Interior Ambient Lighting

Griffyn · 4th March 2007, 22:45

Now it seems alot of people have come up with some cheaper alternatives to Honda's rip off ambient lighting.

I really liked it in the Type-R demonstrator. In my current car have 12" cathodes in the footwells (rear too), in the cubby holes have 4" and leds in the air vent controlled by a switch. Don't use them very often tbh but does look cool, abit CHAV but was younger when I did it and cost me a whopping £20!

Now what have Honda used for the red or blue ambient lights? Are they an LED each side? Just they gave a very sphereical light.

Also no has seemed to have made their ambient lighting fucntion like Honda's. I really like it how when the door is open its much brighter and then when the door is closed and engine is started it dims. Is there any way to replicate this?

Would love to do it cheaper than what Honda charge, but I may try and get a cheaper price from dealers if no one can replicate this effect.

DanKo · 6th March 2007, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griffyn

Now it seems alot of people have come up with some cheaper alternatives to Honda's rip off ambient lighting.

I really liked it in the Type-R demonstrator. In my current car have 12" cathodes in the footwells (rear too), in the cubby holes have 4" and leds in the air vent controlled by a switch. Don't use them very often tbh but does look cool, abit CHAV but was younger when I did it and cost me a whopping £20!

Now what have Honda used for the red or blue ambient lights? Are they an LED each side? Just they gave a very sphereical light.

Also no has seemed to have made their ambient lighting fucntion like Honda's. I really like it how when the door is open its much brighter and then when the door is closed and engine is started it dims. Is there any way to replicate this?

Would love to do it cheaper than what Honda charge, but I may try and get a cheaper price from dealers if no one can replicate this effect.

Its just 1 LED each side I think, I had alook when I sat in it.

I might just get a red LED Strip, and hook that up? should just be the same, but fraction of the price

If anyone has done it, please share your work

Charles_Harding · 6th March 2007, 13:28

Have a try with this thread.

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/showthr...?t=2785&page=2

Think of all the wine you can buy with the savings!

"The secret of long life? Live within walking distance of two hospitals!"

Charles H.

DanKo · 6th March 2007, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles_Harding

Have a try with this thread.

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/showthr...?t=2785&page=2

Think of all the wine you can buy with the savings!

"The secret of long life? Live within walking distance of two hospitals!"

Charles H.

sorry, link dont work.

TTDegs · 6th March 2007, 13:58

as ever, the search is your friend

Install Ambient Blue Lighting (Switched on by Main Lights)

or just look in the How To section

Griffyn · 6th March 2007, 17:14

I have seen that post but in my post was asking if anyone has managed the same effect as the OEM ambient lights? Ie them dim like on the OEM. Not sure when they dimmed but I think when the engine was started. Dont really want bright red all the time tbh.

TTDegs · 6th March 2007, 17:23

sorry Griffyn - my post was in answer to Danko's nicking of your thread

as far as I have heard, no one has replicated the dimming effect of the OEM set, sorry

richierich · 6th March 2007, 17:59

Go on, buy it, you will only feel dissappointed if you do it yourself and end up with floodlights for footwell lights. Even with them dim they often give a funny reflection in the drivers window when driving at night, especially when wearing white trainers, you can see your feet moving out of the window when you change gear!

Griffyn · 6th March 2007, 19:45

I think I probs will end up buying it. It is a shame as its so expensive buy I shall try get a deal, maybe free speaker rings thrown in.

I have 12" cathodes atm as I said above, and it does look abit chav with no dimming imo. I really love the dim feature and not sure how to wire something like that up.

I wont tell dealer yet, leave it to last minute incase a way does come up.

generationgav · 7th March 2007, 09:42

I've put a manual dimmer in my cigarette light area; I can turn my home fitted footwell lights down and off as required.
It's all manual though...

Griffyn · 7th March 2007, 18:45

Yeah I have considered that, but gona sound really lazy, but its just hassle. It would just be left on dim all the time and then its not really noticable. Plus atm dont really like driving with my footwell lights on as its abit annoying.

But hey will consider it.

blzb0b · 7th March 2007, 22:10

it shouldn't be too difficult to get auto-dim.. you just need two resistors

the two resistors should be different values to give the desired two brightnesses.

you will need to find two earthing points..

find a +ve connection and connect this to the anode of the led (I would suggest a lamp from behind the dash (I think there is one behind the cig lighter?)) .

then use two wires to connect to two earth points. the one with the higher value resistor to any earth point.

This will mean that anytime the lights are on - the leds should be on in their "dim" mode

the other wire with the lower value resistor (connected to the same cathode) should connect to the -ve side of the interior lamp (probably easier to get to the back of the door switch)

this will give the "bright" mode...

current will always follow the path of least resistance. so when the door is open - the path is thru the lower resistor.

+ve --Led -- H resistor -- earth
...............|
................-- L resistor -- earth (door switch)
(ignore the dots - they are just to space out the diagram (the forum seems to remove white space from the posts!)

