Interior LED lighting

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Mar 6 2006, 08:41 PM) [snapback]221453[/snapback]</div>

Your work here is very impressive Darelldd, and you should be commended for not only your work on the Prius, but your RAV4EV, solar energy conversions, general energy conservation, etc. If everyone were as concerned for the future as you are, the world would be 100x better place. I hope to one day soon match your levels of conservation but the budget situation is limiting until I've finished with college. Anyways, I have a friend in Hong Kong that is sending me some new 1W LEDs in white that come in (3022/3175) and (168/194) sizes for 'drop in' applications, and I am sure that they are not as bright nor match the levels of quality in your impressive LED conversions, but apparently the distributor is going to be putting them on ebay soon as well so that people can do their own 1W LED conversions. I will take pictures as soon as I get them and try to post them on here. The new (not new to you I guess) 3W and 5W Luxeon LEDs that are coming out now have really stolen my heart and I wonder when the Prius can be outfitted with headlamps in LED. I hope my findings do not offend you or take away from your business, but I was under the impression that you were being overburdened for LED orders even after your "It is not my intention to sell or take orders" post and this may be an easier alternative for others desiring 1W LEDs...

Thanks again for your work!
J

 

Found some on ebay already actually, under "1W LED" search. I'm sure you have seen these before, and they point the wrong way for most Prius applications, but still kinda cool...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(toyotablackbox @ May 27 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]261832[/snapback]</div>

Hoping to imitate the amber driving lights that GM uses with the Hummer and HHR without adding alot of current draw I invested in a set. Used in the parking light position they put out an itense, deep amber that looks like a cigarette "head" in just short of an orange instead of red color. It can be seen for about 180 degrees from the front which works OK with the reflectors in there, MUCH too dim to use as anything but a parking light.

Not what I was hoping for, they will make expensive replacements for the "courtesy" lights at the bottom of the door instead... Should have checked the most recent threads here first would have saved some time and money... Thanks for all the great info Darrelldd

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 1 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]264197[/snapback]</div>

I just installed a full set of Darell's led's (all except the license plate light). Absolutely fantastic! Clear, bright, white light. Darell's workmanship is excellent and the bulbs fit in perfectly. I would highly recommend them.

 

When you say you loose the dimming function with the LED conversions does that me the lights will still come on when you walk past it at night but will not gradually come on and dim to off?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 1 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]264197[/snapback]</div>

Darell,

This is very impressive and all, but I'd really like some practical energy saving LED replacements for lights that I routinely have on for hours on end in my house. I was a fairly early adopter of CFR's but would like to now move in the direction of LED replacements starting in selected high-use locations and also as the CFR's eventually burn out, and have an impact on my electric bill. I've seen some LED replacement units available online, but they were expensive enough to make me hesitate buying them, not being quite sure what I was getting myself into (they didn't show pictures comparing the output as you have above and on your website as you've done such a nice job doing).

Any guidance you could render in this area would be greatly appreciated!

 

I have the the upgrade. And it is an upgrade.

The "soft start" is nice, but the fact that you get REALLY BRIGHT and WHITE light far out weighs the "soft start".

The other fact that you can leave the light on for a WEEK and still be able to start your car is awsome! I had one of these in another car, and the wife killed 3 car batteries by leaving the car door open a crack and the inside light on. Now I have a 3 yr old who does not shut the door all the time. I would be poor just from replacing batteries.

The first savings of not having to replace the car battery pays for the light module. AND you get WHITE light till you forget and leave the light on over night.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 13 2006, 01:01 PM) [snapback]270691[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 13 2006, 04:52 PM) [snapback]270720[/snapback]</div>

Thanks Darell.

 

I thought of another question. Do you have a lot less illumination if you go with red LED lights for the doors instead of white? I like the idea of the red for traffic but still want to light up the ground as much as possible. What is the turn around time if I send in my door lights? Thanks. Those lights are very impressive looking.

 

I decided that this would be a fun learning project so I got ahold of a CC1W dome module and made a dome replacement out of it.

I found the required tools: A regulator board, the plastic dome blank thingy, some wire, and shoe goo



Then I soldered and tinned the leads, I will just use the long tinned leads as the conductor wires:



Heres the part where it gets fun. Shoe goo!


Installed and tested:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 30 2006, 10:46 PM) [snapback]279553[/snapback]</div>

I'll keep an eye on the goo to make sure nothing bad happens, its still drying.
I've always been an LED fan but after discovering these Luxeons I just keep buying, my girlfriend HATES my flashlights.
I just cant seem to explain in a way she will understand why I need so many lights or why my Q3 needs a Flupic or my Aleph needs UWOJ... I guess I will just have to join the ranks of many a CPF'er and admit that I have a problem :lol: