The Best and Brightest Domelight Available
 

This is a project I've been working on for a few weeks now and thought I would finally share it with you guys. I really didn't like the idea that in order for me to have blue lighting in my car, I would have to sacrifice usability and utility. If you've ever tried to find/read something in pure red/blue/whatever light, you know it's difficult at best. I decided to remedy that problem by creating a dual function domelight.

After waiting a couple of weeks, I finally received my proto-boards, reflow soldered the components, and retrofit it into the domelight assembly. There are a total of 24 PLCC LEDs that are used for accent lighting. The 6 main LEDs are Luxeon Rebel LEDs and run up to 900mA each.
http://i.imgur.com/Mr8k1LQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SuI4L63.jpg


For the Accent function, the domelight is simply left in the "DOOR" position. A voltage controlled pulse width modulation circuit ensures that the LEDs are dimmed as LEDs should properly be dimmed. Every single product offering currently available for this vehicle does not properly dim the LEDs and simply relies on the stock voltage drop. This leads to a domelight that seems to just instantly turn off after dimming just a small amount. My domelights accent LEDs dim 100% linearly. There is also built in thermal shutdown protection, over-current protection, and over-voltage protection.

http://i.imgur.com/mlIBmHL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RVsSGH4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0OcjZ6F.jpg

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhA-6GIDAz0&feature=player_detailpage"]Daybright Domelight Accent Function - YouTube[/ame]

For the Main LED function, the domelight is simply switched to "ON." The main LEDs are truly the best part about this project. I designed the board where I can easily choose any amount of light output between 100 Lumens, all the way up to 1400 Lumens of total output. For comparison, a stock HID bulb outputs ~3200 Lumens. I ultimately narrowed it down to 3 stages:

Stage 1 - 500 Lumens
Stage 2 - 900 Lumens
Stage 3 - 1400 Lumens

The comparison photos were all shot at the exact same F-Stop and ISO. Enjoy.

http://i.imgur.com/uZmojEM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/JnpldxN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aLxUYQs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QFuETLu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/R5PL3lg.jpg

Another upside to this design is the Accent LEDs can be any color, and the main LEDs can be any color. This includes cool, neutral, warm white, plus deep red, red, red-orange, amber, green, cyan, blue, royal blue, purple, etc.

-Acree

Do u sell these man? Plz pm me price I want!!!

Have you tried driving for over 30 minutes then having a passenger turn the light on for a few seconds to simulate maybe dropping something? I ask because setting 3 and maybe 2 seem incredibly bright, so bright possibly to temporarily have that after glow from your eyes being used to the dark then hit with light for a flash. Definitely interested in setting 1 though if you're ever going to sell them!

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

I have absolutely considered that. That is why I've been testing Stage 3 in my personal car for a couple of weeks now. We recently took a trip down to Austin and had a good amount of driving at night. My girlfriend and I found ourselves using it more than we thought we would.

Saying that, there will without a doubt be people who find Stage 3 absolutely too bright. Personally for me, I did not experience any issues with retaining night vision or being distracted while driving while my passenger was using it.

I would consider making these if there were enough people who were interested.

-Acree

Combine these with some LED strips to go in the footwells with color matching the accent LED's and I think you've got a winner on your hands.

price?!?!

Awesome, well thanks for doing the R&D. Last thing you want is someone to blame you for an accident. You should get a POLL going to get a better idea of your interested numbers. I know I am. Is it possible your LED diodes aren't chinese?

That's a good idea. I added a poll to the thread.

The accent LEDs are sourced depending on their spectral luminosity and peak wavelength. Considering the difference between great LEDs and poor LEDs in this package size is typically $0.25/unit, I never skimp in the selection. I can't tell you whether or not the LEDs are sourced from China. My supplied is headquartered and warehoused here in Texas.

For the main LEDs, they are sourced from North America as well.

-Acree

Stage two :) not too bright just right~~~ judging from your picture haha

What were you using to switch between the different stages? I was thinking about the same problem of getting bright lights when I need it vs not blinding myself all the time at night.

I was thinking of getting the brightest panel I can get my hands on and put in some dimmer circuits, either a simple pot or a PWM. If I can get that same dimmer switch used for the instrument panel (parts # anyone?), and put that up besides the dome switch.

The main LED stage brightnesses are set once installed. The board design is flexible where I can use the same board layout for all 3 stages, but once assembled, the Main LED brightness is set. Therefore, a user would have to order a Stage 1, 2, or 3.

-Acree

Stage 3 gives me a headache...

When does the circle of 6 LED's light? Or is that one of the stages?

