Ambient Lighting in Console Cup Holders

[murphy]

I now have seven color ambient lighting in my console cup holders.

Originally I was going to connect to the existing ambient lighting system but when I discovered that the light module is fed by three wires that provide voltage, ground and a logic signal I aborted that plan.

Instead I installed a three color (Red, green, blue) LED in the bottom wall of each cup holder.  I used a 7805 (5 volt voltage regulator) to provide power and connected it to the feed wires for the 12 volt power tap in the console storage area.  I installed three toggle switches in the console storage area. 

Each switch controls one color.  That yields 7 colors plus off.
R, G, B, RG, RB, GB, RGB.

I like this system better that the factory ambient lighting because the headlights don't have to be on to use it.  

That's the same way it worked in my 2010 Fusion Hybrid.

The degree of difficulty depends on your experience level.

The trim and side piece have to be removed from both sides of the console.

The feed wire to the 12 volt power tap in the console storage bin has to be located, the cloth wrap cut away from a
2" section, the insulation removed from both wires (not side by side) without cutting the wire, solder the feed
wires for the lighting to the existing wires and then tape it all so it is well insulated.  There is not much room
to work.

Drilling the holes in the cup holders for the LEDs was easy.  Drilling the holes for the switches in the console storage bin was impossible since I don't have a right angle drill.  I improvised and used a soldering iron to melt the holes.

Parts list

2 - RGB LEDs
2 - 150 ohm 1/8th watt resistors (red LED lead)
2 - 100 ohm 1/8th watt resistors (green LED lead)
2 - 82 ohm 1/8th watt resistors (blue LED lead)
1 - 7805 5 volt 1 amp regulator
3 - SPST sub-miniature toggle switches
1 - fuse holder
1 - 1 ampere fuse
several diameters of shrink tubing to insulate connections
hookup wire in at least 4 different colors (red, green, blue, black)

The circuitry was built and tested before it was installed into the car.

The value of the resistors depends on the RGB LED that is used.
This is the LED that I used.
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1074


This is the switch that I used.
http://www.amazon.com/Install-Toggle-Switch-Single-IBTSSMS/dp/B0068AET30/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372293331&sr=8-1&keywords=IBTSSMS

There are 5 switches in the bag.
 

                

Edited June 27, 2013 at 09:42 PM by murphy

[murphy]

There is potentially another way to illuminate the cup holders.

The light module for illuminating the area in front of the gear selector emits the light via a light pipe.
I know nothing about light pipes but if it was possible to tap into the light pipe and feed the light to the cup holders that might also work.  Splitting the light three ways would make it even dimmer than it already is.