I'm looking to do an LED conversion to my heater controls. It looks relatively simple...
I just have a couple of questions first. I intend to use this guide:
http://www.mr2oc.co.uk/know-your-2-know ... bartid=232
I am looking to buy these LEDs and resistors, as I presumed that wide angle ultra bright leds would work best for the light diffusion.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-WHITE-FLAT ... 588a382551
Would these LEDs work fine for what I intend to do?
Would the above method work ok?
LED converted heater controls
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LED converted heater controls
Last edited by KarlBristol on Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Selling up my highly modified and restored Rev 1 V6 3.0 1MZ-FE VVTi
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Re: LED converted heater controls
Unless I'm missing something you've forgotten to post a link to the LEDs you're referring to
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Re: LED converted heater controls
jack-p wrote:Unless I'm missing something you've forgotten to post a link to the LEDs you're referring to
Not at all mate ... its clearly there
I didn't edit the post at all, lol
Altered and updated now thanks mate
Selling up my highly modified and restored Rev 1 V6 3.0 1MZ-FE VVTi
http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=176156
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Re: LED converted heater controls
I have done mine and would advise not to use LED's for the back lights at all. I've used red LED's soldered on for all the buttons on the heater & all the fog & door switches. Best way I found for the heater back lights is to take out the bulb, strip off the silcone cover that makes them green & paint the bulb with a couple of coats of glass paint from a hobby shop, about 3 quid. Mine are red and this worked a bell of a lot better than any LED I tried. Guessing you want to go blue?...
Re: LED converted heater controls
There is another alternative by using led strips which I've seen gives great results. It's fiddly from what I remeber though...I'll dig out all info I have and share as I'm planning to give this a go in the coming months.
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Re: LED converted heater controls
riot68 wrote:I have done mine and would advise not to use LED's for the back lights at all. I've used red LED's soldered on for all the buttons on the heater & all the fog & door switches. Best way I found for the heater back lights is to take out the bulb, strip off the silcone cover that makes them green & paint the bulb with a couple of coats of glass paint from a hobby shop, about 3 quid. Mine are red and this worked a bell of a lot better than any LED I tried. Guessing you want to go blue?...
Thanks for the heads up mate.
I may buy a spare unit to give it a go with.
The only led heater conversions that I have seen have dead spots where the light isn't diffused properly. They aren't massively noticable, but they are dead spots all the same.
However this is using standard 5mm coloured leds. I propose to use flat head, wide angle leds to over come this problem and spread the light equally. As white is at the highest end of the visual spectrum the light spreads the best, as opposed to a colour such as red which is towards the lower end of the spectrum. Therefore I'm hoping that it should be fine, I'm also contemplating the use of led covers to aid in equal light diffusion.
Did you use standard leds on your replacement?
I'm looking to replace them with bright white leds to give a more modern feel which is easier to see. Plus its the most effective colour to go with in a diffusion unit like the MR2.
My speedo lights are the brightest lights inside my car currently, and after 23 years I can honestly say that you have to squint to see them - not good whilst trying to drive! lol. Any upgrade would make a hell of a difference, here's my speedo currently (this is with the lights tirned right up). The heater control lights are barely visible at all:
Selling up my highly modified and restored Rev 1 V6 3.0 1MZ-FE VVTi
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Re: LED converted heater controls
biohazard wrote:There is another alternative by using led strips which I've seen gives great results. It's fiddly from what I remeber though...I'll dig out all info I have and share as I'm planning to give this a go in the coming months.
I read up about this last night, and it does look good. The write up I was reading they were trying to change it all to red leds - it made a hell of a difference! Not sure it would be much of a difference when using white leds though...
It is definately a fiddly job though.
Think I might trial it with white leds, and if it looks c**p then go with an led strip replacement.
Selling up my highly modified and restored Rev 1 V6 3.0 1MZ-FE VVTi
http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=176156
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Re: LED converted heater controls
I replaced the bulbs behind my clocks with mult smd 501 type led bulbs and was so pleased with the result I decided to fit smd led bulbs in the heater control too, and while I was at it, I fitted white led's to door swithces and the ciggy lighter too.
heres some pics,..
heres some pics,..
Re: LED converted heater controls
That looks great
I wish I could get round to doing something like that, looks really worthwhile.
I wish I could get round to doing something like that, looks really worthwhile.
Re: LED converted heater controls
Seen the strip LED's too and look ok, all I'm suggesting is try the regular bulbs first, if you only want white then just strip off the silicone covers, although I guess they'll be slightly yellow. If you slide your stereo out you can change them without even taking the heater unit out, good to try first without the hassle.
I changed all the LED's on the board for red ones, so the heater switches and aircon etc are red, I just used the regular bulbs in the backlights, painted with the glass paint, no matter what I tried with the LED's there were hot spots, the paint bulbs however look spot on...
I changed all the LED's on the board for red ones, so the heater switches and aircon etc are red, I just used the regular bulbs in the backlights, painted with the glass paint, no matter what I tried with the LED's there were hot spots, the paint bulbs however look spot on...
Re: LED converted heater controls
When you say smd do you meen the ones with 5 sepetate leds on one unit? I ordered some normal leds but might get some of these instead to get a more even spread of light. How did u fit them to the heater as i thought u needed the leds with legs not push fit?
