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Thread: Illuminated interior door handles

  1. #1
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    Illuminated interior door handles

    Hi Guys

    After my Back-up light illuminated entry project you must know how much I like overly complicated useless features no one wants, so I thought it would be cool to illuminate the interior door handles with a couple LEDs.

    The design brief this time however was to make it as simple as possible without running in a whole bunch of extra wires but unfortunately it ended up not quite as simple as I had invisioned.

    The simplest way to achieve illuminated door handles was to use the 12v present on the power window switches, this would mean no extra wiring and it all could be done without even removing the door cards, great.

    Using the power on the window switches did however throw up some problems....

    1. The three passenger door handle lights would go out if the window lock was switched
    2. The three passenger door switches reverse the motor polarity by grounding back through the master switch, so the door handle lights would go out if the windows were raised/lowered depending on how the door handle lights ground was connected.
    3. The power is removed from the window switches when the ignition is switched off so the handle liights would go out just when you need them.

    There seems to be no solution to problems 1 & 2 and I am not sure they are really too much of a problem as it was pretty much over come with my solution to problem 3

    I solved problem 3 by adding a delay relay that keeps the windows powered for 30 seconds after the ignition is switched off and because I had to illuminate the three passenger door handles but didn't want to power them when the ignition is on and the window lock active a second relay was added, a couple of diodes were also needed so I ddin't end up trying to power half the car back through the window fuse.

    Here is my wiring diagram for you to critique






    One more slight problem remains, because I am powering the window switches for 30 seconds after the ignition is turned off in theory you could actually raise/lower the windows during this time, I have made sure all my wiring can handle the currant of all four window being raised/lowered at the same time but have only used a 3 amp fuse to fuse the circuit, so if anyoine actually tried to open a window the fuse would blow.

    Hopefully I have covered everything and should have some pictures up later tomorrow.

    Regards

    Dereck

    I am"The Pondside Pain In Your Posterior"

  2. #2
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    good work keep us posted
    03 300a. black #1695 of 7839 born 6/20/02.
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  3. #3
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    Hi Guys

    Wow no criticism? Must have got it right first time

    Here are some pictures as promised




    First job remove the door handle and dril a couple holes




    Make a little harness.......




    ....and superglue it in place




    Next job remove the locking wedge from the window switch connector and pull the power and ground pins




    After the locking wedge is removed the pins can be pulled by prying the locking tab down in the connector and pulling on the wire.




    I then stripped off a little insulation...




    ...and soldered in my LED harness wires insulating them with a little heat shrink




    Unfortunately I couldn't get a picture of them lit up as they do not give out much light but they do fill the door handles with a nice green glow, you also cannot see them when sat in the car, you actually have to look up into the door handle.

    Regards

    Dereck

    I am"The Pondside Pain In Your Posterior"

  4. #4
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    great job. next do a exterior door handle kit
    03 300a. black #1695 of 7839 born 6/20/02.
    Adopted 3/31/11. Sold


    03 300a black #1199
    TERMINATOR SWAP
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  5. #5
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    Been there... done that... been selling kits for 4 or 5 years. Mine include LEDs for the front cup holder and inside the arm rest.

    IMHO.... Over complicated
    “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
    Ronald Regan

    "The only way to deal with the Islamic State - these blood thirsty, blood-drunken, terrorists -
    is to kill them, keep on killing them, until you kill the last one, then you kill his pet goat."

    Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters

    “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”
    "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes, if you **** with me, I'll kill you all"
    General James Mattis




  6. #6
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    you'll be getting a pm from me about a project

  7. #7
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    Hi Fastblackmerc

    Quote Originally Posted by fastblackmerc View Post
    IMHO.... Over complicated
    How much more simple can it be than splicing into the power window switch wires? You do not even have to remove the door cards to do it. I did add a layer of complication because I wanted the LEDs to stay lit for a short time after the ignition was switched off and if the window lock was active.


    Quote Originally Posted by jwibbity View Post
    you'll be getting a pm from me about a project
    Hhmm! Should I be worried?

    Regards

    Dereck

    I am"The Pondside Pain In Your Posterior"

  8. #8
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    That's about awesome, that is!
    PSALM 91:9-10
    If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
    no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.

  9. #9
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    Do the LEDs have built in resistors? I would have guessed a need for resistors in series to maintain an appropriate current flow (<=20mA or so) through the LEDs. Thanks for post!
    ______________________________ _______________
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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by pantheroc View Post
    Do the LEDs have built in resistors? I would have guessed a need for resistors in series to maintain an appropriate current flow (<=20mA or so) through the LEDs. Thanks for post!
    Yes you do need to add resistors.
    “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
    Ronald Regan

    "The only way to deal with the Islamic State - these blood thirsty, blood-drunken, terrorists -
    is to kill them, keep on killing them, until you kill the last one, then you kill his pet goat."

    Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters

    “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”
    "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes, if you **** with me, I'll kill you all"
    General James Mattis




  11. #11
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    Hi Fastblackmerc

    Quote Originally Posted by fastblackmerc View Post
    Yes you do need to add resistors.
    No I don't the resistors are built in, RS part# 247-1498

    Regards

    Dereck

    I am"The Pondside Pain In Your Posterior"

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