! I will be contesting for LED contest which closes on 7th Jan 2013 so please vote each VOTE counts !!!!!

Everyone must have felt this trying searching in dark under seats and those map lights which are soo dim that one needs have to a torch to search so WHY NOT USE INTERIOR LEDS and make your car STAND OUT.

NOTE : Since i don't want to cut down my main wires and RISK the wiring, all i did was just hook on top no cutting of MAINS.

Now enough of my blah blah ................ LETS get STARTED

- LED strips (i will prefer to use RGB strips which gives me more color choice and not get stuck with one color)
- RGB LED Strip Controller (+ Remote this is free accessory with controller) i required less than a meter
- 4 strand wire (since RGB strips have connections for RED | GREEN | BLUE | +ve)
- Connectors (twist and turn to break)
- Soldering Gun
- Silicon Gun stick (i dont use gun but just heat it on lighter and damp on required surface)

And more of Patience and Brains ;p
Cause once you hit this you will really beg to sun go down and ride your pimped vehicle ;p

The first step towards doing THE PLAN.

As seen from diagram we have 4 LED STRIPS two in front (under dashboard) and other two for back seat passengers those will be at bottom of front seats(one below passenger and other drivers seat).

Once the plan is clear we plan for wiring keeping in mind the connectors.

Why connectors?
Connectors play an important part for connection also for maintenance.
Suppose if few LED's goes down one doesn't want to rip the entire wiring so remove just the faulty LED's, repair those and fix it back.

In next image we see 4 connectors two each at front and back i.e. for each strip
all (4-strand) wire running between them

The LED Controller is connected in between with 12v source.

Now since i don't want to cut the wiring and connect with extra fuse(in fuse box) i will source it with cigarette lighter or charging point which will be very easy also when the car key goes out so does the lighting.

Now once everything is planned we need measurements to be taken to fit the things to places without stretching.

First measurement regarding LED strips go below the dash and measure the length for front two strips.
Second take measurements for LED strips at back.

Once these are done we take measurements for wiring keeping in mind that few extra length wire are left so as to avoid the fit fitting.

We measure for wires for
1> controller to left front connector
2> from left front connector to right front connector
3> from left front connector to left rear connector
4> right front connector to right rear connector

NOTE : For rear connections keep in mind to give extra inches of wire since one does not want to rip their LED under seats when seats are moved back and forth.

Once measurements are done time to cut the LED strips.

We need 4 strips for our project. Every LED strip have cutting lines after every 3 LEDs. Keep in mind to cut short than to cut larger than required, if larger than it might dangle and one would not love that site.

Once the soldering is done we better check the soldering by lighting one color at a time. So, in next few images we see that check for main 3 primary colors RED | GREEN | BLUE, when those are lit perfectly lets safeguard those joints. One way i did was to apply silicone glue which avoids in between contacts also provides rigidity.

This is how we create a strip ready to be hooked to car.Similar, to these we create 3 more totalling to 4 strips.

LETS NOW MOVE IN CAR AND START CONNECTING !

As we see we first glue the front under dashboard LED strips.Then connecting the connector to it. The diagrams are more explanatory and easy to understand than my words. Have tagged as many tags to express the circuitary.

Now once these are done lets hide our wires. What i did is just tugged the wires inside the panels and poked it our just near the seats where the next set of LED STRIPS will be installed we can see that in image 4.

Now with the under seat LEDs here rather than using glue or sticky tapes i just placed it in between those springs and a string to tie at other end.

Point to note is i have left enough extra wire to smooth the movements when seats are pulled back and forth.

When everything is done load it up and LETS RIG THE CHARGER !

There are various ways so source it
> from unused fuse from fuse box using jumpers
> from door panels, so lights will glow when doors are opened and will turn off when they are closed similar to dome lights
> from headlights [either from main fuse box or cutting wires for headlights]

But i will use charger ! WHY ?
Reason for rigging the charger is i dont use lighter for any purpose other than charging so why not rig that is heavily used and thus can facilitates simultaneous use.

Most cell phone chargers gives 4v of output (which is way lower to lit the strips) with stabilized voltage, thus it brings 12v from port to 4v.

When charger is opened we can see a fuse(blows when excess current flows) and a chip (does the stabilization and decrease of voltage). So, we need 12v so connect it at the start just before the chip and we are good with 12v. ;[

This is how we will source our LED STRIPS.

Once entire connections are DONE lets check out sick work.

LEDs are not working they dont glow?
Check connections if none are working please check the source and most important put the keys in car to make the lighter socket working.

LEDs are glowing but few strips glow in different color?
Its because of wrong connections while wiring make sure that red goes to red and so forth.

In few strips some color don't glow?
To check working fro perfection make the LED glow to white if all strips gives white color all wiring is perfect. If not than check for RED | GREEN | BLUE separately and the color for which one don't glow is the faulty connection or soldering might be the issue.

I don't know but while wiring something got short and my radio or lighter or mirrors are not working?
If things are not connected properly or something shorts or draws more amps their is fail safe mechanism to safeguard the cars wiring by blowing the fuse. One needs to find the blown fuse and replace it. If things are done as said in ible it will not blow the fuse but just a piece of information if something goes wrong.

While starting car the voltages are way beyond 12v will it not burn my LED or wiring?
I have been using from last 1month and have tested it with multimeter spikes goes till 15v and LED strips have resistors to safeguard LED's so it will work fine if still one wants to safeguard those use resistors or voltage regulators. Also the controller have brightness adjustments so lower it down to few clicks by doing this controller sends less voltage to LEDs (lower the volts less the brightness). So even if we are getting spikes till 15v we dim and thus strips get just 10v.

It will be good if we hook it up with TIP31 and sync with Music?
I personally tried and succeeded but trust me its very very dangerous while driving and those blinks are very disturbing. Still someone thinks i need to ible it I WILL.


NOTE: Vote if you like, good ibles take lot of man hours and patience and lots and lots of documentation.