Installing LED strips.
09-24-10, 02:00 PM
#1
Installing LED strips.
I plan to install some white LED strips along the bottom of the doors, on the body on a 05 LS430. What i need to know is does any one know where i can get the circuit that the rearview mirror lighs use. I want them to basically be repeaters of the mirror step lights. Is there wires inside the car that must be intergrated into or do i have to get it inside the doors? Thanks in advance.
09-26-10, 07:59 PM
#2
Basically all you need to do is splice into the current courtesy door light's wiring. If you pop off the plastic cover and remove the plastic shell containing the light, the wires should be exposed and connected to it. Just take positive and negative wiring and connect it to the current +/- wires and it should power both just fine. Remember to disable the battery before hand!
To make it look neat, I recommend you drill a small hole on the bottom of the plastic interior paneling where no one can see it and run the wiring from the strip up through it. Most plastic strips have 3M backing tape which is easy to install.
If you have any questions, just ask.
If that seems to complicated, you can always install and LED bulb into the actual socket itself, it is pretty bright too.
To make it look neat, I recommend you drill a small hole on the bottom of the plastic interior paneling where no one can see it and run the wiring from the strip up through it. Most plastic strips have 3M backing tape which is easy to install.
If you have any questions, just ask.
If that seems to complicated, you can always install and LED bulb into the actual socket itself, it is pretty bright too.
10-04-10, 04:40 PM
#5
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10-08-10, 09:35 AM
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I just stripped off the plastic coating of the wire on the led strip and wrapped it around the + and - metal sides of the step lights. No need to cut into the factory wires. I'd advise against that. There are two metals parts on the left an right of the light. Just play with the led strip wire to find the + and - and wrap it around the metal.
10-08-10, 10:37 AM
#11
^^ Kinda ghetto to wrap the wiring around. It's not secure. The best way is to actually wire up some spade connectors to the wires on the LED strip, and then tap into the terminals you are referring to.
Much cleaner setup, much more secure.
I will be doing this very soon on an RX330, since the 194 LED is very weak, and the light output is bad, due to the position of the bulb and housing Lexus made on those.
So the strip will run along the bottom of the door, and connected to the courtesy light housing.
Much cleaner setup, much more secure.
I will be doing this very soon on an RX330, since the 194 LED is very weak, and the light output is bad, due to the position of the bulb and housing Lexus made on those.
So the strip will run along the bottom of the door, and connected to the courtesy light housing.
10-08-10, 11:28 AM
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If you do it right it looks clean. At least mine does. Ya it's not as secure as a hardwire but the hell are you doing to your door lol that would cause that much vibration. Also the wires are copper or w/e so they twist into a pretty secure hold. Then just run the loose wire around the weather strip at the bottom to conseal them or tape them.
But as long as it works lol
But as long as it works lol
10-11-10, 01:20 PM
#15
If you do it right it looks clean. At least mine does. Ya it's not as secure as a hardwire but the hell are you doing to your door lol that would cause that much vibration. Also the wires are copper or w/e so they twist into a pretty secure hold. Then just run the loose wire around the weather strip at the bottom to conseal them or tape them.
But as long as it works lol
But as long as it works lol
the method you're advocating WILL end in at best, the light not turning on, or at worse, an electrical fire
please do your wiring safely and Securely.
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