Currently, the rear reading maps do the following:

(1) Turn on automatically when the Courtesy Light is triggered in the car (Doors Open, unlock etc)
(2) Can turn on manually by flicking the switch.

In both cases the same globe is used. Of course, when reading a map, we always want that light to be white. But some of us have Blue globes everywhere (main courtesy lamp, footwell lamps, Door Courtesy lamps etc) so it becomes desirable to have the Rear Map Lights come on Blue when on Courtesy, and White when manually selected.

I've had a bit of a look at how these things are hooked up.

(1) The middle pin takes +ve power from the Battery Saver supply.
(2) Pin with the Black cable is a permanent GND
(3) Pin that's Black with Blue line is Courtesy Line - which provides GND when courtesy is active.

So all I need to do is retain the function of the +ve to GND function for the white light, but disconnect that +ve to Courtesy operation and bridge that with a Blue LED Holder.

Changing the existing Lamp in these things to a white LED might be hard, because they are not tip-positive like most 12V bayonette globes, but tip negative. An LED can only work one way, and I think they are mostly tip positive. More thought required here....

Anyway, the wiring for this job is the easy part. The hard part is finding the space to put another Globe so that it can be seen when Courtesy is activated.

I've already prototyped this with a T10 holder - and it works as desired with filament bulbs in each holder. But the T10 ain't going to fit in the available space - not even sitting free behind everything.

Some thought will be required on that one too.


Lukeyson

A pic of my protoype. I had a spare couple of these to try it on. The ygo cheaply on eBay.

What have I done?

Well, I've tacked positive onto the centre pin (which applies to the outer cylinder of the bayonette globe).

For the courtesy line though - I have pulled out the piece of metal that provides the contact for the switch. I was hoping to twist it out sideways, but the metal snapped right at the plastic. For other's I'd suggest cuting it to a length that makes it easy to solder, and then pulling out the unwanted parts.

So now the switch only turns on the internal white light when switched manually. It's the external globe holder that now turns on with the Courtesy lights.

So i shall look around and experiement with different sized globe holders to see what it appropriate. Something small but bright will be the key.


Lukeyson

 

 

Attachments:

File comment: Prototype IMG_2731_WEB.jpg [ 82.15 KiB | Viewed 194 times ]

Hmm. I've been on a hunt for some little bulb holders - for fitting a Blue LED. The T10 in that image is just so enormous it's not funny.

I went looking for smaller T5 holders with absolutely no luck whatsoever.

So down to something a little more custom. Jaycar have an SMD LED strip the splits into individual blocks of 3. Perhaps the right size, bit I suspect at only 600mcd per LED that it might not work as an interior light.

But the price! Sheesh. That's not $45 worth of lighting to me....
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... &SUBCATID=

So I guess i have to do something more custom. I'm thinking of making up something based on 15Kmcd 5mm LEDs.

Significantly cheaper...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/50PCS-8mm-15Kmcd ... dZViewItem


Lukeyson

Going to give these a try. A single 5cm strip should fit, although at 8mm wide I will struggle to get it sideways along the oval outer edge as I appear to only have about 6mm of width, but have more than 5cm length.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :IT&ih=004


Lukeyson

And these for the map-reading lights when the kids switch them on manually:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :IT&ih=011


Lukeyson

mate looks good

great idea too

keep us posted on how u go and take pics/info and make a docco im sure a fair few members would love this!

and by the looks of the lighst they are the same as teh AU lamps

I would if I could get my bloody eyes away from your posts....


Lukeyson

hehehe

what will happen if the switch is on and a door is opened? Like obviously both lamps will come on, but will this create overloading issues or heat issues?

If you swap to all LED's it wont be an issue im sure but thats just my random 2c

Yeah, they're LEDS so the powr consumption is much less. I must admit I haven't done the sums, so let's do it now.

Current globe is 6W, so at 12V that's 0.5A.

For the Strips, it's 0.1A per 25cm, so for 5cm it's 0.025A because each 3-LED strip is in Parallel.

For the Bright white flank LED, they are rated at 1W, so that's 0.08A for a grand total of around 0.11A

Check!


Lukeyson

Last edited by Lukeyson on Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

OK, mod done, suprisingly easy and works well.

I did have a little arcing if I wasn't careful putting the thing in, and the LED strip sits in loose since I didn't wiring in a mini 2-pin plug (possible future improvement).

So firsty, I pulled out a pin from the light itself, and cut it. pictures attached.


Lukeyson

 

 

Attachments:

File comment: Use a small flatblade screwdriver to lever out the bottom part of the pin. This is the part that otherwise makes contact with the switch. IMG_2845_WEB.jpg [ 37.22 KiB | Viewed 172 times ]

File comment: Cut the pin so about 3-5mm of the pin is exposed for soldering IMG_2846_WEB.jpg [ 31.92 KiB | Viewed 162 times ]

File comment: Pin ready for soldering IMG_2847_WEB.jpg [ 29.38 KiB | Viewed 134 times ]

Now for the lights....

 

 

Attachments:

File comment: Solder wires to the terminals - +ve to the large centre pin, GND to the newly exposed pin. It's worth scratching the metal to get a better solder bond. IMG_2835_WEB.jpg [ 29.5 KiB | Viewed 156 times ]

File comment: All hooked up to the strip, ready to go. IMG_2833_WEB.jpg [ 35.71 KiB | Viewed 162 times ]

File comment: Courtesy Lights on IMG_2837_WEB.jpg [ 27.43 KiB | Viewed 150 times ]

File comment: Both Lights On IMG_2840_WEB.jpg [ 24.14 KiB | Viewed 156 times ]

Now for what it looks like -

 

 

Attachments:

File comment: Blue light on - with flash IMG_2841_WEB.jpg [ 26 KiB | Viewed 165 times ]

File comment: Blue light on - no flash IMG_2842_WEB.jpg [ 26.81 KiB | Viewed 145 times ]

File comment: Both lights on IMG_2843_WEB.jpg [ 26.53 KiB | Viewed 142 times ]

And a short Video.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=32536259


Lukeyson

Those strips are awesome. Ive used loads of them for all different things.