Illuminated Cup Holders.

[versa2nr]

What number are the LED's that you used, I am trying to match up the type from superbrightleds.com

[matt_a]

What number are the LED's that you used, I am trying to match up the type from superbrightleds.com

I'm not sure what you mean. They are 5mm LEDs and they came with the little resistors aleady installed. I just picked a color that I thought would work. I don't know if that answers your question or not.

[Ever Victorious]

So where did you tap into power from? Is it switched from your lights (i.e. lights up when your dash lights and headlights are on) or just wired into the system (on all the time)?

[matt_a]

So where did you tap into power from? Is it switched from your lights (i.e. lights up when your dash lights and headlights are on) or just wired into the system (on all the time)?

I got power from the dash dimmer wheel over on the left side of the steering wheel. I didn't cut or splice anything. I simply pushed the new wires in to the back of the existing plug. It was quick and easy. The LEDs come on when the headlights are on and they dim or brighten with everything else.

[KimberKenobi]

Matt... pic please?

[Martin Roy]

Yeah, I'm also curious to see how it's connected to the whole thing. Also, is it possible to add a switch to turn it off even if the cluster is lite up ?

[matt_a]

I'll try to remember to take a pic of the back of the switch where I got power from when I get home tonight. Like I said, it was really easy. One thing I did one to point out...when you drill the little holes for the LEDs, make sure you drill them at a slight angle. If you don't, when you reinstall that panel the LEDs will be shinning up closer to your shifter rather than the cupholders. I almost made that mistake but I thought about it just before I drilled.

*edit...sorry, I almost forgot. Yes, I suppose it would be easy to add a switch to them so you could turn them off if you want. Personally, I like the way they look so much that I can't see when I would ever want them turned off.

[jfanaselle]

I got power from the dash dimmer wheel over on the left side of the steering wheel. I didn't cut or splice anything. I simply pushed the new wires in to the back of the existing plug.

Hey Guys... I'm a newbie to the site (actually, this is my first post!). I just purchased a Versa SL hatchback a few days ago, and I already performed this mod. I drive alot at night and I noticed the first time I drove it that the cupholder area was too dark. I was happy to see someone had done this and provided the info for me to make it happen. I picked up some LED's from Radio Shack for a couple of bucks each and installed them. However, I couldn't seem to get power from the dimmer switch. I didn't actually try to wire anything up, but I put my voltage meter on the wires and couldn't get anything. I was just using the body for ground. Then I tested it with positive power from the fuse panel and used the dimmer swith as the ground and I got voltage. I tested all three wires on the switch and had the same result. It seems to me that the negativeside of the instrument lights is actually what is being run through the dimmer switch. Matt_a, can you confirm this? Did you actually ground the LED's out to the switch and get positive power from somewhere else? Right now I just tapped into one of the ignitioned fuses in the fuse panel so they come on when the key is on, but I would prefer if they were on the dimmer switch so they would only come on with the lights and they would dim with the rest of the instruments.

[matt_a]

Hey Guys... I'm a newbie to the site (actually, this is my first post!). I just purchased a Versa SL hatchback a few days ago, and I already performed this mod. I drive alot at night and I noticed the first time I drove it that the cupholder area was too dark. I was happy to see someone had done this and provided the info for me to make it happen. I picked up some LED's from Radio Shack for a couple of bucks each and installed them. However, I couldn't seem to get power from the dimmer switch. I didn't actually try to wire anything up, but I put my voltage meter on the wires and couldn't get anything. I was just using the body for ground. Then I tested it with positive power from the fuse panel and used the dimmer swith as the ground and I got voltage. I tested all three wires on the switch and had the same result. It seems to me that the negativeside of the instrument lights is actually what is being run through the dimmer switch. Matt_a, can you confirm this? Did you actually ground the LED's out to the switch and get positive power from somewhere else? Right now I just tapped into one of the ignitioned fuses in the fuse panel so they come on when the key is on, but I would prefer if they were on the dimmer switch so they would only come on with the lights and they would dim with the rest of the instruments.

I only have 2 wires going to my LEDs (pos. & neg.). I have them both pushed in to the plug at the back of the dimmer. I did have trouble getting it to work at first. I couldn't seem to figure out the correct connections. I made sure the headlight switch was in the "ON" position and I just kept touching the connections until the LEDs lit up. Then I made sure they turned on and off with the headlights. After I got it all done, I realized that I actually have it backwards. What I mean by that is, when I dim the dash lights, the LEDs get brighter, and when I make the dash lights brighter, the LEDs dim. At first I was going to “fix” that, but then I realized that I like it better that way. I like my dash lights pretty bright, but I didn’t want the LEDs quite up to full brightness. If I back off the dimmer just a little bit, it seems to put both the dash and the LEDs at a level that I like. I don’t know if any of that answers your question or not. I’ll try to take a picture of the back of the plug so you can see how and where I connected them.

[Martin Roy]

Hi guys, I took my multi-meter to settle this once and for all . There are three wires going into the back of the dimmer: One purple and two blacks. Here are the readings with the multi-meter:

PURPLE______BLACK 1______BLACK 2______Range (Dimmer down to dimmer up)__+________________________-_________11.78 to 11.84__+___________-______________________0.00 to 11.87______________+____________-_________11.87 to 0.00

Therefore, if you want your LEDs to be as bright as the dash, your + must go in the purple and the - in the middle black. If you want your LEDs to be inverted, then put your + in the middle black and your - in the second one.

