| Jonnyfilmboy | 05-17-2005 12:32 AM |
Window Switch Lights Mod Teaser
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Just wanted to let you guys know what I am currently working on:
[img]http://www.lightstormimages.com/gallery/cars/nasioc/window_switch/switch-01.jpg[/img]
Still have some work to do on it, so as soon as it is done to my liking, I will post a write up.
Cheeers! :)
[img]http://www.lightstormimages.com/gallery/cars/nasioc/window_switch/switch-01.jpg[/img]
Still have some work to do on it, so as soon as it is done to my liking, I will post a write up.
Cheeers! :)
| pdippel | 05-17-2005 12:47 AM |
I'll be waiting!!! Looks cool.
| joe r | 05-17-2005 12:53 AM |
*um yes subscribe*
:banana: :banana: :banana:
joe r
:banana: :banana: :banana:
joe r
| leoflc | 05-17-2005 01:06 AM |
Cool! I hope it's not too hard to do.
bty, you got some awesome photos on your site!
What camera did you use?
bty, you got some awesome photos on your site!
What camera did you use?
| Evanism | 05-17-2005 07:25 PM |
Love it!
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I'd like to do this too. My old car (pre subie days) had that AND lighted door handle recesses. I'll definately try it and might try to add the handle lights, too
| Jonnyfilmboy | 05-17-2005 08:39 PM |
It's a relatively simple mod. The quick nutshell is hooking LED's up to the power for the window switches, drilling some holes with a Dremel and shoving those LED's into the switches. But I'll have a full write up later with pics and details about costs, etc.
My only hitch so far is finding a way to dim the led's. Right now, they are too bright. I asked the guy at Radio Shack for an easy way to dim LED's, and it kind of went like this:
ME: "I'm looking for an easy way to dim some LED's I'm installing on a 12 volt application."
HIM: "For a car, huh. Is it for a domestic or foreign car?"
ME: "Um, it doesn't matter. I'm just wondering how to dim LED's in general. It's going into my Subaru if you are wondering."
HIM: "Oh a domestic vehicle, huh? I know a place you can call and they can order you the part for your car."
ME: "Uh yeah. Anyway, I'll be over here."
Leoflc, thanks for the nice compliment. I use a few different cameras, but mostly the Nikon D1 family (D1X and D100) of digital cameras. Some lenses I am shooting with are 24-85mm AFS, 70-300mm, 50mm f/1.8, 105mm Macro, and a new 12-24mm DX AFS. But my favorite is probably my 50mm f/1.8. It only cost about a hundred bucks and I have gotten some of my best shots ever with it! The only good deal in photography. Everything else is overpriced. I'm a photographer for a living, so no, I'm not rich.
My only hitch so far is finding a way to dim the led's. Right now, they are too bright. I asked the guy at Radio Shack for an easy way to dim LED's, and it kind of went like this:
ME: "I'm looking for an easy way to dim some LED's I'm installing on a 12 volt application."
HIM: "For a car, huh. Is it for a domestic or foreign car?"
ME: "Um, it doesn't matter. I'm just wondering how to dim LED's in general. It's going into my Subaru if you are wondering."
HIM: "Oh a domestic vehicle, huh? I know a place you can call and they can order you the part for your car."
ME: "Uh yeah. Anyway, I'll be over here."
Leoflc, thanks for the nice compliment. I use a few different cameras, but mostly the Nikon D1 family (D1X and D100) of digital cameras. Some lenses I am shooting with are 24-85mm AFS, 70-300mm, 50mm f/1.8, 105mm Macro, and a new 12-24mm DX AFS. But my favorite is probably my 50mm f/1.8. It only cost about a hundred bucks and I have gotten some of my best shots ever with it! The only good deal in photography. Everything else is overpriced. I'm a photographer for a living, so no, I'm not rich.
| markadopolus | 05-17-2005 08:55 PM |
sweet. That is one of the things I wish subaru designed better.
| kheovnien | 05-18-2005 01:35 AM |
[QUOTE=Jonnyfilmboy]
ME: "Uh yeah. Anyway, I'll be over here."
