Illuminated Exterior Door Handles

[Dereck]

Hi Guys

A few posts into my Illuminated Interior Door Handles (http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=94709) thread Slickster suggested illuminated exterior door handles which got me thinking, this is my take on the modification.

The design brief was to illuminate the exterior door handles making it real simple that even folks at MM.net and FastBlackMerc couldn't complain.

Obviously this scheme would require a wire run into each door from the courtesy light circuit, luckily I had allready done this with my Puddle Light (http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=94809) mod when I slpiced into the footwell light wire and via a solid state relay (because of the courtesy light dimming feature) ran a loop around the car teeing off into each door on the way, follow the link for more details.

For a ground you can use the power window ground on each power window switch, check out the illuminated door handles link earlier on in this post for more details.

I usually use a relay when adding stuff to an existing circuit as it takes the load instead of adding to a (usually) allready minimal factory circuit. However if you are just going fitting a total of eight LEDs to the door handles this is only going to add just under 1.2 watts to the courtesy light circuit and I think a relay would be a little over the top even for me.

As usual there is one fly in the ointment, due to the courtesy light dimming feature the door handle LEDs may flicker slightly as they go out but as you will allready be in the car when they do this you will never see it :D

The plan is to remove the rivets securing the door handles and replace them with bolts that have LED's in them. There are comercially available parts that achieve this aim but I couldn't find any that were 1/4 inch (6mm), they all seemed to be 5/16 (8mm) so I ended up making my own.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Marauder%20Illuminated%20Exter ior%20Door%20Handles%20Schemat ic.JPG

Not much of a wiring diagram for this one.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Assembled%20Parts.JPG

First assemble some parts


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/LEDs%20In%20Bolts.JPG

I then drilled a 3/32" (2.5mm) hole down the centre of a 1/4 x 1/2 inch UNC stainelss steel bolt and drilled a 5/32" (4mm) counter bore part way through the head, then slipped an 1/8" (3mm) LED into the bolt insulating the legs with some heatshrink


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Completed%20Assembly.JPG

Completed assembly


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/LED%20Test.JPG

I was a little concerned whether the LEDs would be bright enough but after a quick bench test I think my concerns were unfounded.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Door%20Handle%20Rivits.JPG

I may have to round the bolt heads off a little when it comes time to fit them as the door handle rivets appear to fit into a little recess.

It's over to you FastBlackMerc I await your critique with eager anticipation.

Regards

Dereck

[slickster]

ah man i wish you could do this for me. please post night pics when your done. hi Jim can you do this for me

[BAD MERC]

Those look great!

[L.Mark]

OK smart guy what about illuminated door key cylinders like on the old Lincolns...hah...

BTW, very nice indeed!!!

[Guittard22]

I will buy a set when you make more lol keep us posted

[fastblackmerc]

ah man i wish you could do this for me. please post night pics when your done. hi Jim can you do this for me

Sure thing.

Any particular color?

[Guittard22]

Sure thing.

You taking orders for blue outside handles lights yet lol I am 1st in line when yiu do have to go along with blue inside the car handles :)

[fastblackmerc]

You taking orders for blue outside handles lights yet lol I am 1st in line when yiu do have to go along with blue inside the car handles :)

I have blue for the interior handles in stock.

[slickster]

Sure thing.

Any particular color?

6k. you going to mv?

[Guittard22]

I have blue for the interior handles in stock.

I know I have your kit installed in my marauder lol need the out side now :beer:

[fastblackmerc]

6k. you going to mv?

Not going to MV......

Don't think any one would want to do this in a parking lot......

The solution I had in mind is in watts. I'd suggest lower wattage for a softer look.

[Chayton]

please post pictures of the results!

[MyBlackBeasts]

Hi Guys

A few posts into my Illuminated Interior Door Handles (http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=94709) thread Slickster suggested illuminated exterior door handles which got me thinking, this is my take on the modification.

The design brief was to illuminate the exterior door handles making it real simple that even folks at MM.net and FastBlackMerc couldn't complain.

Obviously this scheme would require a wire run into each door from the courtesy light circuit, luckily I had allready done this with my Puddle Light (http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=94809) mod when I slpiced into the footwell light wire and via a solid state relay (because of the courtesy light dimming feature) ran a loop around the car teeing off into each door on the way, follow the link for more details.

For a ground you can use the power window ground on each power window switch, check out the illuminated door handles link earlier on in this post for more details.