As matt_a said, you can indeed just push the wire behind the dimmer, since it's using some kind of small clamp with a high contact surface. Just keep it in place with some electric tape and voilà !

Hope that helps

[matt_a]

That's awesome! Thanks for posting that. This really was one of the easiest mods I've ever done and I love the way it turned out. With your wiring information, anyone who wants to do it will be able to.

[coxcj]

Thanks for the info and the pics. Does anyone (clipsed) know where to get the LEDs that best match the amber lighting to make it look like it came that way?

[matt_a]

Thanks for the info and the pics. Does anyone (clipsed) know where to get the LEDs that best match the amber lighting to make it look like it came that way?

I just did a quick search on ebay and found these. They look like they would work great. You'll have a ton of them left over, but you might find use for them later on.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

[coxcj]

matt_a

How many LEDs did you use?

[matt_a]

matt_a

How many LEDs did you use?

Just two. They are pretty bright. I didn't want it to be too bright or it wouldn't look "factory". I installed each one directly above each cupholder. Instead of being parallel to each other, they are offset to match how our cupholders are. Just be sure to drill the holes at an angle to compensate for how the panel is slanted. Other wise, instead of shinning straight down at the cupholders, they will be pointed up closer to your shifter.

[coxcj]

Just 2? sounds good to me. the smallest amount on ebay is 20-50. that's going to be a lot left over. (wanna just mail me a couple of your extras?)

maybe I could use the rest to put in aisle lights along the kick boards like you see in the movie theaters.

maybe not

[matt_a]

Just 2? sounds good to me. the smallest amount on ebay is 20-50. that's going to be a lot left over. (wanna just mail me a couple of your extras?)

Mine were left over from a previous project. I think I still have about 5 left. If you want, I'd be happy to mail you two of them. I'd just need your address.

[coxcj]

Awesome! I'll send you an email.

Thanks!!!!

[matt_a]

Awesome! I'll send you an email.

Thanks!!!!

No problem. I can't check my personal email from work (corporate firewall). I'll check it tonight at home and get them out to you.

[jfanaselle]

Martin Roy, you are the man. That answers the question perfectly. I am a little disappointed with the output of the LEDs that I bought from Radio Shack. But they're nice because they are a complete assembely - they look factory, they bolted in place easily, and they didn't require any soldering of terminals or anything. I got these ones http://www.radioshack.com/prod...amily Also, I didn't position them correctly (they shine near the shifter too much). Since I wanted it to be a tad brighter, I'll probably just install two more of them in the proper position. That way, between the four of them, it'll illuminate a decent amount and it'll just kind of light everything in the general area up. The alternative would be to either remove the two and install brighter ones that shine in the wrong location, or to remove the two all together and leave two holes in the plastic. I think I would prefer to install the additional two.

[matt_a]

I am a little disappointed with the output of the LEDs that I bought from Radio Shack.... I got these ones http://www.radioshack.com/prod...amily

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the main reason that you are dissapointed with the output is because of the type you bought. Those look to me like more of an indicator light as opposed to an LED that actually throws light. The kind I have (and many people use for these types of projects) have a more pointed or domed glass instead of the flat type like you have. You probably will want to reposition them to shine more toward the cupholders, but you also might want to get a different type of LED. Hope that helps.

[Ever Victorious]

I smell writeup here.

Anyone want to take it on?

[coxcj]

I smell writeup here.

Anyone want to take it on?

I'll take a stab at it unless anyone else wants to. It will most likely be a communal effort considering the information that is already on this thread.

[Martin Roy]

What, like a tutorial ? If so, I'm up to the challenge !

[Ever Victorious]

Exactly like that. Go for it!

[Martin Roy]

Alright, I'm working on it.

[matt_a]

Alright, I'm working on it.

Don't forget lots of pictures and basic information (like how to remove the panels and stuff). That was my biggest hurdle because I was afraid of damaging the car.

[Martin Roy]

Comments ?zerothread/273641

[matt_a]

Comments ?zerothread/273641

Well done! Clearly written and illustrated. Dark Versa cupholders everywhere are thanking you.

[Clipsed]

Thanks for the info and the pics. Does anyone (clipsed) know where to get the LEDs that best match the amber lighting to make it look like it came that way?

I don't use cheap LED's anymore, the LEDs I now use are Lumiled Superflux LEDs which are not all the cheapest of LEDs, but their output and longevity are not even compared to ebay LEDs. My best guess to the proper color match would be amber LEDs, as the interior is not orange, but not yellow, it is an amber IMO. If you do not want to dish out the money for REAL Lumiled Superflux LEDs, the only other LEDs I really trust are from SuperBrightLeds.com and Oznium.com BestHongKong has some ok LEDs, but their quality control standards are not up to par, and the shipping time and everything is LONG and sometimes not good and worth it.

I may have some knock off Superfluxes at home that I could power up and take pics of, I will see when I get back home.