[/QUOTE]
..nice...and i'll be watching this thread. looking forward to the comparison between the color-match with the gauges. looks sweet so far.
ME: "Uh yeah. Anyway, I'll be over here."
[/QUOTE]
..nice...and i'll be watching this thread. looking forward to the comparison between the color-match with the gauges. looks sweet so far.
| kunfuzion | 05-18-2005 01:42 AM |
whoa, those are bright
| smdandb2 | 05-18-2005 10:46 AM |
What do they look like in the day? I was looking at my switches yesterday, and I envisioned a hole in each switch that let dirt and other debis in.
| willguidry | 05-18-2005 11:01 AM |
[QUOTE=smdandb2]What do they look like in the day? I was looking at my switches yesterday, and I envisioned a hole in each switch that let dirt and other debis in.[/QUOTE]
The holes are obviously inside the housing...the LEDS are in there, not the outside.
The holes are obviously inside the housing...the LEDS are in there, not the outside.
| jam69007 | 05-18-2005 11:07 AM |
a friend did something similar to his '02 wrx. he replaced all of the plastic covers inside his gauge cluster, stock headunit, and center console. now it is red instad of green.
to dim them you could tap into the dimmer switch for the dash. you would only have to run a small gauge wire up into the steering column.
to dim them you could tap into the dimmer switch for the dash. you would only have to run a small gauge wire up into the steering column.
| audio1der | 05-18-2005 11:14 AM |
Why dont you just use resistors to dim the lights?
| Drowner | 05-18-2005 11:17 AM |
[QUOTE=audio1der]Why dont you just use resistors to dim the lights?[/QUOTE]
A resistor would be good if you want to dim them permanently. I'm not sure what he is looking for, but a potentiometer would let you change the brightness on the fly.
A resistor would be good if you want to dim them permanently. I'm not sure what he is looking for, but a potentiometer would let you change the brightness on the fly.
| audio1der | 05-18-2005 11:22 AM |
Right but using a potentiometer would just be a waste of time IMO. Just using a resistor to find the correct brightness would just make sense. Dont they dim with the dash anyway? If you really need to have a dial to dim/brighten your window/lock switches you are the (my) deffinition of a ricer :p .[QUOTE=Drowner]A resistor would be good if you want to dim them permanently. I'm not sure what he is looking for, but a potentiometer would let you change the brightness on the fly.[/QUOTE]
| kessler89 | 05-18-2005 10:21 PM |
that looks sweet i'll have to keep an eye on this thread :banana:
| Kurokaze | 05-18-2005 10:42 PM |
<Fingers Tented>Excellent...</Fingers Tented>
| npreston | 05-18-2005 11:36 PM |
i'm interested........
| smdandb2 | 05-18-2005 11:52 PM |
[QUOTE=willguidry]The holes are obviously inside the housing...the LEDS are in there, not the outside.[/QUOTE]
I don't think you understand what I mean. He had to drill a hole in the switch itself so the light would shine thru. I am wondering what his look like during the day. I know the light is UNDER the switch, but it would be pointless if there was nowhere for the light to go.
I know on my 02, there are no provisions for lighting, so everything would have to be created.
I don't think you understand what I mean. He had to drill a hole in the switch itself so the light would shine thru. I am wondering what his look like during the day. I know the light is UNDER the switch, but it would be pointless if there was nowhere for the light to go.
I know on my 02, there are no provisions for lighting, so everything would have to be created.
| jmlmr2 | 05-19-2005 10:09 AM |
I thought so too (that holes would need to be drilled for the light to shine through), but on my '04, I looked yesterday while the sun was shining directly on the light switches, and there is definately a translucent area on each switch corresponding to where you see light coming through in his "prototype" picture. Not sure what the switches are like on other years, but I haven't noticed any difference between the switches on my '04 and my wife's 03...who knows.
| wrxedya | 05-19-2005 10:38 AM |
thats what i thought too i think years after '02 have the little translucent pieces but my '02 definately doesnt.....
