Hey guys... I was wondering if anyone has mounted a light in the coin holder (The one next to the DSC control). I want it to be wired so that when you open the door, it comes on, along with all the other lights. It is a pain in the ass to see my change when it is dark outside. If you have, please post pics and an explaiation on how you did it. Thanks.

would seem pretty simple to tap into the courtesy lights and put a 194 led in there.

^^^ yeah, shouldn't be too tough. The only thing that ever sits in there is my bluetooth headset though

right there with ya Jedi. My Earset 2 from B&O fit's perfectly in the coin holder.

would seem pretty simple to tap into the courtesy lights and put a 194 led in there.

yeah that is what I was thinking of doing. What kind of 194 led bulb would you suggest using? I want to use HID White, so I can see better. Will this work if I have already tapped into the courtesy lights for my footwell lights? I don't see why it wouldn't.

www.vleds.com has a great hyper white

I meant what bulb style.

I'd go with http://www.v-leds.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/4481033/vpcsid/0/SFV/32481

they seem to be the smallest 194's they sell
tapping into the footwell lights would turn the light on when you open the door, which is what you said you wanted.

Only problem I see is that you'd need to open your car door to fumble for change.. not exactly the easiest thing to do at a toll booth or drive through. What about fabricating a micro switch to the coin door and connecting to a constant 12v supply? then the light comes on when you open the coin door. More work but much more practical.

Thanks, using a switch sounds like a great idea. I was thinking of 6 led bulbs also.

I have red LEDs in my change holder than come on when the lights are turned on. You can not see them at all when the change door is closed. They are from autolumination.com, here's a pic:

http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/4led_r_wm.gif
Obviously they are the non-flashing version. These are also the LEDs that I used for my footwell lights (sorry RotaryRasp :))

Here's what they look like in the car. I had to clip the plastic screw holes off so that they would fit, and I actually mounted them upside down so they weren't so bright. I just stuck them in there with double sided tape. It's wired to my footwell lights, which are in turn wired to the glove box light (which comes on with the parking/headlights).

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee35/Aipex8/coin.jpg

Hey thanks. This is exactly what I am looking to accomplish, but with white LEDs. What type of LEDs are they from V-LEDs? Also, do you know how to wire it so it comes on without the lights on, and when you open it? Also, if possible, please post a DIY on how you mounted it and where you drilled holes. Thanks.

You could probably wire it to the cigarette lighter wires (power wires, not illumination wires). That way, any time the ignitions is in the ACC or ON position, the lights would be on as well and you wouldn't have to turn your lights on to see in there.

I have red LEDs in my change holder than come on when the lights are turned on. You can not see them at all when the change door is closed. They are from autolumination.com, here's a pic:

http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/4led_r_wm.gif
Obviously they are the non-flashing version. These are also the LEDs that I used for my footwell lights (sorry RotaryRasp :))

Here's what they look like in the car. I had to clip the plastic screw holes off so that they would fit, and I actually mounted them upside down so they weren't so bright. I just stuck them in there with double sided tape. It's wired to my footwell lights, which are in turn wired to the glove box light (which comes on with the parking/headlights).

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee35/Aipex8/coin.jpg

Can you post what model led it is or direct link to that product. Can't find it in there site.

http://autolumination.com/fixtures.htm

about half way down the page

just ordered the smallest 194 they have, a socket and a magnetic microswitch from amazon... should have it all next week and i'll post some pics if i get it to work.

Awesome! If all goes well, please keep us informed.

Hey thanks. This is exactly what I am looking to accomplish, but with white LEDs. What type of LEDs are they from V-LEDs? Also, do you know how to wire it so it comes on without the lights on, and when you open it? Also, if possible, please post a DIY on how you mounted it and where you drilled holes. Thanks.

laythor posted the link for these LEDs, they are quite inexpensive at $5 a pair. I bought a couple sets for footwell lights and I got a few extras just in case. I just used double sided tape and ran the wire out of the change box through the pre-existing gap, so no drilling. If you get down and look up in to the change box, it's probably not the most elegant way to do it, but from the drivers seat it looks great.

I have been checking out the LED's and switches at http://www.oznium.com and browsing the forum. There is a lot of good information for wiring stuff up. So I am determined to do my first electrical mod: 1 white 5mm LED (20 mA) in the coinbox /w switch. I'd like to use add-a-circuit with a 5 amp fuse (okay?) to tap into the cabin fuse box. I don't intend to add any more LED's.

My question is, what gauge wire should I use? Can anybody help?

Thanks.

