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LEDs on Climate Control display panel?

R

Raiser

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Location
Limerick, Ireland
Car
SE Executive Hatch
Hi Folks,

A couple of years ago I replaced the LEDs in my SE Exec using official Honda ones from my local dealer - I'd say they lasted 6 weeks or so.

Next time I was into Dealers picking up parts or whatever I picked up another set of these - But I never actually fitted them as the trouble involved was too much for 6 weeks light!!!

- Any Accord I've ever seen seems to have the same LEDs dead, even down to a Taxi I got the other night, Driver said they blew very shortly haver repalcement also.

So...... What I'm wondering is how to mod the unit (works flawlessly other than illumination) so that I have proper, hopefully matching light (ie. rest of dash lighting)

I ***ume I need to go to Maplins and buy X Volts LEDS, and LED holders & resistors etc. etc.

I need help though as I'd surely make a mess of it on my own - Any advice or input is appreciated.

Paul
 
I don't have a 6th gen but i ***ume you will need some of these. ***uming your illumination is green.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-Pre-wired-3mm-Bright-Green-LEDs-Prewired-12V-LED-/350445544370?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item51982ea3b2


Or these for a less direct better spread light.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-Pre-wired-8mm-Wide-Angle-Green-LEDs-Prewired-12V-/360364316803?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item53e7631883
 
Thanks Crespo - So if I understand correctly with these guys you can tap into any nearby 12V wiring such as the cigarette lighter and light whatever you like without worrying about whether or not the LED is getting the exact 3.67 volts it is spec'd for......

Nice one B)
 
that's right mate. no messing about with resistors etc. just tap in to any 12v supply and off you go.
I would use either the ashtray light or the glovebox light as these only come on with the headlights. you don't want your display illuminated all the time. unless that's what you want.?
the cables are short on these LEDs so you will need more wire from maplins etc.

I have used them myself and they are great. idiot proof.
 
Thanks again Crespo!

- Yeah - I'd have just gone ahead and tapped the cigarette lighter - Glad you mentioned the fact that they'd be permanently lit!
 
hi Raiser
i will tell you all i can to help you :)

i didnt no that honda supplyed LED's for the dash :) i thought it was only bulbs they give for the dash lights.

i have tryed using the pre-wired lights but these have faliled me :( they start to flicker and then fail all togither. i fitted the 5mm pre-wired into my car all failed in 3mouths, so have worked out over time and alot of testing how to master the LED converstion.

my findings
car batt =12volts
car alterator =14volts
pre-wired LED =12volts with a 10% tolerance so max voltage 13.2volts

thats 0.8volts too much :huh:
this extra voltage damages the LED,s but there is a second factor that affects the LED,s
the alterator has a AC signal not DC so it is converted by a regulator but there is still a AC signal gets through this is called (alternator noise)

the pre-wired LEDs have the resistor on the possitive side of the wire and this is fine for a direct DC supply but the (noise) travels through the gound and hits the LED first. so when connecting LEDs in soilder the resistor on the negitive side.

just to double check you only need help with the heater controls?

there is two ways of doing this. The first is much more envolved,harder and need good soildering skill but a awesome and smart looking finish.

the second is much esayer and only a small amout of soildering is need but a bit messy looking.
 
Thanks for all of that Tin Man!

- Yeah have the LEDs somewhere - will post part no.s and a pic in case it's useful to anyone.

For now all my lighting is perfect except for clock and climate control - so the two LCD little panels.

Hmmm like the sound of the final result on option 1 but sounds like it would stress me beyond my breaking point and lead me to burn my fingers!

- Still though not sure I want a 'messy' finish......
 
Thats weird.?? My pre wired LEDs have been in my car for nearly a year and have never gave me any problems. Or perhaps it is just a 6th gen issue.??

You can see them working fine in this vid. I used them for ambient lighting by the interior lights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5po-4WLvKI
 
nice vid :) i like where you put them, i have been thinking of doing this mod to mine as i keep opening the sunroof rather than the interior light :blush:

the LED side light fail as well on the 6th gen accord as well and its because the voltage too high and there is noise on the earth wiring, i have found using a larger resistor stops it as well.

it may be the 7th gen has a more stable power supply system thats closer to 12v

whatever the case i like this mod :D can i ask tho did you run a wire form a side light feed to the interior, or did you connect into the lighting circuit?

thanks
 
You could try buying a replacement climate control unit from e-bay? The lights on my original climate control units still work after 12 years
 
Yadash said:
You could try buying a replacement climate control unit from e-bay? The lights on my original climate control units still work after 12 years
Click to expand...

the normal wee bulbs are ok, just seem to brake if you start to tamper with them :S
I fanced a diffrent colour for mine and had plenty of LEDs kicking about so gave it a-go with them. :D
 
Hey Tin-Man, don't get distracted by people on here with 7th gen Accords sidelining you with casual chit chat!!!!

- Please post your earlier mentioned cure for my lighting woes!!!!
 
Raiser said:
Hey Tin-Man, don't get distracted by people on here with 7th gen Accords sidelining you with casual chit chat!!!!

- Please post your earlier mentioned cure for my lighting woes!!!!
Click to expand...

ok no bother :)

ok al show you the way a did it.
 
step 1 get the heating controls out lol

(before you start to touch any of the IC circuits inside the controls put your hands on the nerest radiator in your house
this will ground your body and remove any eletrical charge. if you touch a IC circuit with eletrical charge there is a chance the IC will be damaged)

step 2 open it up by removing the 4 gold screws marked in red.


step 3 remove the back of the unit by using a flat head screw driver and inserting here


step 4 now remove the two light bulbs at the top and as you can see from my pic i have soildered in two 5mm LED,s with 1000ohm resistors. i have marked the positive & negative side.


if your not so confident with soildering that close then there is option two.

repeat steps 1,2 & 3

there is 2 more gold screws holding the Digital to ****og converter board in the white plastic bit. remove these and push the connectors on the back where the plugs would fit in. now you should be left with a empty plastic case.

this time drill 2 holes on the top of the white-ish plastic as shown in blue.


fit the circuit board back in and fit the two screws in now put two LED,s in the display holes and as you put the two parts back to gither feed the LEDs wires through the new drilled holes and then clip them to gether.

now fit a bullet connector over the 2 red wires and a bullet connector over the black wires.

in the car now connect a red fly wire onto the black/orange wire going into the gray plug for the heater controls with a butt connector and a do the same for the black wire in the gray plug.

fit the heater controls in and connect the bullets into the butt connectors. (dont put the four gold scews in the heater unit yet)

the LED,s will turn on with Ign, now pull or push on the LED wires till they are sitting ok.
if you pull a LED out then get the flat head out and pop the unit open again lol it mite take a few goes :)
now tape the wires in position. and fit the 4 gold screws.

now build the car back up.
 
Wow - Thanks a million Tin-Man, what a write up!

- Also must acknowledge the fact that you had to tear your dash apart to remove perfectly operational parts just to come on here and help/educate the likes of me.

Yer a gentleman and a very valuable ***et to the Forum.
 
TIN-MAN said:
the normal wee bulbs are ok, just seem to brake if you start to tamper with them :S
I fanced a diffrent colour for mine and had plenty of LEDs kicking about so gave it a-go with them. :D
Click to expand...
Fair Point XD, I would love a color change but I am not confident enough to go tampering with a functional unit :/
 
Yadash said:
Fair Point XD, I would love a color change but I am not confident enough to go tampering with a functional unit :/
Click to expand...

honda have a saying " if its working why change it?" ;)
vtec for the win!


ps i dont realy no its hondas saying but it sounds good :)
 
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