andrew
andrew
| IntraWRX | 05-19-2005 10:53 AM |
that looks so sick...i can't wait till you're finished!
| smdandb2 | 05-19-2005 11:06 AM |
[QUOTE=wrxedya]thats what i thought too i think years after '02 have the little translucent pieces but my '02 definately doesnt.....
andrew[/QUOTE]
Damn! I wonder how much that switch cluster costs at the stealership...
andrew[/QUOTE]
Damn! I wonder how much that switch cluster costs at the stealership...
| wrxedya | 05-19-2005 11:17 AM |
[QUOTE=smdandb2]Damn! I wonder how much that switch cluster costs at the stealership...[/QUOTE]
prolly like $eleventy million$
andrew
prolly like $eleventy million$
andrew
| WRXRgr | 05-19-2005 05:50 PM |
[QUOTE=Jonnyfilmboy]
My only hitch so far is finding a way to dim the led's. Right now, they are too bright. I asked the guy at Radio Shack for an easy way to dim LED's[/QUOTE]
Heh...Radio Shacks are no longer staffed by electronics guys, for the most part!
A resistor is what is needed...I'm thinking something in the 100K range, off the top of my head...or was it 50K...hmmm. I installed a rectangular LED in the bezel ring of my cheap JC Whitney boost gauge, and it works like a champ. A lot will depend on the specifics of the application, as well as personal taste. I'd use a one or two watt and run em all off that single resistor--more than enough to dissipate heat safely and mechanically strong.
If you can get hold of a potentiometer, rig it up to the LEDs and your car battery...when you find a brightness you like, read the resistance off the pot with your meter; sub in a resistor for that value for the actual circuit. It's a five minute process, if you have a pot in the right range, and a meter.
EDIT: My memory was WAY off :eek: ...good info on figuring dropping resistor values [URL=http://members.misty.com/don/ledd.html][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=DarkOrange]at this link[/COLOR][/COLOR].[/URL] ....and more info [URL=http://www.theledlight.com/technical.html][COLOR=Red]here[/COLOR].[/URL]
My only hitch so far is finding a way to dim the led's. Right now, they are too bright. I asked the guy at Radio Shack for an easy way to dim LED's[/QUOTE]
Heh...Radio Shacks are no longer staffed by electronics guys, for the most part!
A resistor is what is needed...I'm thinking something in the 100K range, off the top of my head...or was it 50K...hmmm. I installed a rectangular LED in the bezel ring of my cheap JC Whitney boost gauge, and it works like a champ. A lot will depend on the specifics of the application, as well as personal taste. I'd use a one or two watt and run em all off that single resistor--more than enough to dissipate heat safely and mechanically strong.
If you can get hold of a potentiometer, rig it up to the LEDs and your car battery...when you find a brightness you like, read the resistance off the pot with your meter; sub in a resistor for that value for the actual circuit. It's a five minute process, if you have a pot in the right range, and a meter.
EDIT: My memory was WAY off :eek: ...good info on figuring dropping resistor values [URL=http://members.misty.com/don/ledd.html][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=DarkOrange]at this link[/COLOR][/COLOR].[/URL] ....and more info [URL=http://www.theledlight.com/technical.html][COLOR=Red]here[/COLOR].[/URL]
| WRXRgr | 05-19-2005 05:52 PM |
[QUOTE=smdandb2]Damn! I wonder how much that switch cluster costs at the stealership...[/QUOTE]
Keep an eye for salvage-type WRX parts (any parts, doors, hood, etc) on eBay, and contact the seller...see if he'll pull that part for ya---it's VERY easy to remove.
