Help with Adding 1 Led light to interior
Help with Adding 1 Led light to interior Hey guys,
I tried searching as well as look at the FAQ's... but no luck.
I just wanted to add a single interior Red LED that turns on when I turn on my lights. Is there a pretty straight forward place to wire that? If it works with the dimmer option that would be a plus.
Thanks for the help!
I tried searching as well as look at the FAQ's... but no luck.
I just wanted to add a single interior Red LED that turns on when I turn on my lights. Is there a pretty straight forward place to wire that? If it works with the dimmer option that would be a plus.
Thanks for the help!
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
I'm guessing you mean that you want a red LED indicator light in the dash to show when your exterior lights are on?
It's pretty simple to install. You can find red LEDs complete with the necessary resistors to run on 12 volts at any electronics store (do you still have a Radio Shack nearby?) and even from Amazon. They come in 3mm and 5mm sizes and run about $6 for a pack of ten. You can also find chrome or black bezels for mounting the LEDs for about the same price.
Wiring is simply a matter of connecting the red lead to a power wire for the lights - brown for simple on/off or grey for dimming - and the black lead to ground. That will make your LED illuminate with the dash lights (i.e. whenever the parking/running lights are on). If you only want the LED on with the headlights and not with the parking/running lights then you'll want to connect the red lead to the yellow wire at the headlight switch (or at the DRL module behind the radio if you mount the LED in that area).
It's pretty simple to install. You can find red LEDs complete with the necessary resistors to run on 12 volts at any electronics store (do you still have a Radio Shack nearby?) and even from Amazon. They come in 3mm and 5mm sizes and run about $6 for a pack of ten. You can also find chrome or black bezels for mounting the LEDs for about the same price.
Wiring is simply a matter of connecting the red lead to a power wire for the lights - brown for simple on/off or grey for dimming - and the black lead to ground. That will make your LED illuminate with the dash lights (i.e. whenever the parking/running lights are on). If you only want the LED on with the headlights and not with the parking/running lights then you'll want to connect the red lead to the yellow wire at the headlight switch (or at the DRL module behind the radio if you mount the LED in that area).
Why not re-purpose something that's already there that does that, like the ash tray light? All it does is sit there creating heat (and light) inside the center console when you turn on the headlights.
