[Mk2] [Generic] Heater leds

[BLZ-8027]

The indicators are strange ,im waiting for some small blue leds to come so well see what happens
Marc
I wired my led strips to the ashtray light, dont know if that helps you though being a smoker

[marcnoonan]

Hi Trev,

I've tried the 3 way and they seem to work really well. Haven't managed to get them fitted yet but the spread looks really good. Taken some pics but the internets down at the mo (using parents now). Just gotta figure out how to fit a retangle in a round hole but may finally have an easy solution.

Have fun

Marc

[BLZ-8027]

Hi Trev,

I've tried the 3 way and they seem to work really well. Haven't managed to get them fitted yet but the spread looks really good. Taken some pics but the internets down at the mo (using parents now). Just gotta figure out how to fit a retangle in a round hole but may finally have an easy solution.

Have fun

Marc

Not done much to mine still waiting for the leds to arrive
but heres another way of doing the ciggy lighter

This is the lead from the lighter ,cut off the plug ,and the push fit bulb holder from the ashtray (top of picture) is a perfect fit in the lighter housing ,then the small led bulbs same as the dash warnings will fit

[marcnoonan]

You star!!!!

I managed to kill my the lighter bulb holder with the drill and also both of the 5mm led holders so picked up one of the ashtray bulb holders from the scrappy yesterday along with some new 5mm holders and a new heater front as mines pretty scratched.

Anyway, managed to fit the rectangular bulb in the round hole and I'm 95% happy with the results although it does look better to the eye than the pic shows and only took 10 mins




Gonna do a "How to" thread as I'm well pleased with myself and I'm sure people are bored of us whittering on. And just got the dash/needles to finish now and I'll let you know how that goes.

Here's the rest although I'm not too happy with the backlight for the aircon at the mo and need a new aircon button too.




Also had to change the heater display fronts as I preferred the simple Rev1 look and I haven't got auto climate control



Oh, and the cars looking like this at the mo





How To's next

Cheers

Marc

[marcnoonan]

Hopefully going someway to resolving the 5mm LED problem.

These are the bulbs I used and because they are three way they push light out only into the perspex.

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/ultimate-wid ... 20e64d5e6d



Firstly I added (sounds like a cookery program) some solder to the bottom of the terminals and removed the old bulb from the holder.



I used a small flat screwdriver heated up to nearly red hot to melt out the shape of the new LED. I tried drilling and killed the holders. Make sure that you melt perpendicular to the holders arms otherwise the bulb will be in the wrong direction when fitted.



Then just slot the led in and push all the way down to the ...erm, sticky out bits. Fortunately this means that it's at the perfect height for the perspex and there's enough terminal showing through to solder.




Then I took the legs off of a 3mm LED, soldered one to each terminal and wound them back around where the original bulbs wires went.



They slot straight in and once fitted




Test first before putting the unit back together and if they don't work just twist the holder round 180.

Couldn't get a good photo with the camera but they do look 100% better to the eye although slightly dimmer on the recirc button.




There are lots of ways to do this mod, some that give a better result but I think this is the cheapest/quickest and easiest for us mere non electrical wizards and I'm 95% happy with it.

Hope this helps

Marc

[BLZ-8027]

Nearly done but i cant get the aircon button to light ?
(or a decent picture)

[marcnoonan]

Wow,

I'm jealous, that's perfect. Don't know why but my perspex cuts off half way through the recirc buttons. I'm not too happy with the aircon on mine either and I've angle the LED towards the front. I was looking at finding a smaller 3/5 or 6 way smd bulb like the one for the backlights and fit in a similar fashion or try to wire in 2 LEDs but everythings back on the shelf at the mo as DIY takes precident at the mo

Have fun mate

Marc

[marcnoonan]

Hi Trev,

Right, had a play with fitting the 3 way SMD in the A/C and the results are:




Is slightly brighter than the rest of my display, but with your SMD strips it should blend in nicely.

Firstly I took one of the 3mm led and fitted it into the original twisty holder. Twist the very bottom of the legs into the holder leaving as much poking above as possible. Then chop off the 3mm bulb at the very top and then fit the holder into the board.

Next chop the bottom off of one of the 3 way SMD so that there is only 2-3mm of the solder left (bulbs too long to fit in the space otherwise). Then just solder the SMD onto the legs. There is a small bronzy box on one side of the SMD and that needs to be soldered onto the left side (as on pic.





Then put some electrical tape behind the bulb on the stailess steel part and under the bulb to separate it from the legs and push the bulb down flat. The unit will fit back together with the white bulb holder in place.

Hope it helps

Cheers

Marc

[BLZ-8027]

That looks perfect mate ,looks like ill be buying some of those
ive done it with the small bulbs used for the indicators but it wont light up
do you know which side of the board is live? i might just have the legs the wrong way round

[fearless]

so wish i was a bit handy at soldering and electrics looks well cool

[BLZ-8027]

so wish i was a bit handy at soldering and electrics looks well cool

Go for it mate just get an old one and practice ,see what happens
you only need a steady hand ,some patience, and a pointy soldering iron

Ive got some blue leds left over ,and an old uk heater control if you want to have a play ? cover the postage and ill send it to you?