Keep an eye for salvage-type WRX parts (any parts, doors, hood, etc) on eBay, and contact the seller...see if he'll pull that part for ya---it's VERY easy to remove.
| pdippel | 05-20-2005 11:42 AM |
Where did you get the LEDs? Anyone want to give a brief lesson on LEDs so I know what kind/voltage/etc to buy?
| erip | 05-20-2005 05:49 PM |
only slightly related...
my buddy's audi has the auto type switch for all the windows so the all can can go all the way down without holding them like the drivers window on a WRX.
so here's my dumb question...
can i just replace current switches with the auto ones and have the one click effect for all windows?
my buddy's audi has the auto type switch for all the windows so the all can can go all the way down without holding them like the drivers window on a WRX.
so here's my dumb question...
can i just replace current switches with the auto ones and have the one click effect for all windows?
| LYHTSPD | 05-21-2005 12:49 AM |
[QUOTE=erip]only slightly related...
my buddy's audi has the auto type switch for all the windows so the all can can go all the way down without holding them like the drivers window on a WRX.
so here's my dumb question...
can i just replace current switches with the auto ones and have the one click effect for all windows?[/QUOTE]
No, you would have to replace the entire switch panel. I took mine apart tonight and none of the circuitry is there to make all the switches full auto. And you can't just change out one switch because they are all together in a single unit.
The led lights do look REALLY easy to do though. The only one that will not light up is the window lock button. The graphic is laser etched to be transparent, but there does not seem to be any easy way to pipe the light into the switch cover. You may be able to drill a small hole directly below the button itself, but I am not sure if that will interfere with the switch action itself. I guess I will have to look at it a little more.
my buddy's audi has the auto type switch for all the windows so the all can can go all the way down without holding them like the drivers window on a WRX.
so here's my dumb question...
can i just replace current switches with the auto ones and have the one click effect for all windows?[/QUOTE]
No, you would have to replace the entire switch panel. I took mine apart tonight and none of the circuitry is there to make all the switches full auto. And you can't just change out one switch because they are all together in a single unit.
The led lights do look REALLY easy to do though. The only one that will not light up is the window lock button. The graphic is laser etched to be transparent, but there does not seem to be any easy way to pipe the light into the switch cover. You may be able to drill a small hole directly below the button itself, but I am not sure if that will interfere with the switch action itself. I guess I will have to look at it a little more.
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 01:39 AM |
just took a look at my 02 wrx wagon and the only thing that would light up is the "auto" on the driver's window switch. anyone know if the 04 switch panel is the same for the 02-03?
| LYHTSPD | 05-21-2005 09:33 AM |
[QUOTE=fantomas]just took a look at my 02 wrx wagon and the only thing that would light up is the "auto" on the driver's window switch. anyone know if the 04 switch panel is the same for the 02-03?[/QUOTE]
I am sure it is the same. It is a bit tough to see if the switches will light up since there is not a white graphic on them. The easy way to tell is to take the switch out of the door (one screw), the seperate the buttons from the circuitry (the white part from the black part, it has four pop tabs on the long side near the corners). They just take a flashlight and shine it through. You should actually be able to see a small square that has been cut into the underside of the switch to let light in. If this is not clear enough, I can take mine off again and get some pictures.
I am sure it is the same. It is a bit tough to see if the switches will light up since there is not a white graphic on them. The easy way to tell is to take the switch out of the door (one screw), the seperate the buttons from the circuitry (the white part from the black part, it has four pop tabs on the long side near the corners). They just take a flashlight and shine it through. You should actually be able to see a small square that has been cut into the underside of the switch to let light in. If this is not clear enough, I can take mine off again and get some pictures.
| smdandb2 | 05-21-2005 01:05 PM |
I think the 02's have bastard switches. I looked at mine, and there is no way any light is going thru the switch.
| LYHTSPD | 05-21-2005 01:22 PM |
[QUOTE=smdandb2]I think the 02's have bastard switches. I looked at mine, and there is no way any light is going thru the switch.[/QUOTE]
Again, it will look like no light will get through the other 3 window switches. A group of us guys are getting together next Thursday, so I can grab one of their 03s and pull off the switch and look at it. It really takes no time to do. If anyone with an 02-03 would like to take 10 minutes and take their window switch off and look, that would be great.
Again, it will look like no light will get through the other 3 window switches. A group of us guys are getting together next Thursday, so I can grab one of their 03s and pull off the switch and look at it. It really takes no time to do. If anyone with an 02-03 would like to take 10 minutes and take their window switch off and look, that would be great.
