xB Center Console LED Mod (with pics)
10-13-2003 | 05:08 PM
#1
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sIcKsCiOnS
sIcKsCiOnS
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From: Mtn. View, CA
xB Center Console LED Mod (with pics)
John and I hooked up over the weekend to work on this mod. Well, he actually did all the work. :D Thanks John!!! The LEDs are in (a total of 4 in the pics) but theres got to be a better way of dispersing the light. Something more omni-directional would be great. Perhaps a mini cold cathode tube mounted to the inner white plastic?
Here are the pics.
Here are the pics.
10-13-2003 | 05:14 PM
#2
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cool. good job.
looks good but i have a couple things i am thinking right now...first, some of the colors on the AC control don't let blue light go through it very well, which is why they aren't as bright. also, there are a lot of kinds of LEDs. there are the ones that shine brightly out of the top, but not much out of the sides. there are also kinds that sine out of all anges of the LED. it all depends on how the plastic is shaped, because it can act like a magnifier, shining a super bright, focused beam out of the top, which wouldn't be good for this application. i think it looks good though, and you can always add in more LEDS if you want to, near the parts where it is not bright enough.
looks good but i have a couple things i am thinking right now...first, some of the colors on the AC control don't let blue light go through it very well, which is why they aren't as bright. also, there are a lot of kinds of LEDs. there are the ones that shine brightly out of the top, but not much out of the sides. there are also kinds that sine out of all anges of the LED. it all depends on how the plastic is shaped, because it can act like a magnifier, shining a super bright, focused beam out of the top, which wouldn't be good for this application. i think it looks good though, and you can always add in more LEDS if you want to, near the parts where it is not bright enough.
10-13-2003 | 05:37 PM
#3
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From: Sunnyvale, CA
Looks pretty good M@. I agree that if you could find LED or filament bulbs that disperses the light better, it would be an improvement. I still think it looks cool how it is and I look forward to seeing in the dark in person.
BTW, did you guys get over to Fry's?
BTW, did you guys get over to Fry's?
10-13-2003 | 05:50 PM
#4
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Jim -- Do you think HSC (off Cental Expressway) will have what I need? Better light dispersement would really improve this. We didn't end up going to Fry's.
Eric -- Yeah... adding more LEDs would definitely work as well.
There seems to be quite a bit of space on that inner white plastic piece.
Eric -- Yeah... adding more LEDs would definitely work as well.
There seems to be quite a bit of space on that inner white plastic piece.
10-13-2003 | 10:02 PM
#6
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Could this be the bulb we need? It looks very similar to the A/C panel illumination bulbs we have (except the blue). Does anybody know the exact size of ours?
I found it at the bottom of this page: http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
Peace,
m@
I found it at the bottom of this page: http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
Peace,
m@
10-13-2003 | 10:25 PM
#7
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From: Sunnyvale, CA
Originally Posted by SciFiXB
Could this be the bulb we need? It looks very similar to the A/C panel illumination bulbs we have (except the blue). Does anybody know the exact size of ours?
I found it at the bottom of this page: http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
Peace,
m@
I found it at the bottom of this page: http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
Peace,
m@
I would be willing to bet that those are exactly what you are looking for. That website describes those bulbs as "interior dash bulbs" and they look just like the regular factory bulbs ( except they are blue).
I also noticed that the website has colored dome lights too... does that give you any ideas?
10-13-2003 | 10:29 PM
#8
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From: North Los Angeles County
Back in the Auld Dayes, they made transparent bulb paint that came in a nail-polish-like bottle. You just dabbed a bit on your bulb and it shown whatever color you liked.
JC whipme sold it. They probably still do!
George
JC whipme sold it. They probably still do!
George
10-14-2003 | 12:38 AM
#10
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29
From: San Diego CA.
I did something similar to what you guys did but I made my center console light up red. I also tried to make my tachometer glow red but it turned out pink so I decided to not do it anymore. Ill post a pic soon.
If anybody knows where to get replacement colored bulbs and what size please let me know. Thanks!!!
If anybody knows where to get replacement colored bulbs and what size please let me know. Thanks!!!