[craig]

so wish i was a bit handy at soldering and electrics looks well cool

I'd never really done any soldering mate, went to Halfords, bought a soldering iron for a tenner, and a bunch of LEDs and resistors from UltraLEDs and this is the result:



Still not happy with the backlight, need some wider angle LEDs but happy enough with the red LEDs for the button selection.

[marcnoonan]

That looks perfect mate ,looks like ill be buying some of those
ive done it with the small bulbs used for the indicators but it wont light up
do you know which side of the board is live? i might just have the legs the wrong way round

Hi Trev,

In the first picture your facing the -ve side, last pic is the +ve. 90% sure

Didn't have a clue which side of the SMD was +ve/-ve so once the legs were fitted in the holder I plugged it in and just twisted the bulb until it lit before soldering.

If you look inside the A/C unit the perspex runs down the inside of each button and faces towards the centre space where the bulb sits so only a normal bulb or twin directional led will work anyway.


Steve,

Believe it not this is only the second thing I've ever done soldering on. First was my xbox which I fitted blue LEds to but my soldering normally looks as neat as Worzel Gummages hair, I generally manage to screw something up along the way and never have a clue what is +ve and -ve. I work by the old "if it goes bang, it's the wrong way round". All the equipment I have is a minature gas refillable solder (need the end as small as poss) and thin solder. Nada else!!! My only advantage was doing loads of models when I was a kid so I'm used to small fiddly bits and having lots of patience. At least that's what I tell myself as bits go flying out of the window. Haven't has any spares to practice on so if I mess up anything it'll need replacing. Gonna have a go at the dash warning lights and the needles this weekend as soon as I've finished mirror polishing the alternator.

Might also have a play at adding some LED's to the replica I did of my brothers car, rear/sidelights etc









Could be fun if I ever get the time as next week I should be getting the car finished and ready for its respray.

If anyone has a spare A/C control I could really do with the A/C button, or even just the botton front as mine's scratched to bits.

Cheers

Marc

[fearless]

i have soldering iron gas filled one and solder and multimeter, just have hands like shovels,
i used to build radio controlled cars as a kid which sometimes need soldering and i used to be into ice fitting amps and lots of speakers and power caps so not really a complete dim wit,
so might have to have a go at this then my inside will look very much like trevs to be honest

[BLZ-8027]

I need a new radio now (unless i take that to bits as well )

[fearless]

That looks perfect mate ,looks like ill be buying some of those
ive done it with the small bulbs used for the indicators but it wont light up
do you know which side of the board is live? i might just have the legs the wrong way round

Hi Trev,

In the first picture your facing the -ve side, last pic is the +ve. 90% sure

Didn't have a clue which side of the SMD was +ve/-ve so once the legs were fitted in the holder I plugged it in and just twisted the bulb until it lit before soldering.

If you look inside the A/C unit the perspex runs down the inside of each button and faces towards the centre space where the bulb sits so only a normal bulb or twin directional led will work anyway.


Steve,

Believe it not this is only the second thing I've ever done soldering on. First was my xbox which I fitted blue LEds to but my soldering normally looks as neat as Worzel Gummages hair, I generally manage to screw something up along the way and never have a clue what is +ve and -ve. I work by the old "if it goes bang, it's the wrong way round". All the equipment I have is a minature gas refillable solder (need the end as small as poss) and thin solder. Nada else!!! My only advantage was doing loads of models when I was a kid so I'm used to small fiddly bits and having lots of patience. At least that's what I tell myself as bits go flying out of the window. Haven't has any spares to practice on so if I mess up anything it'll need replacing. Gonna have a go at the dash warning lights and the needles this weekend as soon as I've finished mirror polishing the alternator.

Might also have a play at adding some LED's to the replica I did of my brothers car, rear/sidelights etc









Could be fun if I ever get the time as next week I should be getting the car finished and ready for its respray.

If anyone has a spare A/C control I could really do with the A/C button, or even just the botton front as mine's scratched to bits.

Cheers

Marc

wow that is one detailed model i like that a lot very clever indeed matey,

trev what are you like please dont tell me you are going to take the radio apart now, im sure you can find some nice funky bright one somewhere to match your interior lights

[BLZ-8027]

Well the green in the radio doesnt go does it ,and i cant find a full screen double din dvd at present

ever done a radio ????

[marcnoonan]

Nope, never done a radio, but suppose it's possible,just very fiddly, think this one will be my next radio.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0350492736

Going to get a GPS HUD soon but the display is in red so I will definately be opening that up to change it to blue.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0025082418

Right, going to play with the dash now...

Marc

[inky]

Ironically I have the opposite dilemma, I've got the red LED lighting and the buttons on my double din DVD are all blue ... should I start hacking it to bits or just sell it?

[BLZ-8027]

Ironically I have the opposite dilemma, I've got the red LED lighting and the buttons on my double din DVD are all blue ... should I start hacking it to bits or just sell it?

sell it to me and buy a red one