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 01:42 PM |
i just got the car on wednesday and the wiring harness is a bit different from my last honda. how do you get that off? it looks like there are two tabs on the sides but pushing them doesnt seem to release anything
| LYHTSPD | 05-21-2005 01:46 PM |
[QUOTE=fantomas]i just got the car on wednesday and the wiring harness is a bit different from my last honda. how do you get that off? it looks like there are two tabs on the sides but pushing them doesnt seem to release anything[/QUOTE]
I farted with that for about 10 minutes too. There is a single tab on the long side of the plug facing the front of the car. Just push that in and the connector will come right out.
I farted with that for about 10 minutes too. There is a single tab on the long side of the plug facing the front of the car. Just push that in and the connector will come right out.
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 01:47 PM |
ok got it thanks...now give me a second to seperate the two parts....any easy way of doing this?
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 01:54 PM |
ok nevermind i got it..
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 01:55 PM |
thats a negative. the only buttons that will light up are the driver's side "auto" button and the door lock
| LYHTSPD | 05-21-2005 04:47 PM |
Are there square holes under the other switches to let light shine through? It seems weird that the two switch clusters would be different, especially since the 04 don't even use the lighed areas...
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 04:51 PM |
no light came through when i shined the flashlight in. the other 3 buttons on the 04 are definitely translucent? must have been a change between the 02-03 and the 04 models
| LYHTSPD | 05-21-2005 04:56 PM |
Yes, the light comes through at the top on the other switches where it looks like the top dips down. It does not look translucent because of the black plastic, but it is so thin in that area that light will shine through. It looks exactly like Jonnyfilmboy's pic in the first post. Adding the rest of the leds should be extremely simple.
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 05:17 PM |
i'll take a second look later and take some pictures but i'm 99% sure they're diffrent
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 07:28 PM |
double checked and theres no way light is going through. i see where it would but theres absolutely no way...
[IMG]http://www.icarputer.com/myspace/IMG_0874.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.icarputer.com/myspace/IMG_0874.JPG[/IMG]
| Bishop | 05-21-2005 07:30 PM |
can you take a pic of that flipped over??
| WRXRgr | 05-21-2005 08:05 PM |
There does appear to be opaque & translucent versions!
On my MY04, I just pulled the passenger side window switch. I can't get any light to show thru the relieved "slot" area---I can shine a bright flashlight down in front of all four window switches on the driver's side, and can see light coming up thru the relieved area.
Just checked the rear seat window switches--opaque, also.
This has been one of my small gripes about the car (from the first nite I had a female riding shotgun :D ), that the front seat passenger has zero illumination for lock & window controls...the "Uh, where is the ____ switch?" effect :lol:
I may try rigging something in there, to at least provide a glow around the switches..
For you guys looking for the translucent versions: these switches are all Niles---they're OEM suppliers for Nissan or Toyota, or maybe both...I'd bet it would be pretty easy to scrounge some up at a salvage yard for cheap---there's a lot less Subaru's to find!
EDIT: If you used my suggestion for start-points for dropping resistors, that I posted on Page 1, my memory was way off---I've added a link there for a good page on how to figure em!
On my MY04, I just pulled the passenger side window switch. I can't get any light to show thru the relieved "slot" area---I can shine a bright flashlight down in front of all four window switches on the driver's side, and can see light coming up thru the relieved area.
Just checked the rear seat window switches--opaque, also.
This has been one of my small gripes about the car (from the first nite I had a female riding shotgun :D ), that the front seat passenger has zero illumination for lock & window controls...the "Uh, where is the ____ switch?" effect :lol:
I may try rigging something in there, to at least provide a glow around the switches..
For you guys looking for the translucent versions: these switches are all Niles---they're OEM suppliers for Nissan or Toyota, or maybe both...I'd bet it would be pretty easy to scrounge some up at a salvage yard for cheap---there's a lot less Subaru's to find!
