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DIY - Overhead ambient lighting

alnug

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Location
W. Yorkshire
Car
Jaguar XF S
Tools
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-Bell wire or similar
-2 leds - LED holders - 2xpaper clips
-1 k variable resistor (or approx 500ohm resistor or whatever you calculate)
-2 pin 01" pcb connector and socket (or whatever you want)
-2 screws
-insulation for wiring - I used loom tape and some acoustic carpet I had -zip tie and PVC tape
-trim clip remover - flat blade

DIY
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Once I had the footwell lights installed I always thought there was something missing in the centre area of the car. I'd wanted ambient lighting and found the perfect spot to put it, the overhead console...i think only suitable for the Type-S models though as the Exec consoles are different.

-Take off the cover on the overhead console which covers the alarm sonic sensors. This will expose 2 screws, remove them and also remove the connection to the sensors.
-Now you can wiggle the console out, remove the two remaining connectors.
-crimp up the 2 pin socket to one end of the bell wire and insulate the wiring with loom tape or similar and feed the wiring up into the top edge of the roof lining (this is why the wire must be small) overhead0.jpg
-I also insulated the bit of the wire which will be in the console overhead1.jpg
-Remove the side pillar by pulling back the rubber weather stripping and taking a flat blade or similar pry up on the SRS tab to release the clip, now the pillar is just held by clips so pulling will free it..make you remove the clips that didn't come out by themselves.
-feed the rest of the wire down the pillar and secure to prevent rattling. I insulated the rest of the cable
overhead2.jpgoverhead3.jpgoverhead4.jpg
-then feed it into the glovebox compartment through the back of the dash
overhead5.jpg overhead6.jpg
- I just probed the back of the glovebox light with the wire since it seems to have an open crimp, loop the wire back on itself and cable tie to secure..you could you snap locks here or solder whatever you want. Also you need to make sure you mark +ve and -ve!
overhead8.jpg
-secure the remaining cabling
overhead7.jpg

- skipped a bit here but you basically need to make up another harness for the LEDs, this is a simple series circuit, the blue thing is a variable resistor and the metal holders for the LEDs are fashioned using round nose pliers and papaerclips ;)...solder the two pin connector and match the +ve and -ve of the socket.
overhead9.jpgoverhead10.jpgoverhead13.jpg
 
-note i have placed the LEDs next to the clips so allows me to easily locate

where to drill holes!
-connect up and test
overhead14.jpgoverhead15.jpg

-Time to mod the cover plate. you have to be a bit careful here..don't go too large and try to drill straight down...too large and the light will just reflect at you in the rear view mirror! i used 3mm i think and i chamfered and dulled the edges matt black to reduce reflection in the mirror (to be honest they are minimal if the hole is small). I used extra padding to block stray light also.
overhead16.jpgoverhead17.jpg

-The finished article
overhead18.jpgoverhead19.jpg

Resistor values
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Different colour LEDs and brands etc etc have different values required to drive them. but generally speaking if you keep near 500ohms with this config you will be driving the LEDs safely. I put a variable resistor to tune the lighting output.
 
Hey Alan, for some reason I cant seem to view any of the photos on this post, is it something to do with my account or an issue with the post ;)
 
Cool stuff!

Now I'm getting some ideas about my unused cigarette lamp
biggrin.gif
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Alan wheres the aim of these LEDS going, does it point directly on the gear gaitor area?
 
Where can you get these LED's and holders. And can you get the LED's in amber.??
 
Where can you get these LED's and holders. And can you get the LED's in amber.??


To answer my own question. Yes you can get them in amber and they are available from Ebay or Maplins. If anyone is interested i have 50 3mm amber leds with 12v resistors. I will happily post them free of charge to anyone who has a use for 1 or 2, Just let me know how many you want.
I plan on installing them in the cup holder and door handles, I will post pics of my progress when i get round to doing it.
 
I am very interested in this topic about ambient lightning, but i cannot see the attached pictures.
Can anybody help me?
 
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