Topic: JonyMac's Under Carriage Lighting Mod

[jonymac]

Been waiting to do this for quite some time.  Found some waterproof 24" LED light bars at superbrightleds.com and obtained 2 of em.  The goal of the mod is to wash the ground with cool white light upon entry and exit of the vehicle, and have them tie into the footwell LEDs I added which are in turn tied into the map lights.  I want the under carriage lights to turn on when I press the unlock button on the key fob, and/or turn on when I open the door, and then dim out with the map lights.  I want them to be waterproof and not visible from the side.

Here is how they function: (Sorry the vid a little dark, I have an Old Sony DSC camera where video was an afterthought...)



Install:

Required: 2 waterproof LED light bars from superbrightleds.com, some longer/mo better screws, jack, wire extensions, coat hanger, electrical tape, wire connectors, beer

Here are the lights off and on:





Here are the clips and sorry-ass screws that came with the kit - get longer, better screws



Better screws on right:



Jack up your ride at the proper jacking point:



here is where I mounted them - you can just make out the permanent marker spot.  I used three clips per side - both ends and middle:



Drill holes for your screws and attach clips - I used a 90 degree drill bit - not necessary, but I had it, so I used it:



Snap light into clips and remove sill (pull up hard) and fish ahnger wire down through front slot and out drain hole in rail.  Extend wire on LEDs and fish through holes:









Run wire up into footwell and tie into footwell LEDs you already added (right?)



Wash, rinse, repeat, with passenger side. 

AWESOME BABY!

[Sly Bob]

Nice job! Although I can't see the video from work, this is along the lines of a mod that I had considered last year. Nice to have a little light there at night.

[Critterman]

Can't see the vid or the pictures at work, so I will have to wait until I get home.  I had basically the same thing done by DDM, except I put the lights in the door.  With the verticle doors I have one aimed at the ground, one at the opening between the door and car, and the third is red aimed toward the back of the car as a warning to on coming traffic

[DeepBlueGXP]

looks pretty cool.  When you put the door sills back in, it looks like there is a risk of the wires becoming chaffed/cut

[smartin]

Very cool! Nice Work!

[Kelu]

another mod from King of Light good job

[jonymac]

Thanks!  

Joe - possibly, but the slots are wider than the tabs - if I have a malfunction - that would be the first place to check.  I could easily lengthen that slot a bit to get the wire completely out of the way of the tab.

Critter - I like the red light idea on door... hmmm....  do you have pics of your implementation?

[jonymac]

Here is where I got the light bars from.  I got the cool white, 24", 60 LED waterprroof bar - WLF-xW60SMD - you need to also buy clips in their store - I did 3 for each side.  The fixture comes with wires haning off both ends so you can daisy chain them, I cut the wires off one end.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/specs/WLF-xW30SMD.htm

[Critterman]

I might somewere, if not, I will take some pictures tonight in the dark.

[Critterman]

Jony -  here you go, last picture is with a flash, the rest are just with light from the doors

[jonymac]

Dude!  That is SWEET!  OK - I need more details - a closeup of the led with the leds turned off, and what are the specs on the leds?  (Posting from my carpc)

[Critterman]

Jony -  told Dave and Randy what I wanted and they took care of the details,  I do know that it was a lot of work and Randy said he would not do another, but they should have the particulars.  That is 3 very bright lights in each door

[jonymac]

critter - if they happen to know which LEDs they used - please let me know.

Tonight I finished the lighting - did the passenger side - everything looks awesome and works as designed.  I was worried that both bars plus my  footwell lighting might overload things, but no problems at all!  Woohoo!

(Posted from my CarPC!)