I usually use a relay when adding stuff to an existing circuit as it takes the load instead of adding to a (usually) allready minimal factory circuit. However if you are just going fitting a total of eight LEDs to the door handles this is only going to add just under 1.2 watts to the courtesy light circuit and I think a relay would be a little over the top even for me.

As usual there is one fly in the ointment, due to the courtesy light dimming feature the door handle LEDs may flicker slightly as they go out but as you will allready be in the car when they do this you will never see it :D

The plan is to remove the rivets securing the door handles and replace them with bolts that have LED's in them. There are comercially available parts that achieve this aim but I couldn't find any that were 1/4 inch (6mm), they all seemed to be 5/16 (8mm) so I ended up making my own.




Not much of a wiring diagram for this one.




First assemble some parts




I then drilled a 3/32" (2.5mm) hole down the centre of a 1/4 x 1/2 inch UNC stainelss steel bolt and drilled a 5/32" (4mm) counter bore part way through the head, then slipped an 1/8" (3mm) LED into the bolt insulating the legs with some heatshrink




Completed assembly


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/LED%20Test.JPG

I was a little concerned whether the LEDs would be bright enough but after a quick bench test I think my concerns were unfounded.




I may have to round the bolt heads off a little when it comes time to fit them as the door handle rivets appear to fit into a little recess.

It's over to you FastBlackMerc I await your critique with eager anticipation.

Regards

Dereck

This is cool. Given the small real estate under the handle I'd think 1 LED bolt would work well.

Looking forward to seeing the final result!

[fastblackmerc]

Much easier to use these. Waterproof, use epoxy to secure.

Available in just about any color.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/3LEDWaterproofStrips_zps62c78b b8.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/3LEDWaterproofStrips_zps62c78b b8.jpg.html)

Ordered a set in red to try out.

[Dereck]

Hi Guys

Fitted my LED bolts to illuminate the exteroior door handles today and it all went extrodinarily well.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Door%20Handle%20Rivits.JPG

First punch out the centre of the rivit using a small drift, then use a 5/16 (8mm) drill bit to drill off the rivet head, finally punch out the remains of the rivet using a slightly bigger drift.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/LED%20Bolts%20Fitted.JPG

Slip your LED bolts in and "nip" up tight, they really do not have to be very tight and I think may need some thread lock to stop them coming undone, the jury is still out on that.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/LEDs%20Illuminated.JPG

Wire in the LEDs then stand back and admire your handy work (yes I slipped with the drill taking a chunk of paint off my door handle :() I think at night this may work out better than expected as it appears some light is coming through the gap around the lift handle, roll on 8pm to try them out.


There may be an easier way!

This should please FastBlackMerc as I know he likes simple. When I originally devised this scheme I couldn't remember what the rear of the door handle looked like but since diving into the door this morning I think there may be an easier way.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Door%20Handle%20Rear%20Circled .JPG


In the space between the rivets there is actually a hole in the door that looks like it is filled with a locating lug for the door handle (circled in red in the picture above).

My new proposal is to drill a 13/64" (5mm) hole in the centre of this locating lug and simply glue one super bright LED into the middle of the handle, later tonight I will hit the electonic suppliers and see about ordering some LEDs, maybe by the end of the week I will have time to try out the new plan.

Regards

Dereck

[Guittard22]

^^^^^^
That @@@@ crazy cool - like I said in a pm I buy a set if you wanted to make a few more :)

[Cobra25]

Hello Derick, just wanted to say heelo from south florida. Hope you & your family are doing well.

[fastblackmerc]

Hi Guys

Fitted my LED bolts to illuminate the exteroior door handles today and it all went extrodinarily well.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Door%20Handle%20Rivits.JPG

First punch out the centre of the rivit using a small drift, then use a 5/16 (8mm) drill bit to drill off the rivet head, finally punch out the remains of the rivet using a slightly bigger drift.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/LED%20Bolts%20Fitted.JPG

Slip your LED bolts in and "nip" up tight, they really do not have to be very tight and I think may need some thread lock to stop them coming undone, the jury is still out on that.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/LEDs%20Illuminated.JPG

Wire in the LEDs then stand back and admire your handy work (yes I slipped with the drill taking a chunk of paint off my door handle :() I think at night this may work out better than expected as it appears some light is coming through the gap around the lift handle, roll on 8pm to try them out.


There may be an easier way!

