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-   -   LED Puddle Lights (https://www.ranger-forums.com/new-ideas-17/led-puddle-lights-127663/)

VH5150 10-17-2011 03:56 PM

LED Puddle Lights
 
4 Attachment(s)
I added some 20" LED strips underneath my doors today. They light up whenever a door is opened, or when I activate my keyless entry. It's a pretty slick mod, if I do say so myself.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1318888590

Activated:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1318888590

I'll try to get some night-time shots of them tonight, but they lit up the ground in my garage really well.

MikeR

FULLSCALE 10-17-2011 06:44 PM

Looks good! It'd probably work well with step bars to light them up when getting in.

Fink132 10-17-2011 09:26 PM

Thats awesome. Did you just tap into the dome light or what?

98liftedranger 10-17-2011 11:35 PM

Nice you should get together with the guy who did it with the bed lights and do a how to for it. Would be a good write up.

Jp7 10-17-2011 11:39 PM

1 Attachment(s)
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1318916397




I did this a long time ago

mikerider 10-18-2011 12:10 AM

Looks great Mike, what did you use for strips? I need to pick some up for puddle lights and bed lights.

VH5150 10-18-2011 04:59 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I used the same strips as the guy who did the under-rail bed lights. They're tapped in to the dome circuit.
I'd say they're brite enuff:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1318978751
MikeR

Shady_User 10-18-2011 06:18 PM


Originally Posted by Jp7 (Post 1904820)

I did this a long time ago

what wires did you tap into so that they only operate when the door is opened? do you have a How-To tutorial?

Jp7 10-18-2011 10:36 PM


Originally Posted by Shady_User (Post 1905048)
what wires did you tap into so that they only operate when the door is opened? do you have a How-To tutorial?

The problem with wiring into the dome light is that whenever the dome light is on, both puddle lights are on.

My design uses transistors to observe the behavior of the doors (open/closed) and light up each side independently. Turning on the dome light will NOT activate my puddle lamps. In theory, you could easily mount the LED strips anywhere, and use this trigger system.

I don't have a "how to", but my kit (with instructions) is for sale if you would like it.

mikerider 10-18-2011 11:00 PM


Originally Posted by Jp7 (Post 1905169)
The problem with wiring into the dome light is that whenever the dome light is on, both puddle lights are on.

My design uses transistors to observe the behavior of the doors (open/closed) and light up each side independently. Turning on the dome light will NOT activate my puddle lamps. In theory, you could easily mount the LED strips anywhere, and use this trigger system.

I don't have a "how to", but my kit (with instructions) is for sale if you would like it.

Do they come on with the keyless entry when you unlock the doors, thats kind of the point of a puddle lamp. Seems kind of pointless otherwise.

Y2KTJ 10-18-2011 11:17 PM

You could tie them into the relay that unlocks the door when you push the button on your key fob. But I would say its easier to wire them up to the dome light since it comes on when you unlock the truck anyway....

Ford04Ranger4.0 10-18-2011 11:31 PM

Nice, Think it'll hold up in the winter up here lol

Jp7 10-18-2011 11:33 PM


Originally Posted by mikerider (Post 1905172)
Do they come on with the keyless entry when you unlock the doors, thats kind of the point of a puddle lamp. Seems kind of pointless otherwise.

I don't have those power features on my truck(s). It would be easy to modify my circuit to do that though.


Originally Posted by Y2KTJ (Post 1905176)
You could tie them into the relay that unlocks the door when you push the button on your key fob. But I would say its easier to wire them up to the dome light since it comes on when you unlock the truck anyway....

It does not help the fact that they are tied to the circuit output, instead of the input.

VH5150 10-19-2011 05:17 PM


Originally Posted by Ford04Ranger4.0 (Post 1905179)
Nice, Think it'll hold up in the winter up here lol

That's pretty much my biggest concern with them-they're in a pretty vulnerable spot.
MikeR

grunt98444 10-20-2011 09:43 PM

LED mud flaps
 
I'm going to use 4 LED mud flaps with white and red output as puddle lights and turn signal indicators
Anyone have a best practice method of wireing them?

Thanks,
Richard

craigs2869 10-30-2011 05:26 PM

just gonna x2 others and say what wires are yall tapping into as far as connecting them to the dome light?

VH5150 10-31-2011 07:30 AM

Run the positive lead up the driver's side A-pillar, across the headliner, and tap into the power for your dome light. I ran the ground to a factory ground under the dash. Test light or volt meter is your friend.
MikeR

04RangerDave 10-31-2011 07:33 AM

whats on your frame?

VH5150 10-31-2011 08:03 AM

I bought the longer pigtails with my LEDs. I ran those (in wire loom) along frame rails, spliced them together near the transfer case, and hooked them into the main power wire that I ran up into the cab (thru a grommet in the firewall). Factory-looking install, which is the way that i do things.
MikeR

Mcleary316 12-08-2011 08:35 PM

How much is the kit JP?


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