running leds from interior light

[Davey_SXi]

right, had this in mind for a while, and thort it might be interesting and a little different, maybe even a challlenge...

I have loads of LED strips, really bright ones. My plan was, to place em arond the car, but to run them off the interior light, so that when the car is unlocked, they will come on with the interior light and the whole inside of the car would light up blue. Thought it would be a good effect at night.

Anyways, that was the plan and i know a lot of you are thinking, thats simple just use the power socket for the light, BUT......

As people who have put LED bulbs into their interior light, they have noticed the bulbs never completely go off, always a slight glow. This is because power constantly runs to the light, just not enough to light it up bright, and where as normal bulbs need a lot more power to produce any light, LEDs can run off a tiny current, and therefore light up slightly..

NOW, as you can imagine, when connecting LEDs strips up to this socket, they are continuely lit rather than just when the light is turned on as this small current is enough to light them up bright. This spoilt my plans copletely.

IS THEIR ANY WAY I CAN GET THEM TO LIGHT UP ONLY WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHT COMES ON (E.G UNLOCKING CAR, OPENIGN DOORS??))

cheers, sorry bout the essay.

[shnoob]

As people who have put LED bulbs into their interior light, they have noticed the bulbs never completely go off, always a slight glow. This is because power constantly runs to the light, just not enough to light it up bright, and where as normal bulbs need a lot more power to produce any light, LEDs can run off a tiny current, and therefore light up slightly..
Ah right always wanted to know why hehe thx

[Davey_SXi]

bump

[eandjkustomaudio]

im sure if you stick in a low rated resistor it will pull the current down to a low enough value so that the led's dont light up untill you unlock or open the door etc... probally just a case of trial and error though tbh mate.

[smiffy1989]

Get a 4 pin relay mate.

[mr steve]

^^yeah a relay ought to do the trick

[Davey_SXi]

that dont mean anything to me? lol

wats a realy? where would i get it from? What one do i wnt and where do i put it??

[ghostino]

a relay is like a magnetic switch, which can be used to turn on one circuit from the power of another circuit.

you would wire it up by using the power from your overhead light to turn the realy on, then on the switched circuit you would have a live (eg from cig lighter) and into the neons.

this would mean when the light comes on, it will switch the relay on, meaning it will switch the neons on, when light goes off, so will neons, as there will be no power going through that circuit at all

you can get these from alot of places... maplins are probly the best, but im sure you can get 1 from halfords or something.

[Cleario]

i did the same on my C with a relay,

when i opened the doors i had the neon in the footwell to come on. was wired the same as above

[Davey_SXi]

i'l get it from maplin aws theres one by my house. Wat do i look for? is it jus called a relay??

[Cleario]

just ask for a 4 pin relay, will be a little black box of trick with 4 pins comming out the bottom:)

[Legoman]

Just go in and explain what your doing they will give you the right size relay, should be less than a pound for the one, ive wired two LED strips from the interior light and i cant say they come on even slightly when the doors are closed.

[Davey_SXi]

ok am going there today, i'l see wat happens :D

cheers for ya help lads.

[Davey_SXi]

anyone got any links to this 4 pin relay, i went to maplin and they were no help wat so ever, didnt no wat they were talking about and had not a clue wat i was talking bout lol....

so anylinks to a 4 pin relay that would be suitable??

cheers

[mattchewone]

This should do the trick - http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=37526&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=4pin%20relay&doy=11m8

[Davey_SXi]

you sure yer??

and im guessing i wnt the 12v but do i wnt a 30amp or 40amp one??

cheers

[billz]

dude i've done this, hooked my angels to it aswell with a switch to direct power to angels from either interior light or sidelight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NYzqWB33UU
will get a vid up of interior blues aswell

[billz]

As people who have put LED bulbs into their interior light, they have noticed the bulbs never completely go off, always a slight glow. This is because power constantly runs to the light, just not enough to light it up bright, and where as normal bulbs need a lot more power to produce any light, LEDs can run off a tiny current, and therefore light up slightly..

^
thats not true, didnt happen to mine

[smiffy1989]

^^ Its true for most people, its plays havoc with some alarm systems too! I know my clifford 650 is wired upto the interior light and the continuity through the LED can cause false alarms! Took mine out after i got my alarm fitted.

[billz]

ok fair nuff

[Davey_SXi]

you sure yer??

and im guessing i wnt the 12v but do i wnt a 30amp or 40amp one??

cheers


so anyone kno wwhich exact relay i wnt then?? link??

[Davey_SXi]

bump

[drogie]

use a relay?

[drogie]

billz what is that device you are using to control the alarm?

[Corsa-Daz]

hw many relays would i need 4 my halos

[Corsa-Daz]

got my relay now how do i wire it up?

[Corsa-Daz]

billz how did you wire ur relay up u got any pics?

[Davey_SXi]

i am usin a relay, ijus dnt no which one to get, there is a lik above to the right one, just dnt no whether i need a 30amp or 40 amp one/

[billz]

daz i wired straight up to interior light fella.

[JayStallion88]

i am usin a relay, ijus dnt no which one to get, there is a lik above to the right one, just dnt no whether i need a 30amp or 40 amp one/

You want the 40amp 1 for car mate

quote off website, Designed with automotive applications in mind, this high power relay is capable of switching loads up to 40A at 12V. Suitable for controlling spotlights, heater systems, wiper motors, compressor driven air horns, tailgate lifts etc. Electrical contact...

[Davey_SXi]

wkd mate cheers!!!