Under dash led strips help

dir3kt0r · Post by **dir3kt0r** » 26 Aug 2013, 18:58

Hey guys I hope someone can point me in right direction. I'm installing 2 Under dash led strips on a 98 c70. What I want is both sides to come on if either door is open. So far I just hooked them up to the foot well lights on both sides. Problem with that is only the side on which u open the door lights up unless both doors are open. I don't think I can hook upto the dome light switch because I don't want the dome lights coming on when the door is open. Just leds. Any ideas?

Also ideally I would love to have a switch to turn them on sometimes if doors are closed. But I can live with out it.

If i plugged each strip to both foot well lights so they both get power if either door is open would that actually put out a double juice if both doors were open?

Hopefully there's a simple solution that I'm missing and someone will point out.

thank u guys

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Aug 2013, 19:32

I wouldn't think that the LED strips would take much in the way of power so tapping the existing foot well lights on each side sounds like it would do what you want it to do. It will be a PITA when you go to remove the lower dash panels unless you come up with a connector to unplug them as necessary.

Without knowing specifics on what you plan to install I am only talking in general terms and I can't seem to find much in the way of technical specs for the products on line - just how many colors they have and what kinds of effects they generate.

...Lee

dir3kt0r · Post by **dir3kt0r** » 26 Aug 2013, 19:44

Oh the panels were the easy part. I'm just trying to figure out the proper way to wire these. I need both sides to light up when either door is open. Stock lights are set up differently, if u open drivers side, the drivers side light comes on. The pass. side light comes on if the passenger door is opened. So when I tap into existing wiring it does same thing as stock setup. I'll try n take a few pics once I figure out what I'm doing with this issue

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 26 Aug 2013, 20:55

I believe that if you wired them to both switches at the doors, it would work as you want. Polarity is important to LEDs, not so much the voltage draw as it is minimal. But, the other non-open door side OEM light might also go on, unless you remove the bulbs on both sides? You will not over draw voltage, double your juice.

Post by **JDS60R** » 26 Aug 2013, 22:20

Use a relay and some diodes and you will be all set.

Run a wire from each Volvo foot well light to the coil "in" on the relay. Install a diode before each wire reaches the relay coil.( 2 diodes 1 on each line from each footwell light)
Ground the other side of the relay coil with an inline switch ( hooding other side of switch to ground so you can turn off the system . ( System operation controled by deactivating relay function)
Run a fused constant wire from the fusebox to the relay "power in"
Run both led strips to the relay power out.

This way either door can be opened and will fire as many LEDs as you can hook up to the relay ( based on 30 amp relay and proper gauge wire for input/ output.
The doors won't see the other doors signal as the diode won't let the power from the other door run back up the wire to the other door.
The ground interrupt switch will not let the system work
The fuse keeps it from blowing up.

Presto - LED fun

dir3kt0r · Post by **dir3kt0r** » 27 Aug 2013, 02:38

JDS60 R: thank you for taking your time and posting a great step by step. so diodes you mentioned which ones do i use? or does it even matter? im guessing the reason they r needed is cuz they only work with +/- connected right way? also, relay is just a standard relay right?

dir3kt0r · Post by **dir3kt0r** » 27 Aug 2013, 02:57

i think im starting to understand this better now, so im assuming ill need a Single Pole Double Throw Relay? or spst would work too? thanks for ur help btw

Post by **abscate** » 27 Aug 2013, 05:02

SPST relay, with. SP DT switch on the relay input will give you the door switch function as well as the manual switch function.

Power relay through doors for one, and put 12V hot on the other side of switch for manual.

Post by **mikealder** » 27 Aug 2013, 11:57

You don't need any relays to do what you require is just a couple of IN4004 Diodes:

The diode body will have a stripe on the barrel it is this end of both diodes that connect to the strip lights, a diode is like a one way valve it will let current flow in the direction of the arrow but block current flowing against the arrow. Having two opposing diodes wired as above lets the current from either foot light get to both sets of LEDs but will only illuminate the single footlight corresponding with whichever front door is open, probably cost you under $1 for the pair of diodes from somewhere like Radio Shack - Mike

dir3kt0r · Post by **dir3kt0r** » 27 Aug 2013, 16:21

ok looks like i got some options, well time to get to work then!
ill keep you guys posted and let u know which setup i went with.