Custom Dash Lighting
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 37
From: Torrance, CA
Custom Dash Lighting
some of you in socal may have already seen my custom indicator area light:
This is an easy effect to get, and you can make anything you want!
What you need:
-Plexiglass (as thin as possible)
-A sharp knife or razor blade
-some 12DC lights (http://www.xoxide.com is a great place for small LEDs)
-A dremel will make things easy, but its not required
-imagination
1) search online for a font or picture that you want on your dash, these are not permanent so, you may want to pick a few that you can change out. I went to 1001fonts.com and found a cool looking font.
2) Print out what you have found, this is guess and check to get the size right (for me it was, i dont like measuring) Using your dash cluster cover as a guide. I did mine on an xB, and there is a great spot where the turn signals and indicator lights are. Use your imagination tho!
3) tape your picture or text to the back of the plexiglass and engrave the outline of your creation into the plexiglass using the razor blade.
4) now put your plexiglass on the back of the cluster and trim it to fit.
5)now the fun part, running the wires, i ran mine from the cigarette lighter and put a switch in the dash. I chose the lighter because then i dont have to worry about the light being on when i leave the car- you can do as you please (lol)
6) there is a space where you can run the wires on the passenger side, just to the left of the glove box:
7) after you get your wires routed, ( a coat hanger helps) you have hook up an LED and get some light on your plexiglass, this will make the etched part light up, giving you an awe inpiring effect. I used zip ties to keep the LEDs in place,
if you are still having problems, PM me and maybe I will make ya one for a few bucks, to perfectly fix for the xB--
Here is how i attached the light-- a pair of zip ties is the best way to go, tape gets hot in the sun and melts off- found out the hard way
You will get better light distrubution if you sand the back of the plexi where the light is
No, you will not lose your indicator lights:
go here if the pics dont work
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...der_id=1229973
This is an easy effect to get, and you can make anything you want!
What you need:
-Plexiglass (as thin as possible)
-A sharp knife or razor blade
-some 12DC lights (http://www.xoxide.com is a great place for small LEDs)
-A dremel will make things easy, but its not required
-imagination
1) search online for a font or picture that you want on your dash, these are not permanent so, you may want to pick a few that you can change out. I went to 1001fonts.com and found a cool looking font.
2) Print out what you have found, this is guess and check to get the size right (for me it was, i dont like measuring) Using your dash cluster cover as a guide. I did mine on an xB, and there is a great spot where the turn signals and indicator lights are. Use your imagination tho!
3) tape your picture or text to the back of the plexiglass and engrave the outline of your creation into the plexiglass using the razor blade.
4) now put your plexiglass on the back of the cluster and trim it to fit.
5)now the fun part, running the wires, i ran mine from the cigarette lighter and put a switch in the dash. I chose the lighter because then i dont have to worry about the light being on when i leave the car- you can do as you please (lol)
6) there is a space where you can run the wires on the passenger side, just to the left of the glove box:
7) after you get your wires routed, ( a coat hanger helps) you have hook up an LED and get some light on your plexiglass, this will make the etched part light up, giving you an awe inpiring effect. I used zip ties to keep the LEDs in place,
if you are still having problems, PM me and maybe I will make ya one for a few bucks, to perfectly fix for the xB--Here is how i attached the light-- a pair of zip ties is the best way to go, tape gets hot in the sun and melts off- found out the hard way
You will get better light distrubution if you sand the back of the plexi where the light is
No, you will not lose your indicator lights:
go here if the pics dont work
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...der_id=1229973
Member
StyleWagons
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 32
From: Ft. Worth Tx
my question is do you still have all of your warning lights or ar they gone. did you have to paint the back of the plexi or is it still clear and over the warning lights i will go read again but i would like to try this it looks great
