Foot Well Mood Lighting

[avusblue]

This is a good write-up...thanks for posting!

Subscribed.

[Kentonic]

I used took apart a wire hangar and made a hook to pull it through

[vault]

could someone possibly provide some pics installing a dimmer function

[boredom.is.me]

LED dimming is controlled by current so you just need to get an actual dimmer module.

[vault]

so it would go something like this?

ignition or cig lighter fuse----------->switch------>dimmer----->LEDS

[boredom.is.me]

The dimmer itself is the switch. It is normally in the form of a knob.

Power > Dimmer > Lights

[joergasm]

Originally Posted by Kentonic

Done! Finally Ok hopefully my explanation will be able to break it down barney style for everyone and I'm sure there's probably a hundred ways to improve it and my tactics aren't exactly the best but with what I have available I'm pretty proud of myself.

Originally Posted by koteman

Lights and dimmer knob installed

Originally Posted by Chaetagnath

Ok, so here's how I did it. I wanted the footwell lighting to come on when the doors were opened. I used the LED kit from Phasetek, but didn't like the LED dome light, and I wanted to be able to turn the dome light off and still have the floor lights come on. I also wanted to be able to turn them on whenever I wanted. And, I wanted to be able to disable the whole setup if I wanted. So, I went with a single throw double pole (STDP) switch. My set up works independently of the dome light and has three settings sort of like the dome light has: On when doors are opened (or doors are unlocked), on all the time, or completely off.

You guys seem to have some electrical/technical knowledge. I have NONE what-so-ever.
I more or less purchased something similar to @Kentonic footwell led strip blue from Zeta performance.

I have a brz with the smart key. I was wondering, is there a way to set up the footwell lights so that they turn on when the door opens and stay on when the vehicle is on and running?

I have no electrical knowledge so if possible break it down as simple as possible.

:happy0180:

[JS86JS]

I have blue leds, under the steering and glove box then the other two under the seats! I tapped into the 12v source in the glove box (easy + and - ). The lights come on from acc. and stay on until you turn them off (with a control box). I'll post a DIY soon. Here's a quick photo for now;

[jonghyun]

I'm a noob when it comes to wiring.

1.When you tap into the fuse box, power is supplied from there to your LED's correct?

2.Now if i wanted a switch to control when these LED's turned on would the wiring order be FUSE BOX ---- SWITCH-----LED?

3. If i wanted a dimmer, where in that circuitry would the dimmer go?

4. I read from previous posts that if you are to use a dimmer, you have to buy a specific type of LED's or the led's will just flicker from (i'm guessing) inconsistent/lack of amperage?

[RurumariGhost]

Originally Posted by jonghyun

I'm a noob when it comes to wiring.

1.When you tap into the fuse box, power is supplied from there to your LED's correct?

2.Now if i wanted a switch to control when these LED's turned on would the wiring order be FUSE BOX ---- SWITCH-----LED?

3. If i wanted a dimmer, where in that circuitry would the dimmer go?

4. I read from previous posts that if you are to use a dimmer, you have to buy a specific type of LED's or the led's will just flicker from (i'm guessing) inconsistent/lack of amperage?

1. yes
2. yes
3. put the dimmer where you put the switch in #2 (between power and the led)
4. To dim leds you need a pwm, its a specific type of dimmer switch

[jonghyun]

Originally Posted by RurumariGhost

1. yes
2. yes
3. put the dimmer where you put the switch in #2 (between power and the led)
4. To dim leds you need a pwm, its a specific type of dimmer switch

MORE QUESTIONS:
1. so the dimmer IS the switch, and pwm is a TYPE of dimmer, in which case i dont actually need to get a certain type of led's?
2. if i want to install lights on driver and passenger side would using a T-tap be the best way to go?
3. where do you actually connect it to the fuse box? does the fuse box contain extra empty slots you can just hook up the wire to?
4. i dont understand what materials are needed to actually connect the wire to the Fuse box.

[RurumariGhost]

Originally Posted by jonghyun

MORE QUESTIONS:
1. so the dimmer IS the switch, and pwm is a TYPE of dimmer, in which case i dont actually need to get a certain type of led's?
2. if i want to install lights on driver and passenger side would using a T-tap be the best way to go?
3. where do you actually connect it to the fuse box? does the fuse box contain extra empty slots you can just hook up the wire to?
4. i dont understand what materials are needed to actually connect the wire to the Fuse box.

1. There are no "certain type" of leds, leds are leds, all that varies is the color and power draw (voltage/current)
2. I personally don't like t-taps, I will be doing this in a few weekends and will most likely strip the insulation off a wire, splice and solder my leads in that way, For my money its worth the time to do, better connection and no risk of corrosion.
3. Since I will be tapping directly into a wire there is no need for me to tap into the fuse box, the only difference is where you're drawing power from.
4. a fuse tap will tap plug onto the back of a fuse and draw power by making a connection that way.

[Minovsky]

Originally Posted by Chaetagnath

Ok, so here's how I did it. I wanted the footwell lighting to come on when the doors were opened. I used the LED kit from Phasetek, but didn't like the LED dome light, and I wanted to be able to turn the dome light off and still have the floor lights come on. I also wanted to be able to turn them on whenever I wanted. And, I wanted to be able to disable the whole setup if I wanted. So, I went with a single throw double pole (STDP) switch. My set up works independently of the dome light and has three settings sort of like the dome light has: On when doors are opened (or doors are unlocked), on all the time, or completely off.

Here is the switch I used:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/sear...T%20ON-OFF-ON/

In fact, you probably could do this for a lot cheaper buying all the pieces yourself from there directly, but I had the Phasetek set up so I modified it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I highly recommend disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery before doing anything. Obligatory I am not responsible for anything you do note.

So, to get the footwell light to turn on when the doors open, I chose to tap the line going into the dome light:



The way the dome light works is the middle green wire is from the battery, the black wire is a permanent ground, and the pink wire is an alternate ground which is controlled by the ECU. The pink one is the one which is connected when the doors are opened.

So, I tapped the pink wire and ran a wire along the ceiling, down the passenger side pillar, and behind the glove box. I also put an inline fuse here. The pink line has no fuse, and if you short it, it will fry the connector at the ECU, then the dome lights will never go on with the doors open unless you get a new ECU. Another good reason to disconnect the battery before fiddling.

The STDP Switch is then used to switch from the pink line ground, to a permanent ground which is attached to the chassis anywhere. I chose this bolt which is under the panel directly below the drivers side knee pad because it was close to where I decided to put the switch.




The switch has three connectors, the middle one goes to the LED light assembly, and each side is the two different ground lines. NOte: MOst switches are STSP, that is just on-off. This one is STDP, that is it has on - off - on.




For power, I used a fuse tap which always draws power, even when there is no key in the ignition:




It's kind of hard to see, but its the second slot down from that side.

The LED light wiring from Phasetek has two connectors, one is power, the other is ground, and then they split out to each LED.




So the power is plugged in in that picture, and the middle wire from the switch plugs into the other tap in the picture.

Then, I installed the switch in the panel below the driver side knee pad.



And it looks awesome

Hi im just wondering where that First picture is the wire with the pink green and black wire? And how do i get to it?

[RurumariGhost]

Originally Posted by Chaetagnath

I personally prefer T-taps. Easier to install, plus then you can just unplug it later if you want for some reason. You want the blue or red ones.

@Chaetagnath, do you ever hit your switch with your knee while driving? It looks like you put it right where my knee tends to go while cruising on the highway