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Center console light installation

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by Insighter, Mar 29, 2018.

  1. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    One of the modifications I had done yesterday was the addition of a light to the center console. With everything being black, it was just too dark for me to see what's in it. So I had a small light added at the rear of the console. It looks sort of like the OEM cargo area light (without a switch, though). There's an LED bulb inside.

    With the sliding tray in place at the rear of the center console, you can't see the light, but you can see what's in the console. I had it wired so that it comes on whenever the car is on (instead of just when the headlights are on).

    Prime-Center-Console-Light.jpg Light-On-and-Off.jpg
     
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  2. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Nice!

    Can you offer a parts list here for anyone wanting to duplicate this project?
     
  3. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    I'm afraid my days of doing things like this DIY are over. I can ask my installer what he used when I go in next week.
     
  4. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Sorry. I had thought that was your own DIY project.
     
  5. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    No, I used to do things like this all the time in cars I had in the past, but I don't have time now.
     
  6. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Very nicely done and a very good idea.
     
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  7. nednvermont

    nednvermont Member

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    Cool! So, from what I read, there's no "on/off" switch, it just comes on automatically when you start the car. Is it at all distracting at night?
     
  8. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    Thanks. There is no switch, but I don't understand your question. How could it be distracting? If the center console is closed, there's no possible way to see the light.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Add a switch so the the light only comes on when the armrest lid is raised? Like a fridge light.
     
  10. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    But why would you do that? A small LED bulb hardly draws any juice. Why add the cost and complication of a switch?
     
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  11. nednvermont

    nednvermont Member

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    Wondering if you might see a line of light in your peripheral vision, around the lid. I can't imagine that being a problem. Just curious.
     
  12. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    No, not at all. Put a bright flashlight in your center console and check it out.
     
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  13. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

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    Mine has the light too.
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    What did you put in there? I know it's not the most important mod, but it is nice to have a light in there, isn't it?
     
  15. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

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    I was running a couple wires for this mod (see below) so decided to installed a tiny LED in there (copied your idea). Only took me a couple minutes.

    Japanese version panel | PriusChat
     
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  16. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    Great, that's why I post (in case someone else wants to do the same thing), and why I look here to see what others have done.

    I attached an all-stainless steel camping mirror to the underside of the tray to distribute the light in the center console more evenly (and having a mirror on hand can't be bad). It makes a big difference in the effectiveness of the center console light.

    tray-mirror.jpg
    Screen Shot 2018-04-08 at 11.24.12 AM.jpg
     
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  17. bb4srv

    bb4srv Active Member

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    Would aluminum foil offer the same results, less the $12
     
  18. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    It wouldn't offer the same result. The reflectivity would be different. It wouldn't be as bright, though it would probably be more diffuse depending on how flat the foil was, which might be better in some small way. Ultimately, it would definitely be less durable, and you wouldn't have the functionality and convenience of always having a mirror on hand in the car.
     
  19. SaraBBrown94

    SaraBBrown94 Active Member

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    Except for the flip down sun visor mirrors :)
     
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  20. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    True, but those aren't removable (at least not easily). If you wanted a mirror to use outside of the car or in the backseat, the mirror on the tray would work, but the visors wouldn't.