LED Mod Thread

[Blckshdw]

just so I don't have to do digging on my own, and since it's your fault, what size bulbs are the ones for the speedo/insutrment cluster?

There's no single correct answer to this. I used 5mm straw hat LEDs the first time around, 5mm flat tops the 2nd. You could use 3mm as well, and some people have even used SMD LED strips around the inside of the bezel for accent lighting and to eliminate any hot spots. Digging on your own is highly encouraged (by me at least) Please see signature

Sorry sort of a bad picture but I have the 4 above the passenger doors and the one above the rear hatch and that's it.

Chase, don't see a pic, but the ones over the doors usually have two 194 (T10) bulbs in them.

 

[CDJuda]

Last minute I chose to go with the white LED's, figured that blue lights illuminating a brown interior would like weird. Anyway, I've gotta wait for the money to transfer to paypal. I'll have the LED's ordered within the week.

 

[Midnyteryder196]

So I have the four lights above the passenger doors and the single light bellow the hatch.

I need 1 festoon adapter and 8 T type adapters.

13 LED's total?

okay so 10 led's would work then.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Pcs-Blue-15SMD-5050-LED-Light-Festoon-Dome-Panel-T10-BA9S-Festoon-Dome-/261241388741?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cd3333ec5&vxp=mtr

edit: comes with all of the adapters, and it looks like the leds will fit. Shall I pull the trigger?

Here's mine..

Also since u have the sunglasses over head console.. If you want more light you can swap to the one with dome lights.. They are a lil diff but it all works.. Check out my build thread for details

 

[mcsteven]

I tried to warn you man. The sphere of influence my LED mod bug has, reaches far and wide!

I can hear the evil scientist laugh from here. If I had more time (read: $$) I'd have fallen under that influence as well. I've got a REALLY COOL & UNIQUE idea for someone with some advanced skills. PM me (I don't want to really embarrass myself if it's impossible).

 

[Blckshdw]

(I don't want to really embarrass myself if it's impossible).

Don't install truck nutz, SS badges, or stick figure family stickers on your truck and I think you should be OK.

 

[Darkrider_LS]

I believe I will start reading this thread from start to finish this weekend to come up with ideas and put together a list of the Leds I will need to get my trailblazer sorted out. Most likely the Blazer will get the same 24 led panel as I used in the dome light in my old K3500...might even rob the one from said K3500 for now once I pick that truck up. And see if it will fit inside the dome lights of the tb.

 

[Blckshdw]

I believe I will start reading this thread from start to finish this weekend to come up with ideas and put together a list of the Leds I will need to get my trailblazer sorted out. Most likely the Blazer will get the same 24 led panel as I used in the dome light in my old K3500...might even rob the one from said K3500 for now once I pick that truck up. And see if it will fit inside the dome lights of the tb.

Chris, that is a LOT of reading. Maybe you'll want to revise your tactic, to skimming pages for half interesting looking pics, and then reading details when necessary?

 

[Darkrider_LS]

Chris, that is a LOT of reading. Maybe you'll want to revise your tactic, to skimming pages for half interesting looking pics, and then reading details when necessary?

Hmmmm good idea...I have the more basic light set up in my '08 swb tb. Map lights above the mirror,center dome over back seat and rear dome in cargo area. Center and rear use festoon type bulbs/adapters and front map would be T10/194s correct?

 

[Blckshdw]

I've only seen festoon style in the cargo area, all passenger accessible domes are 194/T10.

 

[mcsteven]

I've got a bit of an advanced idea, and before I hit post I'm checking on some parts. I'm thinking it might require a logic circuit.

Two temperature sensors. One needs to go somewhere like the overhead console or maybe rear of center console. The other inside one of the air vents or more likely, close to the air box.

Inside the vents, use bi-color red/blue LEDs. If the sensors see that the air coming from the box is warmer than the cabin mounted sensor, the LEDs would be triggered red; colder would trigger them to blue.

Circuit with two inputs (thermostats). Sensor in car = A, in air box = B. 0, = Open (hot), 1 = closed (cold).

• If A = B (indicating same temp), lights are blue or off (however the designer wants to configure)
• If A = 1 and B = 0, lights are red
• If A = 0 and B = 1, lights are blue

Prior to posting, I was thinking about it. I guess you could also just have blue and if a thermostat in the cabin opens, indicating the temp of the air blowing is hotter than the ambient air in the car, the LEDs would be triggered red. For this the sensor would need to be near the dash.

No logic needed, just relay. Lights are triggered blue with ignition (sensor is closed = cold). If sensor opens, lights swap to red.

Ideas? I'm no electronics expert, but this doesn't sound too complicated. Input on that last statement of mine?

