NEW Interior LED Mod Thread
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
these particular LEDs from Oznium are so awesome, there is so much potential! I wish I could have gotten all 4 housings retrofitted, I was actually just one strip short of being able to do all 4 of them. I decided to hold off until I buy some more LEDs. but these things are so bright, the light is even, it doesn't have that dot pattern effect that alot of LEDs have, and they're extremely compact, you can fit them almost anywhere. they come in a standard version and a waterproof version so you can use them inside and out. the one and only downside I can see to them is that they aren't very pretty, I think I would only use them in places where the LED strip itself is hidden, and all you can see is the light. only indirect lighting...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 9
From: McCall Idaho
sahweet!!
I had an idea and brought out the soldering iron. I decided to make some use of a few extra LED strips I had laying around from my floor lights mod.
unfortunately I only had enough LEDs to do 3 of them, so I did my original 2 housings and left the 2 I added for later. I guess I'll have to make another order from oznium!
what do you think?
unfortunately I only had enough LEDs to do 3 of them, so I did my original 2 housings and left the 2 I added for later. I guess I'll have to make another order from oznium!
what do you think?
That looks amazing!
I've installed blue LEDs in my stock housings and decided I needed a more uniform and brighter pattern. WAS considering another set of stock housings installed in the area of the hatch hinges.NOW, I have a few questions about the details of YOUR LED strip mod.
*What is the part number of the LED strips?
<colors available, length, $$$...>
*How were you tying into power for your forward/wheel hump set?
<stock lights have the plastic clip/housing connector...>
Nice work!
Plagerism is the sincerest form of flattery...
...I'm all over this one!
Aloha
Michael
BTW, this has become one of the best lighting reference threads ever!!!
Last edited by mtndv8; Sep 10, 2008 at 08:59 PM. Reason: content
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 9
From: McCall Idaho
one down...
OK, I found the surface mount strips at Oznium. (SMD Light Bars) I'm gonna give blue a try in your <mcgilles> stock housing configuration. I like that look. Just looks clean to me.
The hard part is waiting for the order to arrive...
Thanks Again,
Michael
The hard part is waiting for the order to arrive...
Thanks Again,
Michael
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
That looks amazing!
I've installed blue LEDs in my stock housings and decided I needed a more uniform and brighter pattern. WAS considering another set of stock housings installed in the area of the hatch hinges.NOW, I have a few questions about the details of YOUR LED strip mod.
*What is the part number of the LED strips?
<colors available, length, $$$...>
*How were you tying into power for your forward/wheel hump set?
<stock lights have the plastic clip/housing connector...>
Nice work!
Plagerism is the sincerest form of flattery...
...I'm all over this one!
Aloha
Michael
BTW, this has become one of the best reference threads ever!!!
They are the ribbon LED strips from Oznium: http://www.oznium.com/led-ribbon
available in blue, green, red, warm white, neutral white, cool white, yellow, and RGB. I used the Neutral white ones on my interior lights and cool white on the exterior white. they are sold by the foot, you have to solder your own leads on them. they are sold by the foot for $12.49/ft. RGB is a little more expensive. the strips have indicators on it where you can cut it so you can make it the right length, 2 segments (6 LEDs) fits perfectly across the lens, so I used 2 rows of that.
for the connection to the 2 new housings I added I didn't use the stock connector at all. with adding the new LED lights to the housing you have wires coming out, just run them strait to the two existing housings and splice them in.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
See my thread for interior LED replacement bulbs: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2127665
Jhonathan
http://www.jwmotoring.com
Jhonathan
http://www.jwmotoring.com
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 9
From: McCall Idaho
Oh, Damn...
Thanks I picked up an extra rear wiring harness from the big auction I thought might come in handy for things like this. I might still see what I can do with it...
Big oops; I ordered the less/non-flexible strips. :o
I'll give those a look, they could work the same for this purpose. I'll know in 2-3 days
They look similar enough, if not I'll figure out somewhere else, I'm sure.
Certainly enough ideas floating around this thread!
Thanks for the link and the great write up/pics!!
Aloha
Michael
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 631
Likes: 7
From: Nashville TN
Does anyone know about the little light on the bottom of the review mirror that is normally on during driving that shines down on the shifter area? It looks really yellow and is on the bottom passenger side of the mirror. I'd like to replace this light to be more white/blue but not sure of what type bulb.
thanks.
thanks.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Does anyone know about the little light on the bottom of the review mirror that is normally on during driving that shines down on the shifter area? It looks really yellow and is on the bottom passenger side of the mirror. I'd like to replace this light to be more white/blue but not sure of what type bulb.
thanks.
thanks.
FYI Orange is the weakest LED in terms of light output (mcd rating), Blue and White are two of the strongest. IMO replacing the stock one with White or Blue might be an anoyance when driving, kinda like having a dome light on.
My current mirror, an Electrochromatic, customized by my friend Larry has a Red LED for the helper light and it's substantially brighter then the stocker. Being Red it isn't glaring so not a problem driving at night with it...
Tim
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 9
From: McCall Idaho
The Orange helper LED is 5mm I believe, you have to take apart the mirror to get at it. I attempted it once and pretty much cosmetically ruined my mirror!
FYI Orange is the weakest LED in terms of light output (mcd rating), Blue and White are two of the strongest. IMO replacing the stock one with White or Blue might be an anoyance when driving, kinda like having a dome light on.
