Well, I'm really bummed these pictures came out so crappy, but I don't have a tripod. Anyway, here are pics of my new interior accent lights.

From outside:


Looking forward:


Looking backward:


Door light:


What it looks like while driving:


The switch I wired in to override them coming on with the headlights:


Overall I'm really happy with it. I'm going to add a few more tomorrow to the backs of the front seats to light up the rear footwell too. It's really subtle when you're driving, but pretty bright with the lights on and the door open (which of course activates the dome light and the courtesy lights as well).

I replaced the map lights with some super-white LEDs as well which I highly recommend. I didn't realize how yellow the stock bulbs were until I replaced them.

Total install time: about 1 1/2 hours.

 

That looks really good

 

Thanks!

I just put 2 more LED strips in the backs of the front seats to light the rear footwell yesterday. Again, went really subtle trying to avoid anything looking rice. Total cost for the project (including new dome, door and map lights) was about $60. I'd say that's a whole hell of a lot better than the $118 it costs just for the Mazda foot well lights and I like the look of the blue a little better too.

I helped a buddy of mine do red LEDs (not in an RX-8) at the same time that I did my blues. The red looks good overall, but it's not as bright and the blue seems to diffuse better. It's hard to explain. You eye I think sees more detail of what the light is shining in with the red (which could be good in applications) while the blue just kind of washes it with color and is more of a mood light IMO.

Still very happy though.

 

Red light travels further than blue light so it is easier to see. Our eyes have an easier time seeing red than blue.

That is why red cars are more apt to be spotted from a distance or seen first in a crowd like they stick out.

Another example is the stock orange corner markers are noticed sooner than the clear markers if a person has a silver car the eyes see the orange first.

 

Where did you attach the LEDs to the front seat? And how do you think you would attach it to the factory installed front floor lights? I've got red all over the inside of the car, so I'd really like to do that to the back seat floor as well Also, which LEDs did you use in the back?

 

here's some lighting pics. Some may have already seen pics from the past...but this should give you guys some more ideas.

 

and a couple more...

For more...just check the site: http://rx8.mine.nu

 

wow devoid car looks nice. what underbody kit do you have because i have the red Streetglow gold series and it doesnt look nearly as bright as yours.

 

There are metal bars in both front and back of the seats that I just used 3M tape to adhere the LEDs to. You'll find spots easily.

Are you saying you have the factory front lights and you want to daisy-chain the LEDs off of them? If so, that'd be really easy. There will be a + and - wire running to the factory lights, so just splice into those wires and solder your LED wires in there. The LEDs draw such a tiny amount of power that it shouldn't affect your factory lights at all. I ran all 8 of my LED strips off of the one line that I mentioned before and they're all just as bright as if I had run one.

The lights I used for all of the under-dash, under-seat applications were the Non-Blinking Light Strips about half way down this page:

http://autolumination.com/fixtures.htm

 

Thanks! How many of the strips did you use under each front seat?

 

ICELED - 2 million color...the brightest but also the most expensive. Only 1 dealer in the US

http://iceled.co.uk
Dealer: www.oznium.com

 

There are two under the dash on each side, and then one under the front of each seat and one under the back of each seat. I'm considering taking one of the strips out of each side under the dash to make it a little more subtle, but haven't decided yet. As you can see from the pics, they're not that bright, but I was going more for just an accent than to really light up the whole foot well.

The switch is super easy to wire in too. I didn't want to use one of the switch plates to the left of the steering wheel for this because I figured I'd find a better use for that some day (nitrous?), and I don't use the ashtray so that seemed like a nice, stealth install. My first time Dremmelling anything car related... :P

The LEDs are so cheap and so easy to dasiychain though that I would recommend buying a few extra in case you don't think it's bright enough. If you put one under the front and one under the back of the seat and then later decide you want a little more light, you can just splice in right next to the strip and easily add another one on. In my case, I'm putting the extra ones that I'm not using (bought 8, installed 6) in my girlfriends new CX-7.

 

I want tthis where do I get it from ?

 

okay...dead thread wake up!

Ive searched and Ive searched but no DIY. Im thinking of putting red LED's in my doors since those are the only interrior lights I use and was wondering how this would be done ?


Thanks

 

you mean the courtesy lights? if so all you need to do is pop off the cover pull out bulb and then put in new bulb. bulb size is 194. i believe it shows you how to do it in the manual as well

 

thanks man, sounds preeeeeeeeetty easy, just didnt wanna screw anythang up

 

its extremly easy. make sure you cover the flat head screwdriver used to pop off the cover with tape or something so you dont scratch anything. also just check the leads when you pull out the old bulbs so you can see which way the new ones go in. i got all of my leds from vleds.com. any doubts just refer to the manual

 

i got neons

 

but isnt red the color of choice on naval ships? I thought they use red lights on anything that could be visible cause it's the lowest visibility or something

 

That's why most car manufacturers today use orange or red backlight on their interior equipment. It's a lot easier on the eyes so you don't strain when you shift from a dark environment to a bright one.

 

It also depends on the light output of the bulb.

If the bulb is coated to get the red then it will not be as high of output as a clear white bulb.