Who wants to build it?

http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=1842

 

[Blckshdw]

It's your idea, so I think you volunteered to do it. You're right, logically speaking, it's not too difficult of a concept. There are tons of resources on the internet that could help you choose what parts to use, and how to hook them up. I would suggest trolling around on 12Volt.com a bit, and of course Google will return a number of alternative options as well. Of course, you'd build your prototype on a test bench just to make sure it works the way you planned, then figure out how to install it in the truck.

I think you can do this man, just have to put the work in and break it down into smaller pieces. Then put the pieces together into the whole mod. That was the approach I took with the dome lights, 194 switchback polarity changer, and power folding mirror logic. :twocents

 

[mcsteven]

Don't install truck nutz, SS badges, or stick figure family stickers on your truck and I think you should be OK.

I did say cool and unique. The SS badges are cool - if it's a factory SS. Other than that, they don't meet the criteria. Checked out Youtube - someone had a reversible thermal circuit, but he's using thermistors and I'm not looking to change resistance. But I'll see if I can mod his circuit with a simple sensor - bimetal or equivilent.

 

[ncphotographer]

Can someone tell me how to get the console mounted rear fan switch off.......does it just pry off or do I need to take it off from underneath......I want to put an LED in there?

 

[Midnyteryder196]

Can someone tell me how to get the console mounted rear fan switch off.......does it just pry off or do I need to take it off from underneath......I want to put an LED in there?

It just pops out.

 

[ncphotographer]

It just pops out.

Thank you sir!!

 

[Midnyteryder196]

Got my eyebrows today

 

[Mounce]

 

[dmanns67]

Got my eyebrows today

uploadfromtaptalk1406603859814.jpg

uploadfromtaptalk1406603924778.jpg

Nice

Do the eyebrows run as DRLs or just when the parking/headlights are on?

 

[Midnyteryder196]

Nice

Do the eyebrows run as DRLs or just when the parking/headlights are on?

They are wired up so soon as key is on they come on..

I bought these to test out how well I like the side emitting, thinking I may get some switchback strips and figure out where to put those.. Still undecided on that yet though..

Next step is switchback in turns and eventually wen I do projector retro will clear corners and maybe switchbacks in corners too.

 

[dmanns67]

They are wired up so soon as key is on they come on..

I bought these to test out how well I like the side emitting, thinking I may get some switchback strips and figure out where to put those.. Still undecided on that yet though..

Next step is switchback in turns and eventually wen I do projector retro will clear corners and maybe switchbacks in corners too.

I like that idea. Initially I was not a big fan of the eyebrows on our headlights, but the more I see it done, the more I want to do the mod. I like the position of yours too, straight across the top.

 

[Midnyteryder196]

I like that idea. Initially I was not a big fan of the eyebrows on our headlights, but the more I see it done, the more I want to do the mod. I like the position of yours too, straight across the top.

Thanks! These 335 side emitting are pretty bright too! A lot brighter than the actual led strips I had before.

After I put these on, I thought about ordering the 24" ones and going from top around the corner lamp to the bottom.. But I'm pretty sure these will stay like this until they start to flicker and go out lol.

Now im just waiting for my 5630 strips to come in now, thinking maybe foot well lights for those, or some sort of perimeter lighting

 

[Mounce]

Next step is switchback in turns and eventually wen I do projector retro will clear corners and maybe switchbacks in corners too.

I thought the clear corners was just an Envoy thing..didn't know it could be done on TB's!

 

[dmanns67]

I thought the clear corners was just an Envoy thing..didn't know it could be done on TB's!

Apparently it is pretty simple. I seen a how-to where a guy took diffuser plastic that goes over fluorescent lights, cut it to shape, and then heated it up to get the curve. I think it was Boricua SS actually

 

[Blckshdw]

How to cut open your headlights and create clear corner lenses

Unfortunately, the new forum software only allows about 10 pics per post, then it just displays the link.

 

[dmanns67]

How to cut open your headlights and create clear corner lenses

Unfortunately, the new forum software only allows about 10 pics per post, then it just displays the link.

I apologize, credit is due to the LED Guru. BlckShdw comes through like always

 

[Blckshdw]

One of these weekends, I need to sit down, and start going through all those writeups, and reformat stuff the way it's needed for the articles. I started to do that one, but it is such a royal pain in the ass. I really need to suck it up, grab some snacks, throw on some tunes and do work!