10-18-2003 | 07:32 PM
#12
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From: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted by eric m.
cool. good job.
looks good but i have a couple things i am thinking right now...first, some of the colors on the AC control don't let blue light go through it very well, which is why they aren't as bright. also, there are a lot of kinds of LEDs. there are the ones that shine brightly out of the top, but not much out of the sides. there are also kinds that sine out of all anges of the LED. it all depends on how the plastic is shaped, because it can act like a magnifier, shining a super bright, focused beam out of the top, which wouldn't be good for this application. i think it looks good though, and you can always add in more LEDS if you want to, near the parts where it is not bright enough.
looks good but i have a couple things i am thinking right now...first, some of the colors on the AC control don't let blue light go through it very well, which is why they aren't as bright. also, there are a lot of kinds of LEDs. there are the ones that shine brightly out of the top, but not much out of the sides. there are also kinds that sine out of all anges of the LED. it all depends on how the plastic is shaped, because it can act like a magnifier, shining a super bright, focused beam out of the top, which wouldn't be good for this application. i think it looks good though, and you can always add in more LEDS if you want to, near the parts where it is not bright enough.
10-26-2003 | 06:37 AM
#13
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From: Thousand Oaks, CA
How did you guys remove the dash to do this? I've asked people before and they gave me very short instructions. I am sort of slow, since I like to do my things right, not half-___. Can any of you guys give me a very good instruction how?
10-27-2003 | 12:24 PM
#14
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Posts: 14
From: Sacramento, CA
Originally Posted by IceBox
How did you guys remove the dash to do this? I've asked people before and they gave me very short instructions. I am sort of slow, since I like to do my things right, not half-___. Can any of you guys give me a very good instruction how?
This site has step by step picture showing the removal of dash.
I hope this helps!!
10-30-2003 | 06:38 AM
#15
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From: Thousand Oaks, CA
BIG PROBLEM!!
Well, I tried to change my backlight to blue, but it wasn't as easy as i thought. I figured out how to remove the dash, and figured out how to get the 2 bulbs out, but that was the beginning of my problem. I tried to think of a way to make it blue, so i figured i'd paint it. I bought some blue ceramic paint, and i tried painting the bulbs. The paint bloched on and made it so no light could go through, so i even tried painting the little clear domes infront of the bulbs, and the same happened. I then proceeded to try to remove the paint from the bulbs, but in doing so, i ripped the bulb off the socket and was left with only one. I then went to radioshack and found some blue leds that used the same 2 wire method of getting on the socket. I put them in both of them and turned the lights on. I saw the bulbs turn on, and got excited, but a second later, both of the bulbs blew, and again, I was left with nothing, not knowing what to do. I went back to radioshack and tried to see if there was a way to put a resistor on it, but there is no place to put it! I didn't even get a refund! I went to the dealer and ordered two more bulbs and sockets. The guy I know there told me that the best way to paint it is using high temperature motor paint, and he said he and his friends used to paint their bulbs that way all the time. Anyways.... Anybody tried this method, got another GOOD and CERTAIN method, or maybe even know where to find a blue LED bulb that can go with th 12V power without blowing?
Well, I tried to change my backlight to blue, but it wasn't as easy as i thought. I figured out how to remove the dash, and figured out how to get the 2 bulbs out, but that was the beginning of my problem. I tried to think of a way to make it blue, so i figured i'd paint it. I bought some blue ceramic paint, and i tried painting the bulbs. The paint bloched on and made it so no light could go through, so i even tried painting the little clear domes infront of the bulbs, and the same happened. I then proceeded to try to remove the paint from the bulbs, but in doing so, i ripped the bulb off the socket and was left with only one. I then went to radioshack and found some blue leds that used the same 2 wire method of getting on the socket. I put them in both of them and turned the lights on. I saw the bulbs turn on, and got excited, but a second later, both of the bulbs blew, and again, I was left with nothing, not knowing what to do. I went back to radioshack and tried to see if there was a way to put a resistor on it, but there is no place to put it! I didn't even get a refund! I went to the dealer and ordered two more bulbs and sockets. The guy I know there told me that the best way to paint it is using high temperature motor paint, and he said he and his friends used to paint their bulbs that way all the time. Anyways.... Anybody tried this method, got another GOOD and CERTAIN method, or maybe even know where to find a blue LED bulb that can go with th 12V power without blowing?
10-30-2003 | 10:49 AM
#16
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14
From: Sacramento, CA
Yeah, I have the same problem..
able to remove everything but couldn't find the blub for it.
I am thinking if I can take some blue sharpe and paint it....
have you try the dealer to find blue blub yet?
i am going tomorrow.. I will let you know if I find out anything.
