Stumbled across this: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=sTX1U4e_PIH9yQSxyYHwD Q&url=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D8HuOLhjGm-0&cd=1&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&usg=AFQjCNGpmdE6GvJ_NgwC_ep qMgs1muEusA

Wondering if this was posted by someone from this forum, as I am very interested in doing this.

 

I can not say that I have seen this before, but if you need some help, I am sure I can give you some help. I have done the puddle lights on some trucks and it isn't all that hard to do. I am thinking a good say 5W LED light fixture for each door would do you good. Then it is a matter of getting power to the lights which would best be done by a simple power transistor since the lights dim by using a pulse width modulation setup.

 

Congrats on being selected for the launch trip Thermo. As someone else mentioned in the announcement thread, you are the best candidate, and likely the most deserving based on your knowledge and involvement here.

Anyway, this is low on my priority list at the moment, as I have some maintenance items I'd rather take care of, but I would certainly like your help on this project. As far as a power source, am I wrong in assuming they are running off their own relay tied into the interior light circuit?

 

Liquid, if you are after the dimming function like was in the video, then a relay is completely out to lunch. A relay will not do a dimming function like you are seeing. But, don't fret, we can get you past that.

What part of the US are you in? If you are near the DC area, come on over and we will wire things up in no time flat. I have all of the electronics that I am picturing in my head already in the house.

 

Thermo, it looks like he just tapped it off of the already modulated interior light circuit, east to get at since it runs right up the pillar...

 

wa3ra, the big question I have is how much current can that circuit handle. There is no official listing of what it can handle. So, if you did a full LED lighting conversion and dropped the current the system is seeing down some, then yes, by all means tap into that wire and add the lights underneath. But, without the LED conversion, you risk blowing up something (that "thing" would be your GEM module). By using a separate system like I am thinking, the current increase (even without an LED upgrade) would be very minimal and within the capabilities of the GEM module.

 

I live in Jersey Thermo, unfortunately. Three hour drive to D.C.from Atlantic city. Would love to visit a legend though... And yes, I would want it dimmed, but I mentioned the relay for the reasons you explained about putting too much draw on the existing circuit. The new circuit you are suggesting would have to be triggered by something, right? That was my line of thinking anyway.

 

Liquid, in short, I would be using a transistor to simply boost the output of the circuit. The GEM would trigger the transistor and the LEDs would be powered from say the battery. This would allow the quick switching action that the GEM uses to make the lights appear to dim and yet not kill a relay from trying to keep up with the rapid cycling that the GEM would cause it to sustain. I could make up the box and send it to you. Wouldn't be the first gizmo box I have made for people to use in their cars.

 

Dude, that would be awesome. I would gladly cover the cost of the components, shipping, and a six pack of your choice!

 

Good question, Thermo.

The Land Rover that I added these to sent the PW dimming signal to a big old TO3 cased behemoth that sank 55 watts without a heat sink. I grabbed a 150 watter with the same input specs out of my RF devices supply, and painlessly slapped another 60 watts onto the circuit (two on each side, two for the rear door).

I have to admit, I liked them, and I think I may add them to my jag, too.

Send a pulse from the unlock signal to a separate circuit, just a simple timer to hold up the lights for 'x' seconds?