Re: LED converted heater controls
MR2O12 wrote:When you say smd do you meen the ones with 5 sepetate leds on one unit? I ordered some normal leds but might get some of these instead to get a more even spread of light. How did u fit them to the heater as i thought u needed the leds with legs not push fit?
these are the bulbs I fit behind the clocks,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-T10-W5W-50 ... 4ab2b8b835
I then took 2 of the same bulbs and removed the blastic holder at the bottom, then took heater control apart and fit these inside, soldered the legs of the bulb directly to the heater circuit board, and also had to modify the light reflector to get the bulb to fit but you can see the light spread in the pic, I have no hot or dark spots and everything lights up nicely..
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Re: LED converted heater controls
p5ycho wrote:I replaced the bulbs behind my clocks with mult smd 501 type led bulbs and was so pleased with the result I decided to fit smd led bulbs in the heater control too, and while I was at it, I fitted white led's to door swithces and the ciggy lighter too.
heres some pics,..
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j47 ... AG0599.jpg
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j47 ... AG0598.jpg
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j47 ... AG0600.jpg
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j47 ... AG0601.jpg
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j47 ... AG0595.jpg
Looks really good mate - hopefully I won't be far behind you
I presume that the heater control, window switches, etc ... need to be soldered in with resisters?
How long did all of it take?
Selling up my highly modified and restored Rev 1 V6 3.0 1MZ-FE VVTi
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Re: LED converted heater controls
Takes a while, very fiddle, just beware of little springs that fly out when you do the door and fog switches, only have to solder the resistor to the LED after fitting it in the bulb holder. Just remember that LED's need the polarity right, normal bulbs work anyway around, LED's need to be the correct way around.
If you need any help let me know, I did all of mine last year...
If you need any help let me know, I did all of mine last year...
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Re: LED converted heater controls
riot68 wrote:Takes a while, very fiddle, just beware of little springs that fly out when you do the door and fog switches, only have to solder the resistor to the LED after fitting it in the bulb holder. Just remember that LED's need the polarity right, normal bulbs work anyway around, LED's need to be the correct way around.
If you need any help let me know, I did all of mine last year...
Thanks mate, I may have to take you up on the offer help/advice
Just a quick question to start. The drivers window control sections (for both windows and the window lock)- is this one single led or several??
Can I test fit the leds to see if they work without the use of the resister?
Hoping to do the speedo bulbs in the next couple of days and replace everything else on my next set of rest days
Ps is the civic sprayed up yet?
You coming to japfest at castle coombe this year bud?
Selling up my highly modified and restored Rev 1 V6 3.0 1MZ-FE VVTi
http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=176156
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Re: LED converted heater controls
More than one LED, about 3 I think. If you.power up.without the resistors they will blow.
Civic getting done by the kids 31st, then me a few weeks later.
Not got plans for Japfest at the mo, long way, what is the date?...
Civic getting done by the kids 31st, then me a few weeks later.
Not got plans for Japfest at the mo, long way, what is the date?...
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Re: LED converted heater controls
I'm about to tackle the heater unit, however did the dash a few days ago. £10 for the ultra bright WLED units and maybe 30 mins turns this
Into this
They even come with an LED for the ignition ring
The sky's the limit really. Once the heater's been done I have designs on doing a few bits I've not seen done before. Nothing beats a good old meddle in the evening
Into this
They even come with an LED for the ignition ring
The sky's the limit really. Once the heater's been done I have designs on doing a few bits I've not seen done before. Nothing beats a good old meddle in the evening
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Re: LED converted heater controls
riot68 wrote:More than one LED, about 3 I think. If you.power up.without the resistors they will blow.
Civic getting done by the kids 31st, then me a few weeks later.
Not got plans for Japfest at the mo, long way, what is the date?...
Thanks for the heads up, I'll have a gander once Ive done the speedo. Im like a little kid at christmas - honestly cant wait! Lol.
You must update with pics when it all gets done
From memory I think japfest is Saturday May 12th...
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Re: LED converted heater controls
Magic Beans wrote:I'm about to tackle the heater unit, however did the dash a few days ago. £10 for the ultra bright WLED units and maybe 30 mins turns this
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w37 ... 7-1806.jpg
Into this
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w37 ... 7-2050.jpg
They even come with an LED for the ignition ring
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w37 ... 0-0845.jpg
The sky's the limit really. Once the heater's been done I have designs on doing a few bits I've not seen done before. Nothing beats a good old meddle in the evening
That all looks really good, its such a bug difference! - I cant wait to get mine done
Im intrigued as to what youve got planned ... Care to tell or keeping it quiet?
Does the glovebox currently have a light?
Selling up my highly modified and restored Rev 1 V6 3.0 1MZ-FE VVTi
http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=176156
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Re: LED converted heater controls
KarlBristol wrote:Magic Beans wrote:I'm about to tackle the heater unit, however did the dash a few days ago. £10 for the ultra bright WLED units and maybe 30 mins turns this
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w37 ... 7-1806.jpg
Into this
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w37 ... 7-2050.jpg
They even come with an LED for the ignition ring
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w37 ... 0-0845.jpg
The sky's the limit really. Once the heater's been done I have designs on doing a few bits I've not seen done before. Nothing beats a good old meddle in the evening
That all looks really good, its such a bug difference! - I cant wait to get mine done
Im intrigued as to what youve got planned ... Care to tell or keeping it quiet?
Does the glovebox currently have a light?
It's easy to do, however I'd 100% advise you get the wide LED clusters to help with hotspots.
I don't want to say too much yet, in case it either looks terrible or is impossible. however if it comes off the whole process will be documented. i have a thing about taking pictures of every step, as you'd see in my build thread
They'll seriously transform the interior, for minimal cost and not too much effort. Better than Frankensteining a set of dials etc from another model of car too. Maybe one day though