EDIT: If you used my suggestion for start-points for dropping resistors, that I posted on Page 1, my memory was way off---I've added a link there for a good page on how to figure em!
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 08:53 PM |
ill take some more pictures later tonight and ill check the other 3 switches. but i doubt they would be working if the driver's wouldnt.
| fantomas | 05-21-2005 11:27 PM |
ok this is interesting... i just broke the passenger window switch.. so i looked it up here to get a new one..
[url]http://www.subaruparts.com/diag/?model=5A&year=2002&style=WRX&body=wagon&scn=8&category=833-1[/url]
and it seems like all 3 passenger switches are the same. what you can do is throw one of the ones from the back up front. i'll go out and check the rear passenger switches now.
[QUOTE=WRXRgr]There does appear to be opaque & translucent versions!
On my MY04, I just pulled the passenger side window switch. I can't get any light to show thru the relieved "slot" area---I can shine a bright flashlight down in front of all four window switches on the driver's side, and can see light coming up thru the relieved area.
Just checked the rear seat window switches--opaque, also.
[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.subaruparts.com/diag/?model=5A&year=2002&style=WRX&body=wagon&scn=8&category=833-1[/url]
and it seems like all 3 passenger switches are the same. what you can do is throw one of the ones from the back up front. i'll go out and check the rear passenger switches now.
[QUOTE=WRXRgr]There does appear to be opaque & translucent versions!
On my MY04, I just pulled the passenger side window switch. I can't get any light to show thru the relieved "slot" area---I can shine a bright flashlight down in front of all four window switches on the driver's side, and can see light coming up thru the relieved area.
Just checked the rear seat window switches--opaque, also.
[/QUOTE]
| poormansporsche | 05-22-2005 02:20 PM |
This might help...
[url]http://www.niles.co.jp/[/url]
You might be able to order them direct. Anyway worth a shot. I'd love to do this in my GC dayum it's sick!
cheers
garrett
[url]http://www.niles.co.jp/[/url]
You might be able to order them direct. Anyway worth a shot. I'd love to do this in my GC dayum it's sick!
cheers
garrett
| Jonnyfilmboy | 05-22-2005 06:28 PM |
I haven't had a chance to take any pics or work on this more. But just to clear up a few things, here is what I did and what I know:
1) Drivers side on 04 WRX has transparent buttons for all switches except the child proof X lockout button.
2) There is plenty of room inside of the individual switches for an LED.
3) The only holes I had to drill were in the side of the unit that holds all of the buttons. If you take yours apart, you will see what I mean. The holes were simply to run wires out of the unit. No holes were necessary in the individual switches themselves.
4) I wasn't initially sure if the buttons were transparent. I had to take apart the unit and put an LED right into the window switch to see the window. Things block the light otherwise.
5) No, you can't just replace the AUTO window switch and then get auto down on all windows. I thought of that too. Wouldn't that have been nice? But there are things online that you can buy to do this another way.
6) I tapped into the power to the switch assembly to power the LED's. When the car is on, the power is going to the switch. i.e., if you can roll down the windows, the LED's will be on full blast. They aren't dimmable with the rest of the dash lights the way I have it rigged.
7) I've heard that a resistor won't work on LED's the way it will on grain of wheel bulbs and other regular bulbs. But I will try it. Thanks to everyone who suggested that.
8) I don't think heat will be a problem. The LED's I'm using are bright, but they put out almost no heat, even after a very long time.
9) I'm not an electrical expert, so a lot of this is trial and error for me.
10) The color is too green for the rest of the dash. But once it is dimmed, that won't matter as much. After all, the green clock, the green compass mirror and the green dash are all different colors of green. I think the window switches will be OK once they are dimmed.
11) In the day time, the switches are easy to see lit up because they are a bit bright. Once they are dimmed, you probably won't see them.
I hope this helps clear up some questions. Sorry for the delayed response and lack o' pics. I've been super busy with work, moving, and installing Hella projector beam lights in place of my high beams.
1) Drivers side on 04 WRX has transparent buttons for all switches except the child proof X lockout button.
