Footwell lighting

[MichaelGrimes]

Really want 'footwell lighting' but not too sure where to source all the bits and bobs from?
tried doing a search on here, but couldnt find anything of any real relavence for what i want
if anyones done this, id greatly appreciated some pictures!
and also where you sourced the parts from!!

regards

michael

 

[daveski]

When I did this a few years ago I used 12v cathodes designed for pcs and wired them into the main interior light.

 

[spanishbhoy]

I'm doing this soon aswell. was going to take power from the cigarette lighter and put a switch in

 

[daveski]

If you're going to do it, you should wire it into the interior lights imo.

 

[spanishbhoy]

where is the best place to take the feed from then and how did u conceal the wiring

 

[daveski]

I did it years ago in an Astra.

Run wire from the main interior light, under the headlining, down the a pillar trims so its behind the dash then put the lights where you want them

 

[MichaelGrimes]

what did it look like? how tricky was it to do??

 

[daveski]

It looked light footwell lighting! I got rid of the car in 2006 so we're talking a long time ago, I dont have pictures.

It really is as simple as I said, they're 12v and dont draw a lot of current so can just be connected to the interior lights. Hiding the wires is easy, the difficult bit is finding somewhere to secure them under the dash.

 

[ILikeShinyThings]

I have a few cold cathodes laying around and wouldn't mind trying this, how would you go about wiring it so it comes on with the interior lights but there's also a switch to turn them on whilst driving?

 

[daveski]

Why turn them on when driving?

Just use the interior switch or wire in another one

 

[ILikeShinyThings]

because i kinda think it'd be cool to drive aliong with a blue glow at my feet haha and without the interior light on all the time too

 

[McGherkin]

Wire them to the dash lighting? That way they'll come on with the sidelights. (although it means you have to turn the sidelights on to see your feet!)

Another way would be to have a 3 way rocker switch - On (power from interior light), Sidelights (as above), Off.

Personally I'd have just one fairly big white LED in each footwell - when it's too bright it's slightly distracting.

 

[Chapster5]

I'd personally wire them to my dipped beams switch on the steering wheel on the stalk like I have done with my speaker lights (yes I put red LEDs behind my speaker grill ) looks funny like my speakers are on fire

Nick

 

[MichaelGrimes]

pictures nick?!

 

[Chapster5]

Tomorrow mate,

Just got out the bath and settled for the night lol

Nick

 

[MichaelGrimes]

lmao! bless you, alrighty dude!

 

[daveski]

Curious to see that too.

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

got a feeling that i am to,going to have to have a go at putting leds in my speaker grills and under dash lighting

altho imo i might put in a 12v step up/step down transformer in so i can adjust the intensity of the light out put

 

[spanishbhoy]

Is it not illegal to have footwell lightin on while driving?

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

Is it not illegal to have footwell lightin on while driving?

yes, it is presummed to be a distraction to other driver and yourself if permitting high polution of light.

im sure low levels of light being produced will be okay....

 

[morgam23]

this I gotta see for real..

 

[Adam1109]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310356536040

Those are probably best to use, cheap, easy to fit and not too bright but bright enough

Fitted mine in about 10 minutes... there's 2 wires on them (live and earth), best place is the cigarette lighter light (so they only come on when ur side lights are on) and they come with a switch so u can turn them off

 

[MichaelGrimes]

adam, can you put some pictures up please? still curious as to what it will look like!

 

[daveski]

Honestly dont know why you would want them on with your sidelights?

 

[Kyly]

If you wire them to your dash lights does that mean you could dim them?

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

Honestly dont know why you would want them on with your sidelights?

easest place to connect power too as its right next to the foot weels i presume

 

[Two Foot Tone]

I did this with an old almera, i had 8 blue leds in each footwell (halfrauds strip jobby) I loved it and wired it into my cigarette lighter! Why do you want the lights on the day anyway, you wouldnt see it! Connect it to your cig lighter it way easier!

 

[Alex_gregory_uk]

I did this in my Grande Punto and made a guide. Hopefully you can access it without having to register and maybe it will help a bit.

http://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/126392-interior-footwell-lights.html

 

[daveski]

That guide is basically what I did in my old Astra.

Much better than having them on with side lights

 

[MichaelGrimes]

got any photos of the finished product? E.G lights on etc?

 

[Sparky]

I put a guide up once, cant find link...

You wire a positive from the interior light, then there are 2 negitives, one for when door is open and one is perm, then you can put a break before make switch in, then you can have them on whenever or to work with the doors.

 

[Chapster5]

Just because I can tease...

How the are fitted (I would advise 2 more they aren't all that bright enough to illuminate the whole footwell) I have lost one inside the door card too which I hadn't noticed lol... Super glue next time

Wired into the Sidelights on my Window Switch... When the switch lights up so does the LED's

Another Shot

With side lights on...

You will have to wait for night time to see them at night

Nick

 

[MichaelGrimes]

looks pucker!

 

[Chapster5]

Crap iPhone pics dont do it justice... Need more LED's if I did it again

The speaker grill itself

Reflections on the center console side wall

Nick

 

[bionic]

Y not join a wire to the cig light in the car then add a switch simple

 

[Chapster5]

Y not join a wire to the cig light in the car then add a switch simple

It's just how I wanted it lol. I genuinely couldn't be bothered running a wired through to the cig lighter when I have a perfectly good power source from the window switch.

I also wanted them to only come on with the side lights so it made more sense lol.

Nick

 

[tef_92]

Planning to do this my next days off, thanks for all info

 

[Craig_92]

I bought 2 blue 12v LED Tubes from Maplins for mine; wired through the pillars and headlining into the interior light

 

[kenzo9990]

i had blue xeons in my footwells i wired them in with a switch straight to the battery worked fine