LED Color scheme

Atmosphere · 07-06-2009, 08:17 PM

I'm planning on doing some LED work soon but I'm undecided on what colors I want to put where. I really like blue and (cool) white LEDs, so I'd like to incorporate both into the car, but at the same time keeping some sort of a easy to spot color scheme; perhaps blue switches/gauges/HVAC/etc and white everywhere else. I might be able to get away with a little bit of amber as well, since the cruise control and shifter light within the gauges are both amber. If it helps, the car is black with beige/tan leather interior and gold trim.

I currently have...

Blue LED:
Rearview Mirror lights
Dome lights
Dome Reading lights
Courtesy lights
Cubby light
Switch on left side of the center console
PRND123 light
Gauges (w/ white needles)
Lock and window switches
JVC Arsenal headunit (to be installed soon, has gold emblems)

White LED
Glovebox light
License plate light
Reverse lights

Places awaiting lighting (white?):
Under the dash and front seats (10" LED bars)
In the vents, possibly the two small defroster vents as well
In the center console
In the map holders on each door (possibly the door handles)
In the tweeters
Underglow is a possibility, despite being illegal here

Poorly done illustration:

Any comments, ideas, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Toxin13 · 07-06-2009, 08:54 PM

Hmm, never thought about hitting that extra place under the head unit, good idea! I'm going to be doing my vents and that overhead compartment with LEDs as soon as the package gets here (damn you USPS and your holidays).

Might be interesting if you got some light inside the center console lid.

Atmosphere · 07-06-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxin13

Hmm, never thought about hitting that extra place under the head unit, good idea! I'm going to be doing my vents and that overhead compartment with LEDs as soon as the package gets here (damn you USPS and your holidays).

Could you post a picture of your overhead unit? I think I've only seen one briefly before.

jrim · 07-06-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxin13

Hmm, never thought about hitting that extra place under the head unit, good idea!

Yeah, good idea, I'm totally jacking it soon

Psyfox · 07-06-2009, 09:47 PM

I got a question for ya...where the fu** can I get replacement instrument twist lock lights for the back seat turn-on lights (that you would use for reading and such if you were in the back seat)?...the color I'd like specifically would be green.

I ordered 2 different sets from superbrightleds.com and both of the twist locks were too small.

Atmosphere · 07-07-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyfox

I got a question for ya...where the fu** can I get replacement instrument twist lock lights for the back seat turn-on lights (that you would use for reading and such if you were in the back seat)?...the color I'd like specifically would be green.

I ordered 2 different sets from superbrightleds.com and both of the twist locks were too small.

They should just be 194's, both mine (2000) and a friends (2001) had the same bulbs.

Psyfox · 07-07-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atmosphere

They should just be 194's, both mine (2000) and a friends (2001) had the same bulbs.

In that case...how do I get the bulb out of those twist locks (without breaking the locks :P)? Or what do you suggest I do?

Atmosphere · 07-07-2009, 07:24 PM

Just use a knife or a small screw driver and pry the contacts off of the twist locks. It takes a bit of work and you may not get your original 194's out intact, but once they're out just bend the contacts down on the new bulbs, pop 'em in, and bend the contacts over the edge of the locks to complete the circuit.

clutch1 · 07-07-2009, 11:45 PM

Here's a pic of the top cubby

among other things :P

Atmosphere · 07-07-2009, 11:48 PM

Wow, awesome pics! I wonder if it would be possible to incorporate the roof cubby into an Alero with a sunroof. Maybe relocate the switch?

Psyfox · 07-10-2009, 02:27 AM

Nvm, I found a way to do it.

lonnie · 07-10-2009, 07:56 AM

Wow I'm surprised Cherry hasn't chimed in on this one....What are you going to do for switching?

Atmosphere · 07-11-2009, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonnie

Wow I'm surprised Cherry hasn't chimed in on this one....What are you going to do for switching?

Right now I have a single switch (w/ blue LED, from Oznium) on the driver's side of the center console, all it does is turn off the lighting under the dash and seats. I was thinking about converting it to a 'master' switch that cuts power to all of the lighting, since it's out of reach of any passengers and is otherwise invisible to anyone but the driver.

From there I'd like to have a couple next to the cigarette lighter under the HVAC controls, the perhaps a couple next to the shifter and under the e-brake. Not sure what other good places would be, but I'm considering having at least one or two of the switches be white and/or amber to differentiate function.

clutch1 · 07-11-2009, 02:27 AM

I've got 2.. the "legal" and "illegal" switches, the lighting they control correspond to the names, lol.

Psyfox · 07-11-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atmosphere

Right now I have a single switch (w/ blue LED, from Oznium) on the driver's side of the center console, all it does is turn off the lighting under the dash and seats. I was thinking about converting it to a 'master' switch that cuts power to all of the lighting, since it's out of reach of any passengers and is otherwise invisible to anyone but the driver.

I got 2 of those rocker LED switches from Oznium as well (green) and am using one currently for my footwells and other interior lighting I might want to add, and the other is going to be for all my undercar lighting.

So that's what I did, lol. I'll have pictures soon.

lonnie · 07-11-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atmosphere

Right now I have a single switch (w/ blue LED, from Oznium) on the driver's side of the center console, all it does is turn off the lighting under the dash and seats. I was thinking about converting it to a 'master' switch that cuts power to all of the lighting, since it's out of reach of any passengers and is otherwise invisible to anyone but the driver.

From there I'd like to have a couple next to the cigarette lighter under the HVAC controls, the perhaps a couple next to the shifter and under the e-brake. Not sure what other good places would be, but I'm considering having at least one or two of the switches be white and/or amber to differentiate function.

You may want to ask cherry about his switching setup because he encompassed all his lighting into a single rotary switch utilizing a relay pack, eliminating the need to have several switches. I've been playing around with designing an electronic version...but I haven't gotten serious with it yet.

clutch1 · 07-11-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonnie

You may want to ask cherry about his switching setup because he encompassed all his lighting into a single rotary switch utilizing a relay pack, eliminating the need to have several switches. I've been playing around with designing an electronic version...but I haven't gotten serious with it yet.

True that, he posted a really good schematic (I forgot who he said drew it up), and it's a really smart setup. VERY good if you're thinking of doing the entire interior in multiple colors and don't wanna spend $50 for a million color controller.

PappaSmurf · 07-11-2009, 11:38 PM

Clutch,
I believe Cherry was the one that came up with the Idea as well as the write up. I could be wrong tho. However did you install gauges on your alero when you had it, or are those just LEDs on the a-pillar?
-Smurf-

lonnie · 07-12-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clutch1

True that, he posted a really good schematic (I forgot who he said drew it up), and it's a really smart setup. VERY good if you're thinking of doing the entire interior in multiple colors and don't wanna spend $50 for a million color controller.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PappaSmurf

Clutch,
I believe Cherry was the one that came up with the Idea as well as the write up. I could be wrong tho. However did you install gauges on your alero when you had it, or are those just LEDs on the a-pillar?
-Smurf-

Actually I did the drawing based on Cherry's idea..but I've been thinking about going electronic with the switching being that we are dealing with low voltages and current.

PappaSmurf · 07-12-2009, 01:53 AM

Lonnie, I thought you did the draw up for the third brake light that cherry took from you??? Maybe I am confused. LOL
-Smurf-