This should please FastBlackMerc as I know he likes simple. When I originally devised this scheme I couldn't remember what the rear of the door handle looked like but since diving into the door this morning I think there may be an easier way.


http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Door%20Handle%20Rear%20Circled .JPG


In the space between the rivets there is actually a hole in the door that looks like it is filled with a locating lug for the door handle (circled in red in the picture above).

My new proposal is to drill a 13/64" (5mm) hole in the centre of this locating lug and simply glue one super bright LED into the middle of the handle, later tonight I will hit the electonic suppliers and see about ordering some LEDs, maybe by the end of the week I will have time to try out the new plan.

Regards

Dereck
Easiest way to remove the rivets is to pop out the mandrel (center piece), bend the 3 tabs back and forth until they break off then pop out the rest of the rivet. No drilling and no possible way to damage any parts or paint when the drill slips.

Better way to install LEDs.... just pop out the mandrel, thread your LED through the hole and use some 5 minute epoxy to hold the LEDs in the holes.

[slickster]

Show us some night pics please

[Dereck]

Hi FastBlackMerc



Better way to install LEDs.... just pop out the mandrel, thread your LED through the hole and use some 5 minute epoxy to hold the LEDs in the holes.

Now that doesn't seem like a bad idea but I've always assumed the rivets would work loose and eventually break off if the centre piece wasn't in place.


Hi Slickster


Show us some night pics please

Nightime pictures don't seen to come out too good, I tried with both the illuminated interior handles and the puddle lights, I will give it another try though just for you.

Regards

Dereck

[JoeBoomz]

Pics might not work, but a video might. Try at dusk when there is still a bit of sunlight left. I want to see these too, very interested in doing them if they work out well!

Thank you very much for posting your efforts!

[Dereck]

Hi Guys



Better way to install LEDs.... just pop out the mandrel, thread your LED through the hole and use some 5 minute epoxy to hold the LEDs in the holes.

Earlier on today I had some time to try out FastBlackMerc's suggestion of simply fitting LED's into the door handle rivets by just driving out the centers. I used some 5mm LEDs and a small blob of RTV to hold them in the rivets and to weatherproof the LEDs.

I ran into a slight problem in that the LED's kept popping out and tipping with the wieght of the wires, I am not too happy with the finnished look as the RTV ended up a little "splurged". I think next time I need to find a fast drying glue or some way of holding the LEDs in the handle while the glue dries.

http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/5mm%20LEDs%20In%20Rivets.JPG

Oh yeah I have tried a couple times to get some night time pictures but am struggling a little, hoe to have another go over the weekend.

Regards

Dereck

[slickster]

I don't see a reason why I can't just drill a small hole up inside the door handle then run the LED wire through that hole connected to the footwell light with a 3m backing on the LED strip

[fastblackmerc]

I don't see a reason why I can't just drill a small hole up inside the door handle then run the LED wire through that hole connected to the footwell light with a 3m backing on the LED strip

Why can't you?

[Tnbigbody]

I did my door handles a few months ago, I used the 3 in strips as mentioned. looks great, works well, no drilling or modifying of the door handle just make sure you use some good double sided tape or super glue to keep them in place. the stuff that came on mine weren't very resilient and popped off after a few days. I wired mine to the fuse box to the left hand low beam fuse. but you can use what you would like. I have grille lights, interior handle, and foot well lights as well and have them set up to only come on with my low beams because otherwise they couldn't be visible(not dark enough) but wiring them up as courtesy lights would be neat as well

[Guittard22]

I did my door handles a few months ago, I used the 3 in strips as mentioned. looks great, works well, no drilling or modifying of the door handle just make sure you use some good double sided tape or super glue to keep them in place. the stuff that came on mine weren't very resilient and popped off after a few days. I wired mine to the fuse box to the left hand low beam fuse. but you can use what you would like. I have grille lights, interior handle, and foot well lights as well and have them set up to only come on with my low beams because otherwise they couldn't be visible(not dark enough) but wiring them up as courtesy lights would be neat as well



Have a photos of the grill lights sounds cool :)

[Tnbigbody]

I started a new thread as to not hijack this one Guittard

[Dereck]

Hi Guys

Here is a night time picture of my illuminated exterior door handles, as you can see the picture was taken under street lighting, it had been raining and I still haven't got around to doing the rear doors yet.

They actually look a lot brighter in the picture than in real life partly because of the way digital cameras sense light and partly because rain droplets on the handle was magnifying the light.

http://superstitiongold.com/lincoln/MarauderExteriorDoorLights/Illuminated%20Night%20Picture. JPG


Regards

Dereck