Installing LED fotwell lights

[baby-wilson]

Hey everybody!

I just received a reel of LED lights to put inside my car... I was hoping they would come with some form of instructions... but no...
Here is the ebay link...

5M 300LED Strip Light 3528 SMD Red Waterproof 12V | eBay

I know i definitely want to put them in the front footwells and maybe put a strip of them under the back seat... and maybe a strip in the boot .. but im not sure yet!!


So all I want to know is how do i wire them into my car?
The reel has come with a small amout of black and red wire already attatched, but when I cut the strip, how do i re wire it?
also what am i supposed to wire them to to make them work?
please tell me that this isnt going to be as hard as i imagine.... lol

thanks in advance

[Pickle']

Use the search function.

[kcpwns]

I'd link ya but I'm on my iPhone. Do a quick search mate. There is a how to on installing footwell lights and I know it's good as I used it myself

[baby-wilson]

hey
i just did a bit of a search... it didnt really answer all my questions...
so im guessing the black wire is the earth? and I have to wire the red one into that white (?) cord that is attatched to the knob thing that knows when the door is open and shut...
sorry i dont know the name!!

And since I can cut the LED strip if i need to.. how do i attach more wire to it? the strip is covered by plastic gel stuff to protect it all...

sorry to be a pain...

[baby-wilson]

I cant find any threads that answer my questions...
I just went out and got all the stuff i need to wire it up and I really want to get started I just need someone to help me understand how to do it...
all i need to know is where to attatch the cords, how to rewire the strip once i cut it and if i need to attatch a fuse or anything...

please help...

[Pickle']

Ok...... i done this last week, I ran it off my rear dome light (not sure if you have this) but if you can than there are only 2 wires. If not you will need to work out what is what before you get started.. i can't help there. The fuse you will not need as there is already one for the dome lights so it wont be a problem.

Also i dont believe you can cut the strip up mate.

[kcpwns]

Some strips will have a where to cut line marked...usually after ever third led?
And I solder my wires on the terminals on the strip

[baby-wilson]

yeah it can be cut every 3rd LED i think... I only have one roof light, if that is what you mean...
I measured it all out and the strip isnt long enough to go where i want it without cutting it up... so would i be able to cut the strip and just connect them later with wire...? would that work?
that way i only have to wire it to a power source once...
I want to attatch a switch to it but I also want it to come on when my interior light is on.. is it possible to have both or do i have to choose either the switch or the light?
ok so had a quick look... for the switch all i would have to do is go from the battery, to a switch, then from the switch to the lights? would i need to earth it anywhere?


thanks heaps guys

[baby-wilson]

ok so i have been doing some research... i think i know what i need to do... mostly... if someone could just tell me if im on the right track...?

so i will start by cutting the LED's to the lengths i need and then join all the cut up bits with wire...
and then just attatch the positive and negative wires onto the roof light wires...
so if i understand correct... that is it? and when i open my doors/unlock my car the LED's will come on?

next i will want to add a switch... either an on/off or an on/off/on.. depending on what i can find...
so this is where i get confused... when i wired up the switch for my fog lights... i went from the lights to the switch, and from the switch to the battery... and just earthed each light to the front bumper...
do i follow the same method?
LED's to switch, switch to battery.. do i need an earth? or do i need to attatch any other wires to the switch?
GAH! lol i have searched everywhere and cannot find anything to help me understand this...
please help... i want to finish this project today! lol

[Some541]

If you wire into your roof lights.. You dont really need a switch cause whenever you use the switch for ur roof light the LED's will turn on.

[MAG00]

Sigh..

Your positive needs to be connected to a constant 12v cable, try underneath your headunit area.
Your negative needs to be connected to the negative of an existing light, this way when that light turns on, the LED lights come on.

[baby-wilson]

Why does it need to be connected to a cinstant 12v cable?
I thought I could just hook it up to the interior light...
What cable do u suggest hooking it up to? Do u know the colour? :P

[baby-wilson]

Omggg!!! Lol can some one please help... I have a problem...
So I just wired the red and black cord from the led's to the orange/black and black/blue wires that go to the interior light
But it doesn't matter what setting the interior light is on or if the car is locked
The led's stay on!?!?

Someone... Anyone? Lol

[MAG00]

You need to learn basic electronics and circuits.

The positive needs to be connected to the constant 12v
The negative needs to be connected to the NEGATIVE WIRE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE LIGHTS IN THE INTERIOR LIGHT.

You have a circuit that is constantly on.. If this is too difficult for you, pay someone to do it and never touch your cars electrics again.

[baby-wilson]

Lol... I don't know why I would pay someone to do something I can easily do myself...
I have yet to break my car by doing s#it myself... And if I do it's not that big of a deal... My car isn't that great to begin with... I'm just trying to learn new stuff and have fun while I'm at it... No big deal...

Anyway... It's pretty much done... I'm going to add a switch tomorrow and add some more strips here and there
I can't wait to see them tonight I will post some pics later

[VYMAD]

I don't think this is something you can (quote) "easily do yourself" (unquote) or you would not be asking for all this advice.
The interior lights are negative switched. OH shit I can't be bothered..... just keep searching, as this sort of thing has been covered many times.....................

[MAG00]

Just put your own switch in it and leave it.

[baby-wilson]

well i have fully completed the install with hardly any dramas.. except for picking the wrong cords to connect the LED's to the interior light... how silly of me to follow instructions i read off the internet...

I am going to put a switch in tomorrow and add more strips... its not really bright enough at the moment...

I don't see the big deal with me asking questions... if you dont want to answer them then dont... if you do then try post something helpful?

thanks to everyone for the help I will add some pics in a second...

[baby-wilson]

here are some pics of my new footwell LED lights that i installed today



so the first 2 are just showing what kind of LED's i used...
the 3rd pic is the passenger footwell in the day time and the rest is at night time

like i said before... not quite bright enough... definately in the back... so i am going to go through tomorrow and add more lol

i am SO happy with the outcome though! I finally have the full red car i wanted
next up is the white LED dash conversion... they should arrive any day now from hong kong lol

[anern]

Hey guys was wondering where everyone is going online to get there led lights. Looking around the forum i did not see any website other than LED Lights Manufacturers ,LED lighting Suppliers and Exporter . Does anyone know how good these guys are or if there are any other websites I should be looking at. Thanks

[SUP3RST4R_DJ]

Hey guys was wondering where everyone is going online to get there led lights. Looking around the forum i did not see any website other than LED Lights Manufacturers ,LED lighting Suppliers and Exporter . Does anyone know how good these guys are or if there are any other websites I should be looking at. Thanks

ebay mate, just type in LED strip or whatever it is your after

[mint]

Looks like a Tijuana taxi - Congratulations!!