I am interested in eletricity and how it works. It is hard for me to find someone who is knowledgable about this subject. I have recently started toying around with some of the topics in the "Tech" section, and I don't know anything about stuff like:

OHM's law, resistors, wattage, voltage, amperage,...etc.

I just want to learn more about Electricity so when I do start "moding" my car, I will do it the right way!

Any help is appreciated

Thanks,

Charles Simon
Bremerton, WA
charlesas@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/charlessimon
(916)718-1140

 

What are you looking to do to your car?

 

Ya what are you wanting to do to your car where you would need to know a lot of those items?

 

what is it that you would like to know?

the main thing you need to know is ohm's law... from there everything kinda comes together as far as working out stuff.

anything else is just basic definitions.. (i.e. amperage is just describing how much current... wattage is how much power you're using.. etc.. etc...)

you can just search for basic electricity on google or your favorite search engine and it should come return plenty of resources.

 

I was wanting to know the basics about electricity. I don't know about AC/DC stuff. I don't know how to calculate resistor stuff and how they even work. The main reason I thought about this stuff is because my dash LED's in my Dashboard(that I replaced) aren't as bright as I have seen others. Then I was looking on the "Tech" section and I saw some tech-thing about changing your resitors along with the led's and I started to think whether that was the reason why they weren't bright or whether I did something terribly wrong. And then when it comes to my HVAC, I installed the LED's and only a few of them work, so I definately would like to learn about resistors and stuff. I have been wanting to do some DIY PCCB MOD's and I have no clue where to start for purchasing stuff.

 

bright as you've seen where?

online? in pictures?

where a simple adjustment of a camera can make it as bright as the morning sun? or as dark as the black hole in the seat where lies dollars of loose change you've lost?

as far as the HVAC.. yeah... that's a given... that's something you need to modify with new components..

otherwise... make sure your dimmer switch is all the way up.

 

I figured that was what was going on. I just am unhappy with the brightness of the leds. I may have got the wrong ones at the time or something? I dunno. I do know that I am about to sit down and watch a bunch 'o videos on electricity and such that I got off of YOUTUBE. Thanx to everyone.

If anyone wants to get togehter to try to find some new mods with leds and such let me know. I need experience and I have the money to blow on parts!

 

err.. i have ideas but no money...

you live so far away... :?

 

If you replaced your HVAC lights with LEDs, I've read that the LEDs don't disperse the light enough for the clear plastic "light channels" (?) to evenly distribute the light.

I decided to get replacement incandescents for the HVAC on mine instead, because the pics I saw of LEDs had "hot spots" in the illumination (ie. the center was bright, but the edges faded off quickly). Incandescent isn't as bright probably, but it's more even light.

I also read one thread that said grinding the LED to an angle (probably so it's directed toward the "light channel"?) helped even out LED light.

 

SquallLHeart Posted:
err.. i have ideas but no money...

you live so far away...

Charlesas:

Guess what I am movin' to Sac-town in 2 months!

 

Thanks for the info BUSDRIVER. I think there is always something new when it comes to Modin' our Scion's, but in the end I always enjoy the final result until I come up with a new idea.

 

All in all I extremely appreciate us owners coming together to help each other out.

NOW, I have thought about some interesting ideas, but I need someone with the know how to help me with the electricity part of it. When I started doing my mod's I always bought the LED's that were pre-wired with resistors, but some of my new ideas may take a little more than just the 3mm or 5mm LED's. I want to make a LED board that is very small.

So...

I was looking at this DIY PCB:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/hobby.htm

and I just do not know where to start with this! I want to have two of these side-by-side to light up the SCION on the radio cover. Call me crazy, or bored, but I am pretty sure with enough research I can do it. I also want to light up the door handles like on the TECH page with an LED.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELPING?

 

Bremerton, Bremerton, Bremerton...wherebouts?

I don't know too much about LEDs. I'm just amazed that there's another tC owner in Bremerton, let alone on SL.

 

Step 1 for dealing with Electronics

Buy a voltage tester.

Test every wire before you go to cut them. I have a pair of fairly heavy duty cutters in my toolbox with a provocative chunk missing from the blades.

"Oh sure guys, the power's off"


~_~

 

ahh.. again flash backs to tech school.....

google Ohms law and you'll find all sorts of stuff... its pretty easy once you dive into it.... its been almost 10yrs since i was playing with the stuff on a day to day thing so i'm way rusty...

tho feel free to drop a line or something if needed.. i'll try to dig up the answer for ya ...

 

Good stuff from everyone! I live on Naval Base Kitsap. I am stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, and it is in the Shipyard for repairs.

I can't wait to get started on these projects!

I have heard that you can spend on upwards to $600 to $800 dollars on a top of the line voltameter, does anyone have one that is reliable, but did not cost you an "arm and a leg"?

 

you can get a good basic one for 25ish at any hardware store or radio shack.... the other ones that cost $$$ are good and worth it.. but not needed unless you plan on doing some very intricate percise stuff.... LED work and even car audio work would just need the basic 25$ish one...

 

an FYI: I was an electrical apprentice for 2 years. and know journeymen electricians are taught squat about cars. Sure some electricians are the man when it comes to stereo's and wiring cars, but they learned that on their own separate from wiring buildings. I'd say you're more likely to find better info from some 20 year old kid here, then a random 30-40year old electrician.

 

Thank for the info SEATTLEDAVE and KKAWANA! Appreciate the help.

 

I agree with KK.. If you just want a basic volt meter, get one at radio shack. They are cheap and they do the job right. With them you can measure AC (alternate currnent) voltage (what's in your house) or DC (direct current) voltage (what's in your car). The meter will do it automatically so that you don't have to worry about all the logistics. I have one from radio shack that I use on my car and at work (I install home theaters) all the time and it works perfectly.

The big fluke ones are nice, but like KK said you don't need anything that specific if you are only working on cars 'cause cars are only 12-16 volts typically. The radio shack one you can use on anything so save yourself the money and go with one of those.

Just like everyone else says, google all the info you want to know. I have dabbed in it here and there for work. Ohm's law is a little over my head since I don't work with high voltage that often.

Hope that helps ya a little