Installing additional lights

I am wanting to install 4 led lights in the car. What would be the best type? (the same as parking lights?) And where do i run the leads to for power? Im an amateur so your help is much appreciated!

Cheers

I have a 1997 Mirage Asti S

Thanks

their are many sizes of l.e.d's what do you want to them for. or where at?

when would you like them to light up? with the dome light when you open the doors?

thefivespeeder wrote:

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when would you like them to light up? with the dome light when you open the doors?

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I want to run them to a switch which is connected to ignition.

Is the following wiring diagram correct:

Battery+---Switch---------Resistor1---LED1-----Ground
                              \____Resistor2---LED2-----Ground
                                \___Resistor3---LED3-----Ground
                                  \__Resistor4---LED4-----Ground

is that right?

yea im going to run it to a 10amp fuse in the ignition section of the fuse box. thats right is it?

What leds do u have?  are they 12v leds or 3.5 volt or what.  You may need some resistance.  And then just wire the positive to whatever u want.  i use frequently use the lighter, radio, sunroof whatever power if u want it to be on only when the car is on.  I use this setup for lights under my seats.

There are a couple different ways to get power.

Direct always on  usually on a toggle switch. from an available powersource. IE cigarette lighter or wired direct to battery ect and ground can be gained almost anywhere even to chasis of car.

Key turned events Igniti on on but also works when key turned backwards. Ground anywhere again. Great source is remote off the deck.

Also interior lights which is when a  door is opened ect the power is supplied. Good place for this is iff existing floor lights . I found in my grand am that I needed to tie it in with the negative that ran there also or it didn't work.

I suggest an inline fuse and low amperage fuse itself. 4 LEDs don't need a 10 amp fuse. And if you are fairly new to wiring I would definitely leave your fusebox alone. A mistake there can get pricey.

Also if you are wanting them to all come on at the same time I suggest a different wiring pattern.

You can have four led's come on off 1 resistor. A single LED is wired normally I use a 620  resistor

Power--Resistor(620)---Positive---(LED1)---Negative

Power--Resistor(390)---Positive---(LED1)---Negative----Positive---(LED2)---Negative

Power--Resistor(220)---Positive---(LED1)---Negative----Positive---(LED2)---Negative)---Positive---(LED3)---Negative----

Power--Resistor(33)---Positive---(LED1)---Negative----Positive---(LED2)---Negative)---Positive---(LED3)---Negative----Positive---(LED4)---Negative

where the resistor value has changed but still only one used.

I also found that the wire inside if ethernet cable is great for LEDs, Cheap. Make sure you shrinkwrap this wire thourh since the insulation  coatings are not that thick. This will resolve it.

I forgot to mention after looking over the other aforementioned diagram that you can wire multiple sets up using that schematic but for larger sets. What you want is a Prime number though.  I will start by saying a cluster or pod is multiple LEDS.

For instance if you were wiring 12 LEDS you would want 3 clusters of 4

and whereas if you were wiring 9 LEDS you would want 3 clusters of 3 and not 2 clusters of four and a single to make 9.

4 LEDS draw next to nothing. 1 amp should do. LEDS actually draw alot less current and give off brilliant light dispersment depending on brightness level and the way the actual light is released. You can get dim, or really bright LEDS. (light emmiting Diodes). You can also get them to shine in a very narrow beam or  in a very wide angle. which will cause alot of differnt lighting scenarios. Now combine that with a brightness level and you now have a vast array of lighting options. in 1 LED. Now you can make (arrays\clusters\pods) of multiple LEDS say a cluster of 4 where 2 are narrow and 2 are wide. You have now travelled to an extremely new level in the options produced.

sounds like nothing but it is truely important the type of LED you buy for what you want to use it for. If its not a pro thing or competition than any old led will do.Most people will notice very little difference anyway. Just depends how extreme you want it to be.

Good wire for LEDS can be found in computer ethernet cable RJ 45 (internet wire in the back of your computer). I have used it alot and is very cheap. You get 8 wires 4 pairs in each cable. seperate  2 cables from the 8. (they should be twisted together in 4 pairs of 2( convienient)( 2 of the 8 wires in this cable are now your + and - wire.  feed them through the shrinkwrap as far as you can. cut shrink wrap. then feed as far as you can, cut , ect.ect. I suggest shrink wrapping them because the insulation on the wires is thin. I have had no problems with this wire and it is extremely thin for 2 wires( even shrinkwrapped. (1\16 shrinkwrap). Especially if running a long distance.the shrinkwrap also provides an extremely good weather barrier for exterior applications.

I myself solder my conections and suggest that to all.