If you really feel the need to fuse it, and it only is gonna draw 20mA, then you'd obviously be okay at a 5A fuse. Wire size.........again not much draw, so just to be safe........anything larger(meaning a smaller gauge number) than 22awg is fine.
I'd probably just use 18-20awg and be done with it.

Thanks a lot, Mazurfer.

Furthering the discussion about lighting the coinbox:

I want to do this mod!! I want to start a new thread and post pics of the electrical components, steps of the install, and final product. This would be a very simple install (not so simple for ME) for anybody just starting out with this kind of thing. My way of contributing something to the forum.

The goal: install ONE white 5 mm LED (3.3 V, 20 mA) /w pre-wired resistor.

It'll be my first wiring so I hope you guys will help me out when I have questions like this ... :banghead:

1) Looking at the dash where the DSC button is, I see two "blank" buttons. Can these be removed and an appropriately sized button installed? Any info. on how to remove them?

2) I would like to use add-a-circuit w/ 5 amp fuse to draw power from the cabin fuse box. I'll need to figure out which side of the fuse box to insert in. I assume before I start any wiring, I should disconnect the negative battery terminal? If so, can I just lay the cable from the terminal anyplace in the engine bay when it is unattached? Will this cause sparks?

I know I am not ready/knowledgeable enough yet to begin, don't worry. And my questions are going to be rather lame at first. I can handle a bit of flaming (although you guys are cool). So thanks in advance and I promise I will try to do a good job and make ya' proud of moi. :lol:

Elliott

To answer your first question, yes you can add an appropiate sized button. There is a thread in the DIY Forum for this.

^ Found it. Thanks!

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=134577&highlight=dash+button

Yep, that' s the thread I was thinking about sending you to................it has some decent info.
Since you haven't done anything like this before, I would say you should go ahead and take off the negative terminal of the battery. Yes, it can lay in there, just keep it away from the positive. I just try to have it sitting or resting against plastic and not metal. You will have to do a reset after that if you didn't know.
Anyway......depending on how you wish this light to work will determine where you wire it into. You want it on all the time or how?

Maz, PM sent.

Thanks for thinking about me (regarding that thread). I get it now about the -'ve terminal. Also for reminding me about the ecu reset, I'll read up on that when time comes.

I'd like the LED to be powered when the car starts, not only if headlights are on, and controlled by the switch. I assume that can be done?

Post some pictures when your done.

Maz, PM sent.

Thanks for thinking about me (regarding that thread). I get it now about the -'ve terminal. Also for reminding me about the ecu reset, I'll read up on that when time comes.

I'd like the LED to be powered when the car starts, not only if headlights are on, and controlled by the switch. I assume that can be done?

Yep it can be done. All you have to do is tap into on side of the fuse box for something that is always on with car started, and if you really want, you would place the 5a fuse inline before the switch(you can get the fuse holders at any auto parts store). Speaking of switch.....will you be using a seperate switch that you will buy? I can't tell from what you wrote.

On another note..............I really don't think I would use another fuse(meaning the 5a inline), you're only adding 20mA, so I'd just tap off the fuse box or the right wire coming from the fuse box and be done with it.

I was looking at some of those in-line fuse holders. Very cool but seems like it would be flapping around whereas the Add-a-Circuit seems neater/less cluttered. But could I just use an in-line fuse holder and tie it down? These fuse holders have mini prongs to tap into the fuse box?

Yes I am going to buy a switch.

Post some pictures when your done.

It's going to take a little while to get going. So far I'm still just learning the basics (as you can probably tell, haha). But when I get started, I'll definitely take pics all along the way.

I was looking at some of those in-line fuse holders. Very cool but seems like it would be flapping around whereas the Add-a-Circuit seems neater/less cluttered. But could I just use an in-line fuse holder and tie it down? These fuse holders have mini prongs to tap into the fuse box?

Yes I am going to buy a switch.

Just see your PM's as there is a much better way.
Yes, you could just tie off the inline fuse with tie wraps and it won't flop around........this is how the shock sensor(the old one) handled the seperate fuse holder(it was an inline).

^ PM sent.

Thanks.

Any updates? I would really like to do this once someone gets it to work well with a switch. I want it to turn one when opening the coin holder, not only when the lights are on.

Any updates? I would really like to do this once someone gets it to work well with a switch. I want it to turn one when opening the coin holder, not only when the lights are on.

I'm making one of those... I'll let you know how it comes out.

^ Yes, post up when you do. I have to wait a couple weeks and go to visit family over March break and while I'm there I'll get my dad (engineer) to help out in case I am about to bolt my forehead to the dash. :)

Any updates on this? I really want to do this because now that it is spring break, I finally have the time.

Bump for an update.