I saw this link on the forum somewhere...(dont remember where)
but they seem to have the right bulb for that
http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
it's at the bottom of the page, under the section "INTERIOR DASH COLORED GLASS BULBS"
ps. you know there is a yellow cover covering the bulb right? did you take that off before painting?
able to remove everything but couldn't find the blub for it.
I am thinking if I can take some blue sharpe and paint it....
have you try the dealer to find blue blub yet?
i am going tomorrow.. I will let you know if I find out anything.
I saw this link on the forum somewhere...(dont remember where)
but they seem to have the right bulb for that
http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
it's at the bottom of the page, under the section "INTERIOR DASH COLORED GLASS BULBS"
ps. you know there is a yellow cover covering the bulb right? did you take that off before painting?
10-30-2003 | 03:19 PM
#17
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 55
From: Sunnyvale, CA
I saw this link on the forum somewhere...(dont remember where)
but they seem to have the right bulb for that
http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
it's at the bottom of the page, under the section "INTERIOR DASH COLORED GLASS BULBS"
but they seem to have the right bulb for that
http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm
it's at the bottom of the page, under the section "INTERIOR DASH COLORED GLASS BULBS"
10-30-2003 | 05:28 PM
#18
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sIcKsCiOnS
sIcKsCiOnS
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From: Mtn. View, CA
Originally Posted by IceBox
BIG PROBLEM!!
Well, I tried to change my backlight to blue, but it wasn't as easy as i thought. I figured out how to remove the dash, and figured out how to get the 2 bulbs out, but that was the beginning of my problem. I tried to think of a way to make it blue, so i figured i'd paint it. I bought some blue ceramic paint, and i tried painting the bulbs. The paint bloched on and made it so no light could go through, so i even tried painting the little clear domes infront of the bulbs, and the same happened. I then proceeded to try to remove the paint from the bulbs, but in doing so, i ripped the bulb off the socket and was left with only one. I then went to radioshack and found some blue leds that used the same 2 wire method of getting on the socket. I put them in both of them and turned the lights on. I saw the bulbs turn on, and got excited, but a second later, both of the bulbs blew, and again, I was left with nothing, not knowing what to do. I went back to radioshack and tried to see if there was a way to put a resistor on it, but there is no place to put it! I didn't even get a refund! I went to the dealer and ordered two more bulbs and sockets. The guy I know there told me that the best way to paint it is using high temperature motor paint, and he said he and his friends used to paint their bulbs that way all the time. Anyways.... Anybody tried this method, got another GOOD and CERTAIN method, or maybe even know where to find a blue LED bulb that can go with th 12V power without blowing?
Well, I tried to change my backlight to blue, but it wasn't as easy as i thought. I figured out how to remove the dash, and figured out how to get the 2 bulbs out, but that was the beginning of my problem. I tried to think of a way to make it blue, so i figured i'd paint it. I bought some blue ceramic paint, and i tried painting the bulbs. The paint bloched on and made it so no light could go through, so i even tried painting the little clear domes infront of the bulbs, and the same happened. I then proceeded to try to remove the paint from the bulbs, but in doing so, i ripped the bulb off the socket and was left with only one. I then went to radioshack and found some blue leds that used the same 2 wire method of getting on the socket. I put them in both of them and turned the lights on. I saw the bulbs turn on, and got excited, but a second later, both of the bulbs blew, and again, I was left with nothing, not knowing what to do. I went back to radioshack and tried to see if there was a way to put a resistor on it, but there is no place to put it! I didn't even get a refund! I went to the dealer and ordered two more bulbs and sockets. The guy I know there told me that the best way to paint it is using high temperature motor paint, and he said he and his friends used to paint their bulbs that way all the time. Anyways.... Anybody tried this method, got another GOOD and CERTAIN method, or maybe even know where to find a blue LED bulb that can go with th 12V power without blowing?
Peace,
m@
10-30-2003 | 06:28 PM
#19
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Posts: 618
icebox: how many times have ii posted that you need to put a resistor on an LED or it will blow and people still do it? anyway, 330ohm should work fine. just get an 1/8th watt resistor which is really small, cut the anode side (the longer leg coming off the LED) and then solder the resistor to the LED. the other side of the resistor goes to 12v. if you can't solder you can try twisting the resistor to the lead, but make sure to do it well and tape things up so you don't short anything out. painting florescent bulbs is ghetto. any colored coating you put over the bulb is just going to act as a filter and make the light super dim, which looks cheap. LEDs do not get hot and are the way to go. they also last forever and use almost no current.
let me know if you need more help.
let me know if you need more help.
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