 

[Mounce]

Apparently it is pretty simple. I seen a how-to where a guy took diffuser plastic that goes over fluorescent lights, cut it to shape, and then heated it up to get the curve. I think it was Boricua SS actually

I always thought was one of the deals where that you would buy a part that was pre-made for it lol


Edit: Mr. LED Guru, sir, still rocking the quad projectors? (I might have looked through your photobucket while poking around at your article...might have)

 

[Blckshdw]

I always thought was one of the deals where that you would buy a part that was pre-made for it lol

You can. There's a company called Klears, that makes clear corner lenses for a few model vehicles. I believe they were $85 last time I looked. This is something I plan to try making down the road with a silicone mold and polyurethane resin cast.

Edit: Mr. LED Guru, sir, still rocking the quad projectors? (I might have looked through your photobucket while poking around at your article...might have)

Yep, the quads are running bright and strong. I'm itching to do another retrofit with some different goodies in it, but can't afford that right now.

The switchback strips got yanked, too many headaches, and I went back to bulbs, as you may have seen posted earlier.

Feel free to look through my Photobucket pics all you want. Most of the TB related stuff that hasn't been posted are just redundant pics, or random shots I took for later reference checking stuff out online. The non TB pics... They make me feel old looking at them

 

[Mounce]

Lol all I saw on there was TB pics, I guess I didn't see all of it's contents the one thing that stuck out to me the most was your improvised vacu-form set up. That's was impressive, I never thought that you could make one on your own.

 

[Blckshdw]

Lol all I saw on there was TB pics, I guess I didn't see all of it's contents the one thing that stuck out to me the most was your improvised vacu-form set up. That's was impressive, I never thought that you could make one on your own.

Make one? Sure that part was easy, really. Having that bitch actually work right? That's a whole other story! Although a lot of my issues was due to the acrylic not getting soft enough in the oven for me to be able to stretch the sheet down to the frame. So many of my bright ideas for my retrofit were dependent on that part working.

 

[Mounce]

Lol yeah I saw the cracked piece and thought there most have been an anomaly.

 

[Chuck Bunyon]

Sub for future reference

 

[mcsteven]

One of these weekends, I need to sit down, and start going through all those writeups, and reformat stuff the way it's needed for the articles. I started to do that one, but it is such a royal pain in the ass. I really need to suck it up, grab some snacks, throw on some tunes and do work!

Just what I need. More feeding of my mod bug when I haven't the time or $$ to do what I want now.

 

[gpking]

I bought a 16 foot spool of weatherproof 335 side-emitting white LEDs this weekend in preparation for some LED fun inside and outside the TB.

I plan to do foot-well lights front and back (so you can actually see the floor at night) and also I plan to slip some strips on the underside of all four doors and the cargo hatch to act as puddle lights.

I plan to power all of these new lights on their own, so I ran a 'trigger' wire off of the driver's side dome light to a relay I installed in the dash (behind that little access panel). I put in an add-a-fuse on a slot that gets constant power and ran it to the relay to test- surprisingly it hasn't blown up yet.
When the courtesy lights fade the relay briefly buzzes in dissatisfaction, but it works with a nice hearty *click* when the courtesy lights are triggered.
It should provide a cool effect when the floor lights fade, then the roof lights fade, due to the relay not triggering below like 8 volts.

I might even attempt eyebrows, but I feel like that may be taking it over the top.

I'll remember to take before and after pictures this time.

 

[Midnyteryder196]

Okay guys the have dont the footwell lighting.. where did you tap into power for those at? I want to use the courtesy light circuit, so they dim along with the domes.. do i have to run a wire from headliner down a piller to the lights?

 

[Blckshdw]

I tapped mine pretty much at the dome light, since I was able to pull the harness down, attach the wire taps, and then pull the pillars and fish the wires down to where I needed them. Having a wire snake makes a huge difference, especially since we have the rear hvac ducts up there.

I had initially tried to tap the wire in the passenger side B pillar, but for some reason it didn't work for me, and I had to go up top.

 

[ncphotographer]

I continue to have problems with my turn signals.......now my right turn signal lights blink normal 3 times then blink fast 2 times then normal again 3 times then fast again 2 times.......it keeps repeating this.........any ideas?

 

[Blckshdw]

I continue to have problems with my turn signals.......now my right turn signal lights blink normal 3 times then blink fast 2 times then normal again 3 times then fast again 2 times.......it keeps repeating this.........any ideas?

Did you change your flasher module again, or no? Can't remember how that went. The bulbs can't control something like that. That logic is handled by the flasher module.

 

[ncphotographer]

Yes sir I got a new one.....same kind as before.....in the pic. Is that one OK or do I need a different one?

 

[Blckshdw]

That's the right version. Did you return the previous one or keep it? The one you have is definitely suspect. With all the problems you've had with getting a good flasher module, might be worth the headache to switch to load resistors just to be done with it so you can enjoy your LEDs.