I must stress I havn't tried this yet as my Type R doesn't arrive till the 25th... but in theory it should work...

whilst assembling - you could use a pot to determine the correct values for the brightness you want - then replace this with a fixed resistor prior to final fitting.

Griffyn · 7th March 2007, 22:19

Yeah does seem like a good idea. Hopefully someone will give it a go before the 1st week in April so I can see if it works well or not!

Lexie · 8th March 2007, 00:39

Ive got ambient lighting and, ok, its expensive, but I think it's great. I really love it and dont regret the extra £195...

Griffyn · 8th March 2007, 01:39

I am gona try blag free speaker rings or something if I do decide to get the ambient lighting. But there are still a few things I am considering like the fixed servicing cost for 5yrs, GAP insurance and Supaguard.

TTDegs · 8th March 2007, 09:07

fixed servicig - if you are likely to keep the car that long, well worth it

GAP - there are cheaper options available - check out the links in here for example

SupaGuard - personally I'd rather invest in some decent wash / wax kit, but it can work ok for some people... Do a search in here (Buying and Cleaning sections mainly) for other people's experiences...

and then, with all the money you've saved, go for the lights

Maldax · 8th March 2007, 18:31

I love my lights!

Mine came as part of the 'Studio Pack' I think the main part of the cost is fitting, Don't think it's that easy

alastair b · 8th March 2007, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griffyn

I am gona try blag free speaker rings or something if I do decide to get the ambient lighting. But there are still a few things I am considering like the fixed servicing cost for 5yrs, GAP insurance and Supaguard.

Hi Griffyn,
I took out the fixed price servicing,figured that even if I only kept the car for three years it would probably cost me about that anyway.
On the Gap insurance,try haggling with the dealer,I did and got an excellent discount on it.

peter newton · 8th March 2007, 20:06

i got a good deal on gap insurance they wanted £300.00
told him if it was £200.00 i would have it ,he came up trumps.it is well worth having it to save the worry if anthing did happern ,

regards pete

Griffyn · 8th March 2007, 20:42

Yeah I think even if you keep the car for 3 years it works out better to buy the fixed servicing so defo worth it if the car is kept longer than that, I am thinking at the moment I will keep it for about 4-5years as will have to a buy house before next car :O

As for GAP seems a really good idea as in theory if I someone smashes into my back 2 years and 363 days after buying the car and its a write off I would end up with a brand new car again

Plus I am young driver, 4 years NCB hence why I can afford insurance on a CTR, so GAP really appeals to me!

But I am still interested in getting ambient lights, speaker rings, Supaguard, Fixed Servicing and GAP so I am hoping to bag the lot for a great deal. But will wait till dealer rings me again as still a monthish to go until the car arrives.

4th March 2007, 22:45	#1 (permalink)
Griffyn Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2007 Location: Nr. Portsmouth Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Ambient Lighting Now it seems alot of people have come up with some cheaper alternatives to Honda's rip off ambient lighting. I really liked it in the Type-R demonstrator. In my current car have 12" cathodes in the footwells (rear too), in the cubby holes have 4" and leds in the air vent controlled by a switch. Don't use them very often tbh but does look cool, abit CHAV but was younger when I did it and cost me a whopping £20! Now what have Honda used for the red or blue ambient lights? Are they an LED each side? Just they gave a very sphereical light. Also no has seemed to have made their ambient lighting fucntion like Honda's. I really like it how when the door is open its much brighter and then when the door is closed and engine is started it dims. Is there any way to replicate this? Would love to do it cheaper than what Honda charge, but I may try and get a cheaper price from dealers if no one can replicate this effect.

8th March 2007, 20:06	#19 (permalink)
peter newton Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 26th February 2007 Location: kettering Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	good deal i got a good deal on gap insurance they wanted £300.00 told him if it was £200.00 i would have it ,he came up trumps.it is well worth having it to save the worry if anthing did happern , regards pete

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This thread is about: Ambient Lighting, it's in Lights at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Now it seems alot of people have come up with some cheaper alternatives to Honda's rip off ambient lighting. I really liked it in the ...

6th March 2007, 13:28	#3 (permalink)
Charles_Harding Civinfo guru Join Date: 14th August 2006 Location: S.E. London Posts: 2,703 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Have a try with this thread. http://www.civinfo.com/forum/showthr...?t=2785&page=2 Think of all the wine you can buy with the savings! *"The secret of long life? Live within walking distance of two hospitals!"* Charles H.

6th March 2007, 13:58	#5 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	as ever, the search is your friend Install Ambient Blue Lighting (Switched on by Main Lights) or just look in the How To section

6th March 2007, 17:14	#6 (permalink)
Griffyn Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2007 Location: Nr. Portsmouth Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I have seen that post but in my post was asking if anyone has managed the same effect as the OEM ambient lights? Ie them dim like on the OEM. Not sure when they dimmed but I think when the engine was started. Dont really want bright red all the time tbh.

