Hvac led wip

[Jigg007]

Man, this thread has just so many abbreviations, its crazy! Anyway, theres not much activity in this forum section and I thought I'd post my progress on my HVAC center while I'm waiting for glue to dry.

My old modifications, over a year old were starting to fail. I guess I built my voltage regulator at too high of a voltage.





Split that HVAC unit open, Yumm.





I drilled holes into the diffuser to fit the 5mm leds into, and used tinfoil to help these super effcient optics
.




Glue of choice, support your own economy, dammit!
It sets quick, yet I would like a higher initial viscosity, too runny for such a small application.





Similar approach to how I did my instrument cluster lighting. Uses a lot of LEDs though!



If there is something different I would do here, is to raise the LEDs by a 1/8 to a 1/4 of an inch.





Results are pleasing so far.







thermostat dial, glue needs to dry then I can begin soldering.




Same story with the glue.




EDIT: Glue dried on some parts! (or well, dry enough for my low standards!






Then again, I'm probably the only one on new-years eve drilling holes in their car to install more lights!

EDIT: Its done enough!

[CTB727]

Looking good man. I was thinking replacing my gauges/Hvac/radio lights to white or something like that, but I have absolutely NO experience with soldering

I might do em someday, but for now I'm taking one step at a time with LEDs. I'm waiting for my LEDs to ship for my backup lights and license plate.

Btw, I like seeing the progress you're making with your Avalon. The carputer thing is awesome, and the LEDs and everything else is really cool. Keep up the good work man
Happy New Year too!

[Jack Deth]

very nice. i'm a "tinker" myself.

[pmesfun]

Awesome.

[Jigg007]

Well I found my problem, it wasn't a short, but a loose capator on my switching regulator.

Heres my final picture to finish showing off:


yaaay check engine lights!


Once I get my "SpaceNavigator" a 6 axis miniature type joystick, I plan to eat up all my spare change in the car and install something to the likes of this in its place. you know, the ashtray area infront of the shifter.

Butcher work in AutoCAD to see if I can actually fit what I want (really sucks when you dont touch a program in over a year!)

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by Jigg007

yaaay check engine lights!

What's is saying?

[Jigg007]

Originally Posted by pmesfun

What's is saying?

Its a knock engine sensor, sensor malfunction bank 2. Code P0330 I think? Its been on for about 2 weeks after I gunned it down a stretch of road. Seeing that it says its a sensor malfunction and not a knock detection I haven't been that pressed to replace the sensor, especially to the tune of $150, and if I recall removing the intake plenum.

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by Jigg007

Its a knock engine sensor, sensor malfunction bank 2. Code P0330 I think? Its been on for about 2 weeks after I gunned it down a stretch of road. Seeing that it says its a sensor malfunction and not a knock detection I haven't been that pressed to replace the sensor, especially to the tune of $150, and if I recall removing the intake plenum.

Ouch, it's hidden under the intake manifold next to the bypass hose. I would wait it out and see if it goes away.

[Chunkywolf]

Jigg, what size LEDs did you use for the HVAC lighting... my plug and play solution has been bothering me more and more as time goes by due to the lightpipes.

[Jigg007]

Originally Posted by Chunkywolf

Jigg, what size LEDs did you use for the HVAC lighting... my plug and play solution has been bothering me more and more as time goes by due to the lightpipes.

I used 5mm pirranah leds. I used to order them from www.sureelectronics.com but it looks like they stoped manurfacturing them. However theres tons of sellers that resell their products.

The last time I needed some: http://cgi.ebay.com/100-pcs-5mm-Red-...#ht_2613wt_958

It looks like their out of stock for red, but maybe you can find them elsewhere.

I set/built my regulator for 2.9-3.0 volts for the blue leds, and just wired a 100ohm resistor in series wherever I had red led. As the listings say the red leds are 2.8+ they blew every time for me, I'm assuming it s a typo and they meant 1.8 volts.

However in that auction the leds are shipped with a bunch of 470 ohm resistors that you can wire to each led, so you can plug them directly into your 12 volt source. Just remember to get the polarity right!

I just noticed you're from Arlington Heights (10 miles south from me) . I always wonder if the other avalons I pass on the road happen to be members here.