A quick LED Project center console and glove box

[Super Blue]

Since I have to put my retrofit on hold I was itching to do something to the car in the mean time. Figured why not put LED lights in the glovebox and center console.

I ended up doing this project at my friends house so I was not able to take step by step pics.

I used 4 leds for the glove box and the center console wired in series. You can also wire them in parallel. The benefit of parallel over series is that even if 1 led goes out the remaining will continue to work. In series if 1 goes, all go, then you also have the fun task of figuring out which one is the bad led.

Anyways here are the pics.

Glove box
4 LEDs spread across the top to provide even lighting.


Here they are lit.



and





Center console

4 Leds, 2 at the front of the console, and 2 at the top most corners at the rear.





Leds Lit


The camera doesn't fully capture the amount of light being emitted by the LEDs. It is definitely a lot brighter than what is being shown in the pictures. I will try to take better quality pictures if I can get my hands on a better camera.

Both the center console and the glove box are wired with a NC(Normally Closed) switch, and the LEDs only turn on when either of them is opened. For the moment I am tapping off the cigg lighter. I may change that to a constant 12 volt with a inline fuse.

Oh the Leds I used were 3volt, 5000mcd, 20 mA. I used a 100ohm 1/4 watt resistor to stay on the safe side.

Now that the LED bug has bit I will probably be doing more leds. This weekend I will be adding them to the box in the center of the dash, and also in the cubby holes in the front driver and passenger doors. I'll be sure to share pics.

Questions, comments welcome

[prizmrolla]

are they on all the time?
and where did you connect it to the power?

[Super Blue]

Originally Posted by Super Blue

Both the center console and the glove box are wired with a NC(Normally Closed) switch, and the LEDs only turn on when either of them is opened. For the moment I am tapping off the cigg lighter. I may change that to a constant 12 volt with a inline fuse.

I knew I wrote down too much, lol

[prizmrolla]

i kinda forgot to read... my bad :P

[gaj1967]

I think I see the glove box switch. Looks like a black push button. The center console switch is easy to see. It's a red push button that the armrest presses on.

Good job at being creative. Another job that might be nice would be lighting under the dash by the drivers and passengers feet.

Gil

[Super Blue]

Hey Gil. The switch for the glove box is also a red push pin switch. It is really out of sight and not visible at all. Also the LEDs in the glove box are not visible at all when you are sitting in the seat.

Look in the top right corner of the picture below to see where the switch is.




I've already picked up more leds over the lunch hour and time permitting more of them will be going in this weekend in various spots in the car.

[gaj1967]

I see the glove switch now. Good location.

Looks like you know what you are doing but I still want to make sure you have a current limiting resistor on those LED's.

Gil

[Super Blue]

Originally Posted by gaj1967

I see the glove switch now. Good location.

Looks like you know what you are doing but I still want to make sure you have a current limiting resistor on those LED's.

Gil

But of course, I'm using a 100ohm 1/4watt resistor. I did the calculation for 14 volts rather than 12 volts just to be on the safe side.

[gaj1967]

Good job. You'll probably be getting 14 with the engine running anyway.

Gil

[prizmrolla]

btw gaj1967, i have leds in the feet of the passangers and drivers along with in the back feet. Its pretty awesome!

[Super Blue]

Update

Rewired the leds to a constant 12volt source so they light up anytime without or without the ignition being on.

New Lights Added

I added lights to the box thing in the center of the dash. These lights also only turn on when you open up the lid. You can see the push pin switch in the top of the picture.





Also added LEDs to the map pockets in the front driver and passenger doors which light up using a switch I wired up on the driver door.











Hope you guys enjoyed the pics. This project was cheap to do but very tedious and annoying at times.

Questions, comments, criticism welcome