2) There is plenty of room inside of the individual switches for an LED.
3) The only holes I had to drill were in the side of the unit that holds all of the buttons. If you take yours apart, you will see what I mean. The holes were simply to run wires out of the unit. No holes were necessary in the individual switches themselves.
4) I wasn't initially sure if the buttons were transparent. I had to take apart the unit and put an LED right into the window switch to see the window. Things block the light otherwise.
5) No, you can't just replace the AUTO window switch and then get auto down on all windows. I thought of that too. Wouldn't that have been nice? But there are things online that you can buy to do this another way.
6) I tapped into the power to the switch assembly to power the LED's. When the car is on, the power is going to the switch. i.e., if you can roll down the windows, the LED's will be on full blast. They aren't dimmable with the rest of the dash lights the way I have it rigged.
7) I've heard that a resistor won't work on LED's the way it will on grain of wheel bulbs and other regular bulbs. But I will try it. Thanks to everyone who suggested that.
8) I don't think heat will be a problem. The LED's I'm using are bright, but they put out almost no heat, even after a very long time.
9) I'm not an electrical expert, so a lot of this is trial and error for me.
10) The color is too green for the rest of the dash. But once it is dimmed, that won't matter as much. After all, the green clock, the green compass mirror and the green dash are all different colors of green. I think the window switches will be OK once they are dimmed.
11) In the day time, the switches are easy to see lit up because they are a bit bright. Once they are dimmed, you probably won't see them.
I hope this helps clear up some questions. Sorry for the delayed response and lack o' pics. I've been super busy with work, moving, and installing Hella projector beam lights in place of my high beams.
| Jonnyfilmboy | 05-22-2005 06:30 PM |
Oh, all of the passenger switches (front and rear) on the 04 WRX are opaque. Yeah, I checked that and was pissed. But maybe someone knows of a replacement on another model??? I'm all for replacing them anyway. They look too small for the cutouts they are in.
| Jonnyfilmboy | 05-22-2005 06:36 PM |
Also, I got the LED's from Pep Boys. They are in the Ricer Section. They come in red, green, blue, white, and I think purple. I was initially embarassed to buy them as most of the crap in that section is so low quality. But these LED's seem OK. They come with a small plastic sleeve that the LED's snap into. SO theoretically, you can drill a hole and snap this little black sleeve into the hole. Then snap the LED into the hole and it looks very nice.
For the window switches, I inverted the sleeve and placed it into the underside of each of the window switches (Except for the X child lockout switch which is opaque). The little sleeves are a PERFECT fit. No modification needed at all. Then I placed the first LED into the sleeve, bent the wires to that they fit flush against the bottom surface of the switch assembly, then electrical taped them in place. I repeated this until all of the LED's were taped into place and the wires were run to the edge of the black switch assembly. Then I ran the wires through some holes I had previously drilled into the side of the black plastic switch assembly. The wires were run out the side through these holes and taped again with black electrical tape. I then connected the wires to the power and ground wires of the switch. I reassembled the white switch internals with the black switch housing, snapped it all together, reconnected the harness, tested it, put it all back together, tested it again and that's it.
For the window switches, I inverted the sleeve and placed it into the underside of each of the window switches (Except for the X child lockout switch which is opaque). The little sleeves are a PERFECT fit. No modification needed at all. Then I placed the first LED into the sleeve, bent the wires to that they fit flush against the bottom surface of the switch assembly, then electrical taped them in place. I repeated this until all of the LED's were taped into place and the wires were run to the edge of the black switch assembly. Then I ran the wires through some holes I had previously drilled into the side of the black plastic switch assembly. The wires were run out the side through these holes and taped again with black electrical tape. I then connected the wires to the power and ground wires of the switch. I reassembled the white switch internals with the black switch housing, snapped it all together, reconnected the harness, tested it, put it all back together, tested it again and that's it.
| 128d | 05-22-2005 06:46 PM |
That would be a nice little addition.
| MomoWRX | 05-23-2005 12:49 AM |
looks nice, got to do this one
| WRXRgr | 05-23-2005 09:02 AM |
[QUOTE=Jonnyfilmboy]
3) The only holes I had to drill were in the side of the unit that holds all of the buttons. If you take yours apart, you will see what I mean. The holes were simply to run wires out of the unit. No holes were necessary in the individual switches themselves.
