I was wanting some subtle alternative to the brash spangly LEDs found on Audis and now appearing in many other cars, and was inspired by the latest Saab 9-3 that uses CCFLs.

CCFLs are Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lights. They are similar technology to HID Xenon bulbs where a gas is excited by a high voltage but CCFLs remain fairly cool and instantly light up to full colour temperature.

I know that BMW have used CCFLs for their halo eye side lights but fitting them to other cars usually means breaking open the lens to housing seal on the headlamp. Not impossible but can be difficult and messy. Also halo eye kits are usually fairly expensive (more that I would be willing to pay anyway ).

Noticing that the Saab uses straight CCFLs I looked at what was available and saw that CCFLs are popular amongst PC 'modders' for illuminating the insides of their PCs.

So I ordered a set off ebay and played with them. At the time I had a pre-facelift Saab 9-3 and decided to mount the CCFLs inside the front foglamp units. I learnt many things in doing this and I'm glad that I'd had that experience as the job I've done on my Octavia should work out to be long lasting.

Anyway, this is what you need to buy and how to do it:

2 sets of sharkoon 4" CCFL kits - sandrabitsandpieces on ebay (3.49ea)

2 x 500mm x 6mm ID 10mm OD acrylic tube - clearplasticsupplies on ebay (99p ea)

15mm Heat shrink tubing - Maplins

2 small metal boxes (I got them from Maplins)

Wires, connectors, silicone sealant etc

On the vRS the small covers either side of the centre lower grill are ideal places to fit them, not sure where you'd put them on a non vRS front end though. Also these parts are really cheap if you get it wrong and want to go back to standard.

The CCFLs come in a light weight acrylic tube with big acrylic cubes glued on the ends. You want to get rid of these as they don't finish them off at all well. I carefully hacksawed them off.

CCFL after removal from original tube.

Using the 10mm tubing, cut the relevant length, insert the CCFL and then using the heat shrink you can cover the tube at each end, hiding the untidy ends of the CCFLs and the wires so the only part you see is the illuminating area.

Close up showing heat shrink tubing.

Important consideration is to make sure everything is watertight. The CCFLs operate at high voltage, and even though the current is low, if any water gets in there then it's all buggerred. So pay attention to seal the ends of the tube with silicone sealant. They also get quite warm, but don't worry, it's not too warm and at the front of the car they get a fair amount of ram air cooling anyway.

Mount the completed tubes in the side grills (quite tricky to drill out holes to pass the tubes through but not impossible) then run the wires to the inverter (that powers up the CCFLs) that you need to house inside a small box which again needs sealing. Again, the inverter can get warm but don't worry but make sure it's all sealed as water will kill them.

An Inverter.

Then get 12v to the inverters. Sounds easy, but that was the hardest part. I wanted the CCFLs to be on with the ignition, like daytime running lights, but I just couldn't find a switched 12v feed in the fuse box in the engine bay. All sorts of strange things went on, feeds changing from switched to perm, some feeds going from 12v to 3.46v. In the end I ran a feed through from the fusebox in the end of the dash panel. One day I'll find one...

And this is what it looks like when all done.

If you choose to mount them elsewhere, here are a few things to consider.

1. The CCFLs do have a long life but I would try to make sure that wherever you mount them you need to be able to replace them, should one fail.
   
2. Same with the inverter, make sure you can replace it if necessary.
   
3. DON'T try to lengthen or shorten the leads from the CCFLs to the inverters. The CCFLs are sensitive to resistance and any change in the lead length will effect the CCFL.
   
4. Keep everything watertight, high voltage and moisture don't mix. Don't get me wrong, nothing will explode but stuff can go pop or fizz......! So keep everything dry.
   

If you've any questions, drop me a message, or if you're local to Buckingham, pop round.

Great write up - I'd be very temped to use adhesive lined heatshrink tubing as that will help keep the water out.

nice one giving me ideas.

Very impressive.

Both the lights and the explanation.

Where is the tow hook fitting on the vRS?

Do the lights interfere with that?

Looks good

Interesting though as you get a lot of stones in that area and the cathode tubes are usually pretty thin glass.

Those CCFLs usually have a fairly robust plastic tubing over them cheezy. I use two longer ones in the fish tank for "moon lighting", run them off an old iomega ZIP Drive PSU on a timer, they come on just before the main lighting goes off in the evening and run for about 30 mins after the main lights go off, and 30 mins before the main lighting comes on in the morning. In the tank they're pretty wet due to the condensation.

Looks cool:D

I like those...

Those CCFLs usually have a fairly robust plastic tubing over them cheezy. I use two longer ones in the fish tank for "moon lighting", run them off an old iomega ZIP Drive PSU on a timer, they come on just before the main lighting goes off in the evening and run for about 30 mins after the main lights go off, and 30 mins before the main lighting comes on in the morning. In the tank they're pretty wet due to the condensation.

All the ones I've had are just the bare glass tube, so if he is using the plastic encased tubes then my point becomes mute.

These look great

Will have to look into fitting on my Elegance as I think DRL's are the way forward

Not sure if your interested but i think DLR are brilliant idea, I used to run about with my fogs on so that little old ladies, older gents and boyracers knew i was about. Soon realised how annoying the fogs were so when i got my Octy decided to try something different.

I drive a Skoda NOT and Audi so didnt want it to have angle eyes so have just simply fitted the 11 LED DLRs. These simply fit where the Fogs do on models above mine and looks simple and clear. I hope they dont look to CHAVY ! as im certainly not that !

will try and get a picture taken at night added too,

...to the uninitiated, they might be mistaken for blue strobes when tuned off too!

Hee hee simbo, had not thought of that, should have put them behind the grill, n switched them on/off when motorway driving and stuck behind a lane hogger ! ta:thumbup:

did you mistype when you applied for your username??

Not sure if your interested but i think DLR are brilliant idea, I used to run about with my fogs on so that little old ladies, older gents and boyracers knew i was about. Soon realised how annoying the fogs were so when i got my Octy decided to try something different.

I drive a Skoda NOT and Audi so didnt want it to have angle eyes so have just simply fitted the 11 LED DLRs. These simply fit where the Fogs do on models above mine and looks simple and clear. I hope they dont look to CHAVY ! as im certainly not that !

will try and get a picture taken at night added too,

Where did you get them Skonakid and how much if you don't mind us asking:thumbup:

All the pictures have disappeared from the 1st thread :confused:

They must have been deleted from the photobucket account, so the links are now dead.......

yes... puttem back please

cheers

B

Where did you get them Skonakid and how much if you don't mind us asking:thumbup:

Hi

They are simple mycarr.com 11 LED lights, linked upto the side lights, I bought them from this place:

Audi Style Daylight Running Lights and LEDS - FREE delivery, buy online today.

Under £40, i have seen a similar one though at halfords cheaper and the single row of lights (5 LEDS) would tuck in better.

I bought a brilliant ARMSTER armrest at this place too, it fits perfectly and in minutes + looks good too, no more storage issues in my Ambiente now !

Edited 21 August, 200916 yr by skonakid77
added content

Milnei,how easy is it to take off the 2 lower grills,and is it difficult to run a wire from the fuse box into

the engine bay?

Can the original poster please put the photos back on the thread?:wrthless:

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