My current mirror, an Electrochromatic, customized by my friend Larry has a Red LED for the helper light and it's substantially brighter then the stocker. Being Red it isn't glaring so not a problem driving at night with it...
Tim
FYI Orange is the weakest LED in terms of light output (mcd rating), Blue and White are two of the strongest. IMO replacing the stock one with White or Blue might be an anoyance when driving, kinda like having a dome light on.
My current mirror, an Electrochromatic, customized by my friend Larry has a Red LED for the helper light and it's substantially brighter then the stocker. Being Red it isn't glaring so not a problem driving at night with it...
Tim
Brudda Tim,
Would you or friend Larry know if there's room to put a resistor in the circuit to lower the voltage/brightness? enquiring minds...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I would think so, I never got my standard mirror apart to find out I only tore up the outer case around the seam, a heat gun and a spare mirror to experiment on would be nice! Hopefully Larry will chime in here, like an idiot I forgot his Screen name, Larrythe2nd or something...
Tim
Tim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
As Tim has stated it is a 5mm Amber LED, and yes if you changed to a different color LED you could put a resistor in line with it, It's actually soldered to a wire and not to a circuit board so it would be very easy to cut one of the leads and solder a resistor or even a small variable resistor in line. You would want to test it before you installed it with a 12v source because removing and installing the mirror is a bit of a pain.
Last edited by ljthe2nd; Nov 16, 2008 at 02:53 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 21
From: centennial colorado
electrochromatic mirror
I've swapped leds in several of the newer mirrors but never had to tear one apart to do the helper led. Does the case seperate easily or no?In your opinion, is it worth changing the helper led?I've never done one.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have one of Larry's modded Electrochromatic mirrors with the Red Helper light and also a Red power on indicator as well as the maplights of course. The Red helper is brighter then the Orange but is not distracting while driving at night, I like it alot. The power on indicator is a little too bright, for me anyway someday I'll tone it down...
Larry obviously got the Auto Dim mirror apart without marking up the case at all. When I attempted taking a base mirror (NON Auto Dimming) apart I screwed the case up pretty badly. It was out of a Blazer and I had got it for the lenses so no biggy. It wasn't glued but I couldn't get the clips to release without applying destructive force!!!! So unless there's a secret trick or tool it isn't worth it IMO
By the way. have you tried my trick for using Blue or White LEDs in the LED Arrays?
Tim
PS When are you hooking up with Michael?
Larry obviously got the Auto Dim mirror apart without marking up the case at all. When I attempted taking a base mirror (NON Auto Dimming) apart I screwed the case up pretty badly. It was out of a Blazer and I had got it for the lenses so no biggy. It wasn't glued but I couldn't get the clips to release without applying destructive force!!!!
So unless there's a secret trick or tool it isn't worth it IMOBy the way. have you tried my trick for using Blue or White LEDs in the LED Arrays?
Tim
PS When are you hooking up with Michael?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
No I haven't, remind me what we talked about, (you know CRS disease) I remember talking to you about it but I forget the solution we talked about. (I think I have an extra mirror laying around somewhere that I could play with)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,126
Likes: 19
From: Streamwood illinois
are these led's polarized in any way? I tried to put one in and I think i hurt something because now it is dim and my stock light will no longer work 
Tim you have the underhood light for 98-04's listed and a 516, it's actually a 561. Autolumination.com sell different LED's in the form of a 561 but they are not direct replacements they way they come, because the orientation of the LED's will be 90 degrees off when you hook the rigid loops of the LED onto the brass tabs in the light the LED's will face to the side instead of out. I decided to solder one in place. To do this you will have to remove the light from the hood. It's held on by 2 rivets. You can either drill out the rivet or use a door panel removal tool or a flat blade screwdriver and pry it out. If you pry it out just go slow and be careful and it will pop right out. Then just remove the rivets from the light and your all set. When you go to put it back in just put some wall anchors like you use in drywall in the holes in the hood and use screws and washers to hold it in place
I apologize for the blurry pic.
To solder the 561 LED into the underhood light just set it on the brass tabs, (I bent the tabs to help it sit flat) and solder it in place. I also put some automotive glue (Goop) on the solder joints but this is not really necessary just a little added insurance that it wont come apart with the vibration of being under the hood.
Once completed this is now quite a bit brighter than the original under hood light. Its almost bright enough to work by in the dark, almost but not quite. But if your stranded by the side of the road, this light will be much appreciated over the stock light.
I apologize for the blurry pic.
To solder the 561 LED into the underhood light just set it on the brass tabs, (I bent the tabs to help it sit flat) and solder it in place. I also put some automotive glue (Goop) on the solder joints but this is not really necessary just a little added insurance that it wont come apart with the vibration of being under the hood.
Once completed this is now quite a bit brighter than the original under hood light. Its almost bright enough to work by in the dark, almost but not quite. But if your stranded by the side of the road, this light will be much appreciated over the stock light.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
T_Vert, the only think I can think of is maybe you somehow damaged the switch that is in the round brass part inside the light bulb housing. Single LED's have a positive and a negative (and will not work if wired up backwards) but these arrays like the LED 561 replacement do not, it does not matter what way you put them in. You can test the 561 LED replacement that you have soldered in by getting a 12v source (you can just run long wires from the battery if you have to) and connect the positive to one side of the 561 LED replacement that you soldered into the light bulb housing, and connect the negative to the other, if it lights bright it is OK if not its bad.
Last edited by ljthe2nd; Nov 17, 2008 at 04:24 AM.