6) I tapped into the power to the switch assembly to power the LED's. When the car is on, the power is going to the switch. i.e., if you can roll down the windows, the LED's will be on full blast. They aren't dimmable with the rest of the dash lights the way I have it rigged.
7) I've heard that a resistor won't work on LED's the way it will on grain of wheel bulbs and other regular bulbs. But I will try it. Thanks to everyone who suggested that.
8) I don't think heat will be a problem. The LED's I'm using are bright, but they put out almost no heat, even after a very long time.
[/QUOTE]
3) Not clear here, on what/where you drilled to mount LEDs..but when you post pics, that should help.
6 & 7: Resistors [B]will[/B] dim the LEDs, by dropping the voltage that's running thru em...note also, that if the voltage isn't dropped and is running too high, the LEDs lifespan will be shortened proportionally.
8) The heat issue I was referring to isn't about the LEDs themselves, it's in relation to the (voltage) dropping resistor. The dropping resistor reduces the voltage by converting it to heat...depending on how many LEDs are in the circuit (how much current is being passed), more or less heat. The links in my earlier post have a calculator to show what value (ohms) and size (watts, how much heat the resistor can dissipate without burning up) is needed..you can always go UP a size in the resistor wattage, and have a cooler, "bulletproof" set-up.
3) The only holes I had to drill were in the side of the unit that holds all of the buttons. If you take yours apart, you will see what I mean. The holes were simply to run wires out of the unit. No holes were necessary in the individual switches themselves.
6) I tapped into the power to the switch assembly to power the LED's. When the car is on, the power is going to the switch. i.e., if you can roll down the windows, the LED's will be on full blast. They aren't dimmable with the rest of the dash lights the way I have it rigged.
7) I've heard that a resistor won't work on LED's the way it will on grain of wheel bulbs and other regular bulbs. But I will try it. Thanks to everyone who suggested that.
8) I don't think heat will be a problem. The LED's I'm using are bright, but they put out almost no heat, even after a very long time.
[/QUOTE]
3) Not clear here, on what/where you drilled to mount LEDs..but when you post pics, that should help.
6 & 7: Resistors [B]will[/B] dim the LEDs, by dropping the voltage that's running thru em...note also, that if the voltage isn't dropped and is running too high, the LEDs lifespan will be shortened proportionally.
8) The heat issue I was referring to isn't about the LEDs themselves, it's in relation to the (voltage) dropping resistor. The dropping resistor reduces the voltage by converting it to heat...depending on how many LEDs are in the circuit (how much current is being passed), more or less heat. The links in my earlier post have a calculator to show what value (ohms) and size (watts, how much heat the resistor can dissipate without burning up) is needed..you can always go UP a size in the resistor wattage, and have a cooler, "bulletproof" set-up.
| iceinject | 05-24-2005 12:07 PM |
To match the green to the dash better, maybe experimenting with a tiny snippet of colored plastic film would work, sitting between the LED and the translucent area. Dunno what color film, maybe a greenish yellow. That would also dim them a bit.
| WRXRgr | 05-24-2005 02:42 PM |
One of the features of LEDs is the "purity" of tone, or color of light that they emit...while incandescent bulbs emit a broad range of frequencies (and therefore respond well to selective color filtering), LEDs don't. Using a colored filter will mostly just dim the brightness of the LED, but it won't "add" or pass a frequency (color) that the LED's not emitting.
| pdippel | 07-20-2005 09:03 AM |
Did you ever get this installed?
| Bishop | 07-20-2005 09:17 AM |
[QUOTE=pdippel]Did you ever get this installed?[/QUOTE]
this guy jus started one...
[url]http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810059[/url]
this guy jus started one...
[url]http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810059[/url]
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