6th March 2007, 17:23	#7 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	sorry Griffyn - my post was in answer to Danko's nicking of your thread as far as I have heard, no one has replicated the dimming effect of the OEM set, sorry

6th March 2007, 17:59	#8 (permalink)
richierich Smell My Cheese! Rocketship door handle Join Date: 17th May 2006 Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire Posts: 1,843 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Go on, buy it, you will only feel dissappointed if you do it yourself and end up with floodlights for footwell lights. Even with them dim they often give a funny reflection in the drivers window when driving at night, especially when wearing white trainers, you can see your feet moving out of the window when you change gear!

6th March 2007, 19:45	#9 (permalink)
Griffyn Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2007 Location: Nr. Portsmouth Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I think I probs will end up buying it. It is a shame as its so expensive buy I shall try get a deal, maybe free speaker rings thrown in. I have 12" cathodes atm as I said above, and it does look abit chav with no dimming imo. I really love the dim feature and not sure how to wire something like that up. I wont tell dealer yet, leave it to last minute incase a way does come up.

7th March 2007, 09:42	#10 (permalink)
generationgav Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 29th May 2006 Posts: 797 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I've put a manual dimmer in my cigarette light area; I can turn my home fitted footwell lights down and off as required. It's all manual though...

7th March 2007, 18:45	#11 (permalink)
Griffyn Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2007 Location: Nr. Portsmouth Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Yeah I have considered that, but gona sound really lazy, but its just hassle. It would just be left on dim all the time and then its not really noticable. Plus atm dont really like driving with my footwell lights on as its abit annoying. But hey will consider it.

7th March 2007, 22:10	#12 (permalink)
blzb0b Wheelnut Join Date: 17th December 2006 Posts: 99 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	it shouldn't be too difficult to get auto-dim.. you just need two resistors the two resistors should be different values to give the desired two brightnesses. you will need to find two earthing points.. find a +ve connection and connect this to the anode of the led (I would suggest a lamp from behind the dash (I think there is one behind the cig lighter?)) . then use two wires to connect to two earth points. the one with the higher value resistor to any earth point. This will mean that anytime the lights are on - the leds should be on in their "dim" mode the other wire with the lower value resistor (connected to the same cathode) should connect to the -ve side of the interior lamp (probably easier to get to the back of the door switch) this will give the "bright" mode... current will always follow the path of least resistance. so when the door is open - the path is thru the lower resistor. +ve --Led -- H resistor -- earth ...............\| ................-- L resistor -- earth (door switch) (ignore the dots - they are just to space out the diagram (the forum seems to remove white space from the posts!) I must stress I havn't tried this yet as my Type R doesn't arrive till the 25th... but in theory it should work... whilst assembling - you could use a pot to determine the correct values for the brightness you want - then replace this with a fixed resistor prior to final fitting.

7th March 2007, 22:19	#13 (permalink)
Griffyn Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2007 Location: Nr. Portsmouth Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Yeah does seem like a good idea. Hopefully someone will give it a go before the 1st week in April so I can see if it works well or not!

8th March 2007, 00:39	#14 (permalink)
Lexie Lightning Princess Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 8th January 2007 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 420 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ive got ambient lighting and, ok, its expensive, but I think it's great. I really love it and dont regret the extra £195...

8th March 2007, 01:39	#15 (permalink)
Griffyn Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2007 Location: Nr. Portsmouth Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I am gona try blag free speaker rings or something if I do decide to get the ambient lighting. But there are still a few things I am considering like the fixed servicing cost for 5yrs, GAP insurance and Supaguard.

8th March 2007, 09:07	#16 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	fixed servicig - if you are likely to keep the car that long, well worth it GAP - there are cheaper options available - check out the links in here for example SupaGuard - personally I'd rather invest in some decent wash / wax kit, but it can work ok for some people... Do a search in here (Buying and Cleaning sections mainly) for other people's experiences... and then, with all the money you've saved, go for the lights

8th March 2007, 18:31	#17 (permalink)
Maldax Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 12th June 2006 Location: Reading, Berks Posts: 1,046 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I love my lights! Mine came as part of the 'Studio Pack' I think the main part of the cost is fitting, Don't think it's that easy

8th March 2007, 20:42	#20 (permalink)
Griffyn Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2007 Location: Nr. Portsmouth Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Yeah I think even if you keep the car for 3 years it works out better to buy the fixed servicing so defo worth it if the car is kept longer than that, I am thinking at the moment I will keep it for about 4-5years as will have to a buy house before next car :O As for GAP seems a really good idea as in theory if I someone smashes into my back 2 years and 363 days after buying the car and its a write off I would end up with a brand new car again Plus I am young driver, 4 years NCB hence why I can afford insurance on a CTR, so GAP really appeals to me! But I am still interested in getting ambient lights, speaker rings, Supaguard, Fixed Servicing and GAP so I am hoping to bag the lot for a great deal. But will wait till dealer rings me again as still a monthish to go until the car arrives.