1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Best color for interior LEDs?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by macmaster05, Dec 7, 2010.

  1. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm about to buy a whole bunch of LEDs for the interior from superbrightleds.com. They'll be for the map lights, rear dome, door lights, trunk/hatch lights, vanity mirrors (sunshades) - and license plate. But what is the best color for these? WHITE or BLUE?

    I really want to do the blue for the lights that turn on when you open the door (door, map lights, center dome), and white lights for all the functional things (vanity mirror and trunk hatch). The point of this is that you rarely use the vanity mirror and trunk hatch light, unless you need to look for something (your face or cargo -- therefore you need a white light, otherwise you'll just look like someone from the Blue Man Group).

    So, do you think it'll look weird if I mix and match, or should I go all one color?

    Sorry I don't have pictures...because I haven't done the mod yet! So please use your imagination. By the way, I have gray cloth interior. Thanks!
     
  2. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Bump. Please advise. Come on, I'm not asking for something technical. Just your opinion please.
     
  3. pEEf

    pEEf Engineer - EV nut

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2010
    720
    576
    3
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I do not recommend blue for any of them. The cool white looks great and is still highly functional.

    I tried blue in my cabin and while it looked cool at first, it really was annoying for usable light. I went ahead and put blue in all my backlighting though.

    Another mod I did was to add 2 diodes to the map lights so they come on with the other 2 interior lights. This gives a lot more light up front, and the map lights still work independently as before. As stock, they only normally come on when you press their individual buttons.

    I've ordered from superbrightleds and was unimpressed with their quality/price/performance. I recommend besthongkong. They ship from the US (LA) and they have great prices, and many brightness options.
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2006
    6,057
    388
    0
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Agreed. White for everything. Monochromatic light is tough to use, and is impractical for every day use.

    If you really want blue, then use it for the door "puddle" lights.
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I am definitely using it on the door. I agree that the white is the most functional.

    My idea is that when I unlock my car or open the door, only the blue lights come on --> front dome (NOT side map lights), rear dome, and of course, door lights. The way its set up is that the front map dome lights are all independent, that is, they never have to be on at the same time (thank god Toyota programmed it this way!). That way I can turn on the white light when I need to, but have the blue light on when I open my door.

    Why would I put blue light in the rear dome though? I rarely have back seat passengers, and even more rarely do they need to use the dome light. Yet, it is another blue light that can go "on" when I open my door. (I could always use a white light for the rear dome, however, and set it "off" when I open my door -- see where I'm going?)

    The set up I'm idealizing may seem confusing, so I've come up with a simple diagram for my lighting scheme. Thanks again all.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Azipod

    Azipod Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2010
    139
    21
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I changed to some quality LED whites from a reputable guy on eBay. I think I was referred to someone else on this board with a post.

    Anyway, the lights look great, and emit a cool white color. This is sufficient for me. I think that any darker color like blue on the LED with defeat the purpose of the lights. It will simply be too dark and of no benefit in terms of lighting.

    Imagine having blue flood lights on the door shining on a wet pavement. It'll be just like having no lights! :)
     
  7. pEEf

    pEEf Engineer - EV nut

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2010
    720
    576
    3
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I agree, I tried the blue myself at first, and I just didn't like it. Cool white is the way to go!

    I also installed a 1 watt unit in my hatch light, as I am often working on something back there.
     
  8. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You guys are good. I'm thinking of just doing the cool white all around.

    So is this mod just a simple matter of popping out the bulb cover and pushing in the new LED bulb? I don't need resistors or anything? (BTW - I'm already using Darell's EV page for reference)
     
  9. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    How about using all red and going for a WWII U-Boat theme? You could change the backup beeper to a sonar ping sound. Every time you press the EV button you have to say: "Rig for silent running!"

    :D

    Tom
     
  10. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That actually sounds really funny. I know that red lights are used in aircraft, which make it easier to read maps. I might consider it.
     
  11. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I would not get blue honestly, too blue. Cool white is all ya' need.
     
  12. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I did this a few weeks ago and never got around to posting pictures. I've posted pics before of how my parking lamps and rear license plate lamps came out with the LED's in em' so I decided to do the interior lamps as well. They're the same bulbs I used from superbrightleds.com for the map lights and in the door. i don't have numbers right now but I also got the rear dome light and trunk light from them as well.

    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]





    Thought I'd share the pics in here for those who are considering doing it like macmaster. They are DEFINITELY whiter and brighter than the stock incandescent bulbs and IMO worth it if not the rear dome light and trunk light, at least the map and door lights.
     
    1 person likes this.
  13. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Looks fantastic Paradox. Thanks for sharing.

    How much did all those lights cost ya from superbrightleds? I did a mock purchase last night on their website, and I think I rang up at $64 or something. Much more than I originally expected, when I was only considering license plate bulbs. WOW!
     
  14. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five

    Just found the email from when I did the order. I bought 2 extra of the WLED-xHP5 but here's my order:

    Qty | Product / Options | Price/ea |
    ============================================================
    6 | WLED-xHP5 Wedge Base Bulb | $ 5.95 |
    Cool White WLED-WHP5
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | 3022-x4 LED Festoon bulb | $ 2.84 |
    Cool White 3022-CW4 0.95
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | 3022-x9 LED Festoon bulb | $ 4.95 |
    Cool White 3022-W9 2.00
    ------------------------------------------------------------

    SUBTOTAL: 43.49
    SALES TAX: 0.00
    SHIPPING: 4.39 USPS - 1st Class (Estimated)
    TOTAL: 47.88








    So to do the rear license plate bulbs in addition to my order above add 12 more bucks and yeah, you're right around the $60 mark, maybe a bit more for the higher shipping because we all know how much more weight those 2 extra bulbs will add to the package... :rolleyes:
     
    1 person likes this.
  15. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Awesome! Which light did you use the Festoon 9-LED on? I'm guessing the rear dome?

    It also looks like your front map lights only have 2 bulbs (194). The Gen II has 3 bulbs up there.

    Darell says the vanity lights on Gen II use Festoon bulbs, not 194. I'm wondering why the Gen II and Gen III are different on that.
     
  16. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Yeah, I put the 9led one in the rear dome. When you look at it, you can see the perfect square of LED's and it isn't as glaringly bright as the hp5's but as you can see it gets the job done back there sufficiently enough.

    You know something, I didn't even bother with the vanity bulbs under the sun visors. I for one don't see the point since I hardly, if ever, use em'...
     
  17. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Oh you didnt buy vanity bulbs? I kind of thought you did since you ordered 6 HP5s - 2x vanity lights, 2x door lights, 2x front map lights. Am I forgetting something?

    I was thinking of ordering 2 HP 4-LED Festoons for hatch and rear dome, but I noticed you didn't even buy any high power Festoons. Maybe that's overkill. I dont know, whadya think?
     
  18. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five

    I got 6 to have one extra in case one gives out and one to replace one which was basically defective from the batch I ordered more than a year ago. I know, I should have contacted them then about it but just didn't want to be bothered at the time...

    I guess it depends on just how bright you want to go... For me, the above setup is all I need. The trunk one can be brighter, maybe the 9led if it would fit, not sure without looking again but for me, this works just fine.
     
  19. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Gotcha. Decisions, decisions!

    Hey what's the blue light in this picture? Oohhhh ahhh. And it looks like you have red footwell lighting? I dont know if I have such a thing.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five



    It's the blue LED's in the illuminated door sill panels which says Prius. Glad I had that done at port, I love em'... And on the 2010, Prius IV and V has illuminated footwell lighting which is an amber led light.