The circle of LEDs in the middle are white LEDs. The other arrays are blue LEDs.

The 6 LEDs in the center are the main LEDs. The grid of LEDs to each side are composed of PLCC2 package LEDs. These are the accent LEDs and are current regulated to 20mA a piece.

The main LEDs operate at much much higher current, up to 900mA a piece. Here is a very underexposed image of the center LEDs.

http://i.imgur.com/uGLOgZA.jpg

-Acree

You caught my attention when you said any color. So far I've looked at the different interior lighting kits available and have been depressed by the lack of anything in orange. I'm really tempted to put some orange accents on my interior and I'm thinking the lighting would be perfect to go with it. Definitely watching.

The best thing about it is for the accent LEDs, I can get almost any peak wavelength between deep red to amber or yellow for you.

Then if you want a warm white main light, I can do that. Or neutral. Or cool. Or blue! It's completely configurable. I'm thinking about having multiple price points for each stage.

Here's an example to give you guys a good idea of how much power is running through these things. Stage 2 and Stage 3 both have active cooling on top of the assembly. I have done rigorous thermal tests to ensure that both of the heatsinks and the cooling fan are keeping the LED junction temperature below the manufacturer's recommended temp, even in 140*F ambient temperature! At full tilt, Stage 3 draws almost 16 watts. I guarantee no one else has done the same development and testing on their options as this one.

If you notice in the top pictures, this is actually a full retrofit. This is not something that can be simply dropped in and working. It requires extensive modification of the dome light assembly. I'm thinking of either buying new cores, or letting people send me their dome lights. I believe I can keep the turn around time under 24 hours.

-Acree

By the way, does anyone have any suggestions? Are there features or options you guys would like to see? Let me know!

-Acree

Dude, these are badass. Too bad it'll require shipping my dome light to you, International mail is slow! But totally down, I'm waiting for updates!!

I was going to PM, but then I found this thread so I'll just post here. DEFINITELY interested if you sell these. I can't really think of any additional features I would want.

I'll take one in pink, please. :)

i am definatly interested in these, have you come up with a price for them yet

Looks great. Definitely interested.

am in for a buy

Believe it or not, I can actually do pink for the accent light.

The response so far has blown me away. I think that for Stage 1, I can keep the price under $100. I hope to become a vendor soon and offer an initial group buy with tiered pricing.

Please keep in mind, this is a retrofit that I will personally complete and not a bulb swap. The installation of the board requires modification to the dome light assembly. You won't be able to plug a bulb back into the stock housing. This also requires you to send your dome light assembly to me, do a core swap, or purchase a new assembly. I'm currently working on a source for new dome light assemblies.

-Acree

I'm in Austin and wouldn't mind driving a couple hours or more to have this done.. give me a pm.. would love to have this in my car..

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

You wouldn't even have to make a trip down. It can be swapped out in 30 seconds and I can ship it.

-Acree

Oh I know, I was serious. :) I was actually expecting around $100 for something like this, so I'm pretty excited to see where this goes.

hopefully a diy on how to wire this all up? Thanks!! :D

Probably a stupid question but how do you select which lights come on, the ring or the accent? The slider?

Explained in the first post, basically yes that slider.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

he made it totally plug N play. so u just plug it into the dome light plug up in the roof

oh damn take my money now

I'm interested, as long as price is reasonable!!

I'll have something big to share with you guys in the next couple of days.

-Acree

@Acree

DISCLAIMER: This is the Group Buy list only. Specific options will be discussed later on in a new GroupBuy thread.


To avoid clutter and having a list on every post, anyone just tell me via PM or here and I'll add to the list on this post.

Groupbuy:

1) Sportsguy83
2) Honeydew
3) Fenrir
4) Matchamochi
5) Skippman
6) JPxM0Dz
7) Zgrinch
8) Bobpuffer
9) tmtownsend
10) GH05T
11) toddj55
12) AtlasMick
13) xWiCkeDx
14) DriftEightSix
15) Brody602
16) TweakLawl
17) maximumdose
18) Nevermore
19) Toxic78
20) Raz
21) invzabomaster
22) ph0en1xtk
23) dflood75
24) peace_noel
25) makalaka
26) cagster

[QUOTE=Sportsguy83;764932]@Acree

Groupbuy:

1) Sportsguy83.
2) Honeydew
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

Groupbuy:

1) Sportsguy83.
2) Honeydew
3) Fenrir
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

Groupbuy:

1) Sportsguy83.
2) Honeydew
3) Fenrir
4) Matchamochi
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)