Under Dashboard Lighting


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Varun,

Thanks for that. Let me try it by next week end. But am little bit scared since I have not done anything like that in a car.

SMS
 
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Not yet my dear friend. I think I will be busy with my office till the end of the next week. I will buzz you once I have done.

Thank you for asking.
 
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You can buy 3V LEDs from electronic shop and connect 4 in a series. i.e., 3x4=12V
You can make 5 rows of 4 LED strips. That makes is 20 LEDs, which costs around Rs.40/-. Make four such blocks and put one in each of your interior space. Cheapest solution for Rs.160/-. Of course you need some wires, tapes to finish it off safely. As of now, I just installed 4 + 4 LEDs for my front interior space. Its not too bright. I will install 80 LEDs and post pics. :)
 
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I was under impression that we can get the LED strips directly either from electronic shop or car spares shop. Will it not be available ?
 

deville_56

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I was under impression that we can get the LED strips directly either from electronic shop or car spares shop. Will it not be available ?
LED strips are available across both shops, but better to get from electronic shop as car accessory shops charge very premium. In TVM, half meter at electronic shop 75-80 for normal and 125 for waterproof. Same normal one at car accessory shop 200-400.
 
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I just posted the cheapest solution. I spent less than hundred to light up my car floor. I will post pics tomorrow. Since, i am an electronic hobbyist, i did this myself. But, would advise others to go up with the strips as its pretty safe.
 
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You can buy 3V LEDs from electronic shop and connect 4 in a series. i.e., 3x4=12V
You can make 5 rows of 4 LED strips. That makes is 20 LEDs, which costs around Rs.40/-. Make four such blocks and put one in each of your interior space. Cheapest solution for Rs.160/-. Of course you need some wires, tapes to finish it off safely. As of now, I just installed 4 + 4 LEDs for my front interior space. Its not too bright. I will install 80 LEDs and post pics. :)
Yesterday I have checked with a shop in 100 fet road opp to lakshman shruti, vadapalani. they said a strip cost me around Rs.250 If I need to fix LED below my dash board I beilive I might need to strips and its cost around Rs.500

Mr. Elavu, as per your solutions it cost around Rs. 200 only. But I dont know in which I have to fix the LEDs. What should be the material we use for strip. and how do you connect LEDs with each other? Soldering ? or do we have any board readyly available?
 
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Yes, you need to buy 8 LEDs for each place.
i.e., 8 x 2 for Under Dashboard alone.
plus another 8 x 2 for rear floor lighting.

LED Cost = 32 x 2 = 64/-

Then you need some wires, soldering kit, PCBs small size, wires stripper and insulation tape.
Wires - 20/- (paired wires 4 metres)
PCB - 10 x 4 = 40/- (Ensure you can place 8 LEDs with enough space)

The below image shows a medium size one. You would need half the size of this.

In each LED one lead will be small and the other longer.

Insert the first 4 LEDs in one row such that previous LED's short leg is connected to next LED's long leg. Then follow the same procedure and insert another 4 LEDs in another row.

If you have a soldering kit and know to do soldering, pls proceed with soldering them
Otherwise just twist the adjacent legs and make the connection.
I didnt do soldering as my kit didnt work.
You will have the first LED's long leg and the last LED's short leg free. That is reserved for power supply.
Now you got a 4 LED series circuit. Repeat the same for the second row as well.

Make sure both the series has long legs on same side.
Then connect the two row's long legs on one end and short legs on the other end.
If you are twisting the legs to make the connection, make sure you do proper insulation such that it doesnt interfere with other connections. Connect 1metre of paired wire to this whole block. Red wire on the long leg and black wire on the short leg. Enclose this whole block into a small white box. Each box cost around 5/- only.

Put a hole in the box to let the wires out. Connect the wires to your car positive(red) and negative(black) terminal which is available in you dashboard. Stick the box with a double sided tape. It would cost 10/-.

Repeat the whole procedure to make 4 blocks and stick 2 of them under dashboard (left side and right side) and the other 2 under each front seat.
 

deville_56

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@^^

Get half meter LED strip. Use 2 blocks of 3 LEDs each side. No hassles. 6 blocks will be left, fit them wherever possible :D Effective cost will be 30-40 only.
 
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Hi deville_56,

You are right. Led strip is hassle free. But It looks like the price is little bit on higher side. Today I found the same in ebay for Rs.99. Need some clarrification from the seller. Once i got it I will buy it.

As Mr. Elavu said, I think it might be risky for others. so I will go to my mechanic [ electrical ] and ask him to fix it.

Sethu
 
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