Searched and couldnt find anything. My buddy has a bmw and it has the door handle LEDS when he unlocks the car. (Works just as the map/dome light as it turns off/on and or fades when we unlock our toyotas).
Found somebody trying to make a controller for aftermarket lighting within the vehicle (not chavvy rubbish before those thoughts go any further! ) the lighting involves subtle units such as (external door handles)
This is what he said: Why not piggy back these lights onto the existing systems you ask?? simple, I have already attempted this twice and both attempts ended in blowing the body control module (£1k each, expensive mistake ) the reason for this is that the most appropriate source is the dome lights (map lights) they are the ones that come on when you unlock the car and fade out etc all activated through a variety of inputs. The BCM's were blown by adding a very small extra current draw to them which it obviously wasnt designed for. Normally this isnt a problem as most units in cars are designed with large tolerances but unfortunately nissan chose not to bother here, also the modules have no protection, not even from a short circuit.
Thats the back story as long winded as i have somehow managed to make it there!
So my initial thoughts for the project scribbled on a bit of scrap paper are
- Need controller
---PIC? (used before)
---others??
- Need to be able to source certain signals from the car
---need to avoid CAN based signals! taking them direct from the switches and sensors?
---what kind of conditioning is needed to bring the signals safely into the controller
- need to be able to output to the lighting or anythign else controlled by the controller
---conditioning of the singals from the controller to the devices is needed (transistors, relays)?
---need a number of output pins which will affect controller choice?
power supply
- voltage regulated to protect from power spikes in the car such as starting events
- reverse protected to cope with any faults in the car
- overvoltage protected (preferably to over 24V)
- low voltage, running to at least 9V
Anyone have tried or know how to do it. I love the look of the external door handle leds.
Heres a couple of pics:
Linear Mode
