Hi All,

My apologies if this has been covered- I have had quite a look around but can't find a definitive answer.

I want to get hold of a bunch of 12V 24cm LED lightstrips - 2 white, to go on the underside of the front doors as puddle lights, and 2 red, to go either side of the boot lining.

I am planning on getting these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260885947173&var=560063354334#ht_3787wt_1033

Before I buy them, I wanted to make sure they will work. I am planning to connect them directly to the current boot light and the red lights on the inside of the doors, seen as these are easy to remove and it looks like they'd make a fairly easy soldering point. But I've had a look at one of the door lights and it states "5V" on it, so I just wanted to get your opinions, just as they're so cheap really!

Also, I'm not sure whether to go blue or red in the boot lining, what are your thoughts?

Any thoughts welcome

Thanks,

Andrew

The door marker & boot lights are 12v 5w 501 / W5W bulbs.

So no issues about stepping up the voltage, All comes down to personal taste whatever you decide!

I think people are using the type below as they are only a few mm tall

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-30cm15-LED-5050-SMD-Strip-Light-12V-waterproof-white-/170736946204?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Lighting_Lamps_Lighting_SM&hash=item27c0b70c1c#ht_3297wt_966

I think people are using the type below as they are only a few mm tall

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-30cm15-LED-5050-SMD-Strip-Light-12V-waterproof-white-/170736946204?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Lighting_Lamps_Lighting_SM&hash=item27c0b70c1c#ht_3297wt_966

Yeah, these are better as they are "slimmer". The ones you linked first are too tall and would interfere with the doors etc.!

These would also do the job nicely i think

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270824090433?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_4162wt_1002

Thanks mm from my testing earlier I know there's at least the width of a £1 coin but obviously the thinner the better. It's just annoying that anyone selling them for a reasonable price is in Hong Kong!

Has anyone used the seller mattievrs linked to (eworld365), if so I might go for a couple of those...

One last thing, where are people actually attaching the wires? Are you cutting into the wires for the original light? I was thinking of using the metal plates that appear to be supplying the bulb itself as an easier target

I got these for my puddle lights.

Hope this works as I'm currently using my phone.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=260867996584&index=4&nav=WON&nid=48447710715&trxId=872678166016

Wired them up to the red door light.

the ones ive linked i will be using for myself when they arrive. For the price, i can wait 21 days for them :yes:

Right, I've ordered the LEDs!

Just one minor question - when is the interior boot light supposed to be on! I have just tried opening the boot every way I know (drivers door switch, keyfob and exterior button) and on not one of them made the light turn on! Am I being silly or am I going to have to diagnose something here, if so, what?!

Try changing the bulb! If that doesn't work the switch is goosed!

Right, I've ordered the LEDs!

Just one minor question - when is the interior boot light supposed to be on! I have just tried opening the boot every way I know (drivers door switch, keyfob and exterior button) and on not one of them made the light turn on! Am I being silly or am I going to have to diagnose something here, if so, what?!

I think it's a common problem

Try changing the bulb! If that doesn't work the switch is goosed!

Righto, I'll swap it for one in the doors - hope it's the bulb cause at least then it's easy!

Where would the switch be? If the bulb doesn't work I'll have a play with the multimeter before I come back to you all...

Part of the lock mech!

Right, I've been out playing with the light and have come to a conclusion that I can't fathom:

The bulb in the boot physically looks OK, but I can't test it because I can't get it out! I have disconnected the plug and swapped in a working bulb from the passenger front door, which did not work when connected. But here's the interesting bit:

Not wanting it to be the switch, I started to play with the multimeter:

At the WORKING passenger door light: voltage across the plug hovers just over 12V, but when I plugged in the blub, the voltage across the bulb was just under, but still rounded to 12V

At the NOT working boot light: voltage across the plug hovers just under, but rounds to 12V, but when plugged into a bulb (working or not), the voltage across the bulb is only 0.3V

This must be what's wrong, but I don't understand how. Any ideas?

Incidentally, it looks like someone has been playing in the passenger side of the boot recently as the plastic trim hasn't been fitted back on properly and pretty much fell off in my hand! But that's something to work out later

Sounds like bad earth. Check all fuses just in case anything is related.

Quick pic of my door led's

All fuses! What am I looking for, blown or misplaced? Sorry, this is my first car and I haven't done electronics since my GCSE - got an A* mind but that was 6 years ago now!

Also presumably a bad earth wouldn't come up checking the fuses, where should this be earthing to and is there a point closeby I can pin it to if it is bad?

EDIT: love the effect of those LEDs, exactly what I want! Are they blue or white? I've ordered 2 of each but can't decide which way around they should go.

Incidentally, what are you running the wires through? Can you push them through the back of the doorcard without removing it?

Edited 29 November, 201114 yr by andrewkeith5

Fuse box layout. Check no 4,5

http://www.fabia-vrs.com/technical-info/fuse-panel-layout/

Led's white, drilled through bottom of door into door lights.

Excellent, will check 4&5 in the morning.

So you actually used individual LED lamps, or one of the SMD strips? I've got SMD strips coming and was hoping I would be able to feed the wires up behind the card without drilling, although I suppose that's always a possibility with a little sealant, nobody is likely to see it, would just be awkward to do...

I'd like to put some strips under the front seats for 'floor' lighting

What's the best way to wire this in?

To the same wire that lights up the door lights? Or is there an easier one under the dash somewhere?

I'd like to put some strips under the front seats for 'floor' lighting

What's the best way to wire this in?

To the same wire that lights up the door lights? Or is there an easier one under the dash somewhere?

Luke on mine I just tapped into the interior light, it just means that you have to run a wire from the interior light under the headling, down the left side of the screen and then behind the glove box.

Karl

Andrewkeith - I used Led strips, 9 led in each with 3m backing and they're waterproof.

@Fabla- thanks, I'll just have to see about what is the best way when they arrive then (which may not be until after christmas considering they're coming from hong kong and going to my university address :( )

@xa0sz- interior lights are my next project after the puddle and boot lights, but I don't have the confidence to go about running wires right down from the roof just yet, and this seems like the only practical option from what I can tell...

For now though, I shall continue trying to solve the mystery of the boot light...

Edited 30 November, 201114 yr by andrewkeith5

Cheers korban. What strips would you go for, for the floor lighting? and can you link me to some wire that'd be suffient to tap into the light wire?

Cheers korban. What strips would you go for, for the floor lighting? and can you link me to some wire that'd be suffient to tap into the light wire?

Luke I used some spare LED strip which I had bought form www.ultraleds.co.uk but any LED strip should do as long as its for 12 volts. As for wire a quick search on ebay and this should do

My link

I know its speaker wire but it will be OK

Karl