Interior lighting suggestions

[oldmansmonte]

I really should have made a build thread years ago, but anyways....


When I drive my car at night, I don't know if it's that dark blue interior, but it's totally dark from your knees down. It's pitch black. I don't remember my old '88 Monte being like that. If a passanger dropped something it would be in the abyss until you could turn the interior lights on. Maybe there are interior bulbs burned out so long I forgot about them?

So anyhow I want to add some led lighting to the cabin just enough to illuminate the floor areas. I don't want it to be bright as hell, I want it to be tasteful and subtle. Any suggestions or pics would be great.

 

[O. D. Showtime]

I'm pretty sure most Gbody cars got foot well lights...like you say maybe the bulbs are burnt out...

Should be one on each side fastened up under the bottom edge of the dash....

 

[pontiacgp]

at night without any interior lights on in a car it's supposed to be dark

 

[axisg]

x2 on the footwell lights. However I have seen some gbodies without. Anyways I swapped mine out for 12v LED lights with an adhesive back. 2 lights per side and blue to match my interior. They illuminate better than the footwell lights as well and don't require an additional power supply as they are already 12v

 

[oldmansmonte]

x2 on the footwell lights. However I have seen some gbodies without. Anyways I swapped mine out for 12v LED lights with an adhesive back. 2 lights per side and blue to match my interior. They illuminate better than the footwell lights as well and don't require an additional power supply as they are already 12v

So these led lights weren't bulbs that plugged into the existing footwell bulb sockets im guessing?

Also can you recommend a brand name or type of bulb to use. There seems to be a lot of crap in the market for automotive led's thanks to China and kids willing to buy them on eBay. Thanks again.

 

[pontiacgp]

So these led lights weren't bulbs that plugged into the existing footwell bulb sockets im guessing?

Also can you recommend a brand name or type of bulb to use. There seems to be a lot of crap in the market for automotive led's thanks to China and kids willing to buy them on eBay. Thanks again.

A friend of mine imports LED lights and even though they show up in different packaging with different brand names they are all the same. I have LED in my interior in the existing sockets to save the battery if the doors are left open.

 

[oldmansmonte]

A friend of mine imports LED lights and even though they show up in different packaging with different brand names they are all the same. I have LED in my interior in the existing sockets to save the battery if the doors are left open.

If I understand correctly they have to have some kind of built in resistor in order to dim properly, correct?

 

[pontiacgp]

If I understand correctly they have to have some kind of built in resistor in order to dim properly, correct?

why would you want to dim interior lights? Autometer sells a module to dim dash LED lights so you could always get that module. I am not aware of using resistors to dim LED lights but in order to dim the LED is various brightness you'd need a variable resistor. Perhaps that is what the Autometer module is.

 

[axisg]

So these led lights weren't bulbs that plugged into the existing footwell bulb sockets im guessing?

Also can you recommend a brand name or type of bulb to use. There seems to be a lot of crap in the market for automotive led's thanks to China and kids willing to buy them on eBay. Thanks again.

I don't bother with the LED bulbs. I find they are too expensive. Instead I get mine from a friend in the signage business. He makes a good living converting fluorescent signage to LED ( which 90% of is conveniently 12v ). They use modules on a strip with self adhesive backing spaced 4"-6" apart. Cut it to length, add your 12v positive and negative and you are good to go. I have 2 strips x 2 modules per side in the car footwell and its plenty ( blue to match my interior ). I also have 2 x 4 foot strips set aside to put underhood on a switch in bright white ( waiting until I paint the underhood ).
In my boat I put a 6' strip down each side of the boat interior ( blue ), and again under the engine cover and the bilge ( white ). Also anywhere else I need 12v lighting.

Although its 50% cheaper you don't need a full box, just about any decent Electronics store should have 20 modules for $20 or less. Some links below if you are interested. I prefer the ones with both positive and negative leads. I imagine they should have some at Harbor Freight as well in their towing / lighting section. Those would be packaged a little nicer with a sealed surface.

https://www.amazon.com/slp/led-modules/ufynhkdcsqjk6kt&tag=gbody-20
www.canadiandisplay.ca/LED-Sign-Modules-in-Canada-s/1828.htm
www.emplastic.com/en/products/lighting/led-lighting

 

[pontiacgp]

I don't bother with the LED bulbs. I find they are too expensive. Instead I get mine from a friend in the signage business. He makes a good living converting fluorescent signage to LED ( which 90% of is conveniently 12v ). They use modules on a strip with self adhesive backing spaced 4"-6" apart. Cut it to length, add your 12v positive and negative and you are good to go. I have 2 strips x 2 modules per side in the car footwell and its plenty ( blue to match my interior ). I also have 2 x 4 foot strips set aside to put underhood on a switch in bright white ( waiting until I paint the underhood ).
In my boat I put a 6' strip down each side of the boat interior ( blue ), and again under the engine cover and the bilge ( white ). Also anywhere else I need 12v lighting.

Although its 50% cheaper you don't need a full box, just about any decent Electronics store should have 20 modules for $20 or less. Some links below if you are interested. I prefer the ones with both positive and negative leads. I imagine they should have some at Harbor Freight as well in their towing / lighting section. Those would be packaged a little nicer with a sealed surface.

https://www.amazon.com/slp/led-modules/ufynhkdcsqjk6kt&tag=gbody-20
www.canadiandisplay.ca/LED-Sign-Modules-in-Canada-s/1828.htm
www.emplastic.com/en/products/lighting/led-lighting

if you want any LED lights for the interior let me know and I can throw them in the box with the gasket.