I <3 LEDs and hate dash lights

[1loudLX]

So, I've replaced all the interior overhead lights with really bright white LEDs. Big deal. Big problem actually...night vision. Sure it's great to have a ton of light when you want to see something, but sometimes, you just need a little bit of light to know where stuff is while you're climbing around in your rig trying to get to sleep.

That's where I had an idea...mount some LEDs in the overhead console like there is in my 911, except bright enough you could actually see instead of it just be mood lighting. I added a small rocker next to the ashtray on constant 12v so I can flip them on anytime, just like the map lights.

Result? Look below.


In addition to ADDING lots of light, I've gotten sick of my instrument cluster being lit up like a christmas tree while trying to haul across colorado in the night. So I got around to pulling the cluster and removed the D light and highbeam light. I also removed the light that only comes on the Lexus version I guess. It's a light to tell you your low beams are on! HORRAY EXTRA CRAP ON THE "LUXURY MODEL" I DONT NEED. I also covered the AHC diagram on the cluster as I've moved on to smoother pastures.

The second picture is with my headlights/highbeams on, in drive with the dimmer turned all the way down, nice and dark

The third picture shows the AHC display covered

 

[1loudLX]

Oh, and I may have posted a picture in the past but, I added some more red LEDs to the back of my rig...to warn idiots that I'm stopping. My original plan was to only enable them while my bikes were on the bike rack hanging off the slee bumper but they seem to be doing a great job of warding off tailgaters. An added bonus is, you can actually see when I hit the brakes while offroad at high rates of speed, similar to the dakar trucks.

 

[1loudLX]

Here's a batch of pictures showing off the overhead whites and the red ones for comparison. The camera settings were not changed between the three shots. I'd love to get in a stock truck and take a picture using the same settings as well, for the hell of it.

Front ones are 6LED wedge base direct replacements from superbrightleds.com

and the 2nd row/cargo ones are from George.

 

[02 Beast]

Great job, I like it. How much did changing out to all LED's run? Did you replace the door lights also?

 

[spressomon]

Me like! Great execution Loud! Wanna come play electrician at my house?

 

[Skidoo]

Damm it Loud.
Now I have another project on my to do list.
Wicked cool.

 

[1loudLX]

Great job, I like it. How much did changing out to all LED's run? Did you replace the door lights also?

I did the doors, and originally the front map lights with Polarg LEDs some 5 or 6 years ago. Not completely sure on the total cost, but 4x georges LEDs, and two 15$ or so front map lights. Its a tank of gas or two, not much.

Me like! Great execution Loud! Wanna come play electrician at my house?

I think if you attempted to squeeze one more 22ga wire in your truck it'll blow up. You have no more room!

 

[anthonycds]

very cool Loud! Looks like George's lights are a warmer K than superbrights?

 

[1loudLX]

very cool Loud! Looks like George's lights are a warmer K than superbrights?

they had an option, you could either get the cool ones that threw more light, or ones that matched georges that threw a few lumen less. I went for more light, since the front ones are usually the only ones I use.

 

[anthonycds]

Do you have any pics of the instrument panel out?

I've tried in the past and don't exactly know how many connectors are holding it after removing the screws. I quit after realizing that while I was pulling on the panel some connector that I couldn't locate was still attached.

 

[1loudLX]

two connectors, one on each bottom corner. you've got to un-bolt/screw the stuff holding the connectors in place. 4 main screws to hold it in, two on the bottom corners, and two in teh glass above. then two screws/bolts hold the connectors in place.

No pics because I got distracted with trying to remove the cluster itself, not going back in there anytime soon!

 

[Skidoo]

If you have the camera settings, I can post up photos of stock lighting for comparison.
For my red LED's think I will cut corners by getting power from map light and put a push-on push-off switch up there. What red LEDs did you use? Maybe I can grab some stuff at Fry's and shoehorn them into spresso's rig.

 

[1loudLX]

I thought about doing that but wanted it a little cleaner, and didnt want to put a switch above. That doesnt sound like a bad idea, plus if you leave them on for an extended period of time the vehicle will kill them, just like leaving the map lights on.

Wired LED Specifications

is what I used.


Looks like my camera settings on the Canon 7D were
shutter speed 1/10
f:3.5
ISO:1600

Wasnt looking to do a photoshoot, just to quickly capture the light.


I put everything on the homelink panel incase I didnt like it, that's why I didnt put a switch up there because there wasnt enough room after the two LEDs were mounted.

 

[1loudLX]

Skidoo, I also thought about wiring both map lights to come on with one switch, and the other map light switch to enable the LEDs, but again wanted to make it easily reversible if I didnt like the outcome.

 

[LXBriGuy]

1LoudLX, the red LED's that you installed and are shown in your first pic...they stay on all the time while driving?

Brian

 

[1loudLX]

1LoudLX, the red LED's that you installed and are shown in your first pic...they stay on all the time while driving?

Brian

That's where I had an idea...mount some LEDs in the overhead console like there is in my 911, except bright enough you could actually see instead of it just be mood lighting. I added a small rocker next to the ashtray on constant 12v so I can flip them on anytime, just like the map lights.

nope.

 

[1loudLX]

Here's a clip showing how the rack lights work, and how effective they are. required

Make sure to watch it in HD!

 

[Skidoo]

Skidoo, I also thought about wiring both map lights to come on with one switch, and the other map light switch to enable the LEDs, but again wanted to make it easily reversible if I didnt like the outcome.

Hmmm, that is tempting, after looking at it more, there is not a lot of space up there.

 

[anthonycds]

two connectors, one on each bottom corner. you've got to un-bolt/screw the stuff holding the connectors in place. 4 main screws to hold it in, two on the bottom corners, and two in teh glass above. then two screws/bolts hold the connectors in place.

No pics because I got distracted with trying to remove the cluster itself, not going back in there anytime soon!

I imagine you have to take the steering wheel off for the inst. panel to come through and gain access to the back. Did you use an sst to remove the steering wheel?

 

[1loudLX]

Remove the glass from cluster, and the top steering column cover and you can squeeze it out to the left of the wheel, over the signal/light stalk.