ambient footwell lighting

[J.Topaz]

Most modern cars these days come factory fitted with LED footwell lighting of some kind (not chav-tastic neons). Our new focus does and i think it looks pretty smart.

I'm wanting to replicate this look in the Ibiza but can't seem to find the right 12v feed. I only want the lights to come on when the interior light comes on eg when i unlock the car or open the doors. I don't fancy wiring straight from the interior light on the roof as it would mean hiding a lot of wires. So i'm thinking there must be a feed elsewhere which i can tap into?

I've searched for a while but found nothing covering this. I dont want them constantly on, nor do i want an amateur switch. Its going to end up looking good but i need to find that feed first

 

[Adam R]

feeding from the interior light isnt that hard, just a bit of a faf. but saying that, as you say if you can find a better feed that would be good.

keep us updated on your little project as im interested in this too

 

[J.Topaz]

yea a 'closer to the floor' feed would be ideal. I've been playing with the voltmeter a lot today but found zilch other than the roof light itself - the lamp wires must lead/end somewhere?

as soon as i have the perfect feed i'll use the same idea to do puddle lights under the wing mirros. snazzy

 

[antnee]

Is the interior light fused? Maybe go off there.

Have you tried following where the wire goes?

 

[ian_cupra]

i've done it in mine used some b&q led lighting fitments, there 12v, will see if can find some pics

 

[J.Topaz]

Is the interior light fused? Maybe go off there.

Have you tried following where the wire goes?

I haven't as the wires are hidden under the roof lining and I don't really want to peel it back to see where it goes. As with most car interior as soon as you move/peel it back it never goes back in to position.

I guess its fused... so what your sayings is run some wires from the fuse box?

i've done it in mine used some b&q led lighting fitments, there 12v, will see if can find some pics

you've managed to do it? hope you used white LED's and I bet it looks smart? Where did you get your 12v feed from?

B&Q led lighting fitments - nice. Ive got some spare white difused 5mm LED's lying around so i'm going to cluster them up and stick them either side of each footwell. Not sure if i'll use 8 in total yet or 16? depends on how bright it is.

 

[ian_cupra]

yeah there white ones, 3 leds in each part, and i used 3 units in each footwell, cant remember, think i fed some wires upto the interior light, been in for 3 years now

 

[MIkey kc]

pics??

 

[J.Topaz]

yeah there white ones, 3 leds in each part, and i used 3 units in each footwell, cant remember, think i fed some wires upto the interior light, been in for 3 years now

where'd you run the wires from the lamp on the roof? did it involve peeling back the lining and then running it down the pillar? If you did was it easy to take of the pillar panels?

and lastly does it look chav or subtle

 

[Cupra Gsy]

Your roof lining should go back fine as i took mine out the other day and it went straight back without any sign of it being removed apart fron the 5" screen which is mounted into it lol

 

[J.Topaz]

Your roof lining should go back fine as i took mine out the other day and it went straight back without any sign of it being removed apart fron the 5" screen which is mounted into it lol

A screen! snazzy what have you hooked it up to? PS3?

How did you hide the wires of the screen?

 

[thejollywodger]

i would also be interested in some ambient lighting

 

[J.Topaz]

i would also be interested in some ambient lighting

everybody is...

i'll be making a guide with pictures that everybody loves.

 

[antnee]

Are you going to run the wires from the interior light? or trace the wires further down?

 

[J.Topaz]

Are you going to run the wires from the interior light? or trace the wires further down?

i'd like to trace them lower down purely for ease. but i dont know where i should be looking...

if not i was just going to run wire down the pillars hidden somehow

 

[J.Topaz]

i've just bought 10 of these bad boys. should be exactly what i need. the ones i had arent 12v and i dont have any resistors...

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/u12v60w-white-20000-angle-with-wires-p-1484.html

 

[ian_cupra]

keep forgetting to get some pictures, sorry guys, will try tonight

 

[J.Topaz]

keep forgetting to get some pictures, sorry guys, will try tonight

will be good to see what it looks like

 

[Oj 89]

i've just bought 10 of these bad boys. should be exactly what i need. the ones i had arent 12v and i dont have any resistors...

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/u12v60w-white-20000-angle-with-wires-p-1484.html

Damn, too late. Wanted to warn you not to get LEDs as they don't fade, the voltage is high enough to turn them on or off, had it in a ol' corsa, couldn't adjust the brightness of the dash once the LEDs were in. If you don't mind the lack of fading, then tis all good.

 

[J.Topaz]

Damn, too late. Wanted to warn you not to get LEDs as they don't fade, the voltage is high enough to turn them on or off, had it in a ol' corsa, couldn't adjust the brightness of the dash once the LEDs were in. If you don't mind the lack of fading, then tis all good.

ah i knew that all along thats why i bought the 6-15v LEDs. heres my theory:

at 6v they will be on but not so bright, and and at 12v they will be on and quite bright.

when the interior light dims obviously the voltage drops and below 6v they will just turn off.

if not, it wont be too hard to wire in a fliament bulb of some kind as the wiring will already be in place. cheers for the heads up though