The theory is simple, and can be applied to just about any other car with 12V
leads. So, let's get started!
MATERIALS LIST
- 100 led's of your color choice
- 37-ohm resistors (available in packs of 5 from Radio Shack)
- Soldering Iron
- Rosin
- Flux
- Copper Braid (for $%^&-ups...great to have)
- About 1ft. of 22ga. wire
- PCB (available from Radio Shack)
- Dremel or other rotary cutting tool
- 9V Battery
- 560-ohm (or greater) resistor
DOME BULB
Step I: Pop the cover off of the dome light.
Step II: Remove the dome light by unscrewing the two large screws that hold the
dome bulbs in place.
Step III: With the dome light removed, pry the four tabs holding the dome bulb
backing in place off.
Step IV: Make a template for your PCB using the old backing.
Step V: Cut the PCB and fit test.
STEP VI: Test your first LED. You are going to want to test each and every LED
before you put it in the assembly...simply attach a wire to the pos end of a 9V
battery, and a wire with a 560-ohm resistor to the neg. end. Touch the LED with
the wires. Do this with every LED.
STEP VII: Lead the prongs of the first LED through the PCB, and bend the leads
out.
STEP VIII: Space out your next LED, bending towards the LED in front of it.
Connect the (+) to the (+), and the (-) to the (-). Solder the leads together,
then cut off the extra lead on the new LED.
Continue this process for the first row.
Step IX: Test the row with a battery. If the row does not light up, double
check your leads.
Step X: Continue making your rows in the same fashion, testing after each row is
done.
Step IX: Now, here is where you have one of two options. You can either bend the
(+) and (-) OEM leads or cut them off. I cut them off.
STEP XII: Put the new PCB in place. Mounting depth is up to you. You are now
going to use the 22ga wire to connect all 5 (+) and (-) leads separately. Once
they are connected, thread the wire through the small hole in the OEM dome
assembly and solder to the OEM (+) and (-) leads, respectively. You MUST attach
a 37-ohm resistor to the (-) side lead. The + side of the OEM board will be the
one closest to the 12V stamp on the assembly. I glued once side of the PCB using
GOOP All-Purpose Marine glue for additional strength. Solder the leads.
Here's how it will look all done.
STEP XIII: Test the entire assembly using a resistor-free 9v battery. Touch the
respective leads to the ends of the battery. You should light up the night sky.
STEP XIV: Install. Enjoy.
Now, as a quick note I want to add, it would have
been much easier to run the (+) and (-) in opposite
directions. YOU SHOULD DO IT THIS WAY...I DID NOT THINK OF IT AT THE TIME.
Follow the same method for the map light.
-Metal
Maxima |
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