Alrighty, I've seen it around & have decided I want to do it as well. I want to put L.E.D.'s in my air vents, but I have some questions. First off, are there certain L.E.D.'s that I should purchase? I am worried mainly about winter time & running my heater, but still worried about summer & the A/C. Next, I want to use a switch. I have a power source but is there somewhere I can get a kit for a whole switch assembly. I want to do it myself but just need some links for ideas. Anything would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

I don't think the heater/AC in your truck is an extreme enough range to affect the LEDs, can you clarify what you're looking for with the switches? Are you talking about a switch panel that will fit in your vehicle or something else entirely?

 

Well not a full panel. At a couple of aftermarket shops around here they sell just the switches. They aren't very helpful that's why I'm asking here. From the looks of the switches there I would cut a peice out then drill it to keep in place.

 

Greetings,

LEDs are available as individual components, asassembledindicator/lamp assemblies and as LED strips.

The individual component LEDs require a current limiting resistor that is appropriate for the supply voltage to be wired in series with the LED.

The LED indicator/lamp assemblies and the LED strips internally contain the resistor and may be directly wired to the appropriate supply voltage.

Linrose Electronics, Carling Technologies and Omron are a few of themanufacturers of LED indicator/lamp assemblies and LED strips available from many electronic distributorsand variouselectrical suppliers.

The LED indicator/lamp assemblies and LED stripsare available in 12VDC models thatmay be directly connected to a 12VDC automotive electrical system.

One option for using individual LED components is to use blue LEDs because they emit a lot of attention getting blue light.

Radio Shack has individual blue LED components as P/N 276-311 at $3.49 each.

Each blue LED should have one 820 ohm 1/4 watt resistorwired in series with the LED for 12VDC automotive operation.

If the individual LED component is directly connected to the 12VDC without the resistor, the LED will immediately be damaged and burn out.

The LEDs are polarized and the cathode is connected towards the electrical system ground while the anode is connected towards the electrical system power:

http://www.home-machine-shop.com/BLUE_LED.pdf

The LEDs should not be adversely affected by the temperatures in the automobile cabin.

As the LEDs use very low currents at low voltages any desirable switch is acceptable.

Radio Shack also has panel mount LED holders as P/N 276-080 at $1.49 for two.

Ned
http://www.home-machine-shop.com

 

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

The above link is the one that I was thinking of purchasing. My only real problem is I do not know what to put on the power side of the switch.

 

Greetings,

The switch can be powered from the 12VDC and ground connections at the rear of a cigarette lighter outlet or at power distribution terminals such as at the fuse box.


http://www.home-machine-shop.com/BLUE_LED-3.pdf

Ned

 

http://www.oznium.com/forum/topic20

These are a good start

 

Thanks Venge