How to Install Ambient Lighting in Your Car
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Your Guide to Custom Interior Car Lights
One of the top ways to customize the interior of your vehicle is to install custom interior car lights. Custom interior car lights allow you to update the color and ambiance of your vehicle. Whether you want a cool blue light or a multi-color effect, custom lights are the way to achieve a unique look.
What Are Custom Interior Car Lights?
Custom interior car lights are usually LED lights that you add to your vehicle but they may also include other types of lights, like a bulb replacement. They offer the following benefits:
- Don't require the use of your battery: Depending on the type of custom interior car lights that you use, you don't necessarily have to connect them to your battery.
- Long-lasting: When using LED lights on your vehicle's interior, they tend to last longer than other types of lights.
- Improve your chances of selling: Custom lights can make your vehicle stand out, which can help improve your chances of selling.
- Show off your personality: Installing custom lights is a good way to show off your personality and really enjoy your vehicle.
You can get creative when installing custom interior car lights. You may choose brighter white lights, or go with multi-colors that change.
LED lights are one of the most common types of lights used in a car's interior. That is because they use a semiconductor method to emit light, which means it won't burn out like other types of bulbs. LED lights also use less energy and don't produce heat. This makes them an efficient choice for lighting the interior of your car. LED lights are often sold in strips, which can also make them easy to install.
Types of Custom Interior Car Lights
There are many different types of custom interior car lights that you might choose, including:
Door Lights
Door lights can give you added illumination to your doors at night. This can help you find the door handle or window controls, or locate the storage in your door. Some people choose to use a modern logo light on the doors, showing off their appreciation of the brand they drive.
Dome Lights
Dome lights illuminate the front and rear sections of your vehicle when opening or closing the doors. If you want to add a personalized element of style when welcoming passengers into your vehicle, this is the type of light that you will want to choose. You might replace your current dome lights with a brighter LED bulb, or choose a favorite color for a personalized design.
Trunk Lights
Some people also customize their trunks with LED lights. Changing up the lights can improve visibility when loading or unloading at night. It can also give your vehicle's trunk a unique design.
Map Lights
Map lights are added lights that can give you additional visibility. They are often positioned in a place that makes it easier to read a map, book, or any other print material. While most cars today have GPS, so you may not need map lights specifically, you can still replace them for a unique look with brighter LED-colored interior lights.
Accent Lights
Accent lights can go anywhere to accentuate your vehicle. You might place them on your dashboard, underneath seats, or even in the backseat as a nice surprise for rear-seat passengers.
You can mix and match the different types of lights to create a unique design.
How to Choose Custom Interior Car Lights
Choosing the top custom interior lights is easy. Most LED light strips are designed to fit most types of vehicles. If you have a larger vehicle, you may need more lights. The number of lights you need also depends on how many lights you plan to install. Always choose a brand that is well-known and that uses high-quality lights for great results.
How to Replace/Install Custom Interior Car Lights
Disclaimer: The guidelines in this story are general and not meant to replace instructions for your specific vehicle. Please consult your owner's manual or repair guide before attempting repairs.
You can install custom interior car lights into your vehicle with the following steps:
- Decide where you want lights: It can be helpful to first plan out where you want lights. You have endless options available, so measure the area and determine how many LED strips you need.
- Determine how you will install them: There are a few methods of which you can use to install custom interior car lights. Using zip ties and glue is the most common.
- Collect materials and tools: Gather all the materials and tools you need for installation. This might include a multimeter, which measures voltage, crimp tools, wire-cutting pliers, and a screwdriver. You might also need zip ties, wire connectors, electrical tape, and glue.
- Supply power: Before you begin placing the lights, it can be helpful to determine your power source, which is where you will connect the lights. Ideally, this should be at least 12V and may be your stereo or outlet even. You can connect the lights in your vehicle's fusebox. Be sure to ground the negative power wire which will require a grounding point. This should be a spot under the dash of your car. Remove one of the bolts on the vehicle's firewall and use a connector to slide the wiring under the bolt. Then, replace and securely tighten the bolt.
- Install lights: Connect the lights to the power source and then place the lights where you want them to go. Be sure to place the light's controller in a location that is easy to reach. You will also need to decide when you want the lights to be on. You can set them to come on with your headlights or to only turn on when you use the controller. Some LED lights can be controlled using your phone.
- Test the lights: Once you have finished installing the lights, test that they work. If they don't, you may need to go through each of these steps again, troubleshooting to find the problem.
You might also add fuses to the wiring or circuit for added safety. If you choose to replace bulbs for a more subtle look, then it is as easy as untwisting the old bulb and screwing in the new one.
Where to Buy Custom Interior Car Lights
CHDZKEDI Interior Car Lights ,Car LED Strip Light Upgrade controller Design, Waterproof Under dash Lighting Kits with Sound Active and App Controlled Car led Lights Interior with USB Port, 4pcs 48 LED
CHDZKEDI amazon.com
$28.99
Govee RGBIC Interior Car Lights with Smart App Control, 2 Lines Design LED Car Lights, Music Sync Mode, DIY Mode, and Multiple Scene Options for Cars, Trucks, SUVs
SIRIUSLED N3 578 LED bulbs Pure white Super Bright LED Festoon 300 Lumens 3030 Chipset for Car Truck Interiors Dome Map Door Courtesy Lights 1.72" 41MM 211-2 212-2 569 size pack of 6
SIR IUS LED amazon.com
$9.95
FOVAL Car Interior Lights , 60 LED(30×2, 2-line) APP Controller Car LED Strip Lights, Multicolor Music Under Dash Lighting Kits for iPhone Android Phone, Car Charger Included, DC 12V
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How to Install Ambient Lighting in Your Car
Source: https://www.caranddriver.com/car-accessories/a37183081/custom-interior-car-lights/