Hey guys and gals,

This is my 1st thread so hope it goes well...

This mod is super easy, super cheap, and super trick. Here is a punch list of material that you will need to accomplish this:

Now the fun part, DESTRUCTION!
Get a TORX driver and tear apart the lid from the console. (Sorry for the lack of pic's in this step, but I got carried away) Now that the lid is free of the confines of the truck, head to a suitable workbench, tailgate, or dirty floor and remove the inner lid from the outer part.

Now I decided to drill the holes at a slight angle in the corners of the inner lid, so the beams of the LED's would overlap each other for a better flood.

Next, insert the LED holder thru the hole and fasten it in via nut and some glue for good measure. Now you are able to stick the business end of the LED into the holder from the backside, and replace the rubber plug to seat the LED properly. (Again, sorry for the lack of pic's, but it's pretty self explanatory)

Now for the plunger switch. I decided to place the switch on the lid only because that when you open the lid, you don't see an ugly plunder sticking out at ya. Just be very mindful that you place the plunger in a place that hits the console, and has plenty of clearance behind the inner lid so it will all fit back together. MAKE SURE TO PUT THE SWITCH ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE WIRING! Now I had a little trouble trying to get the switch to fit neatly, so I did a little trimming of the plastic ribs on the inner and outer lid, but not much! Here’s where I placed mine:


Now all that is left is to fish the wires out of the back side of the lid. Just run the leads along the perimeter of the lid and out the bottom like so:


As far as wiring, they are run in parallel, each with their own resister. There are pre wired LED's w/ resistors online (rockpick, help me out with the site please...) I am assuming that if you are willing to tackle this project that you know basic electricity, so I won't get into specifics. These can be run in series if you wish. I tapped the 12v power source in the console for power (and it is always hot, so it will work when the truck is off).

 

That's about it once you button everything back up! Here is a pic of the finished product:

So, what do you all think? Let me have it! This pic is only the LED's too! No other cab lights.

 

thats a really nice setup you got there, i might have to look into that!

 

Thanks!

 

def a nice mod...where did you buy the leds and stuff?

 

I went to radio shack for everything. I also had to soder all of the resistors in line also. www.oznium.com has everything, and it is prewired, AND is cheaper than what I paid. What ever tickles, well, you know...

 

Nice mod.....

 

Excellent write up, Luke! It was a pleasure to meet you a couple of weeks ago!

I tell you guys... this thing looks excellent in person!!! He did a FANTASTIC job with this -- it looks STOCK!

I've been bugging him about putting a thread up -- looks like he finally pulled it off!

Hey Luke -- can you post that .dwg? Of course, it'd have to be .jpg (or similar) but, that's an easy conversion... That would be handy too -- or it was for me!

 

I had a center console light mod on my 01'...






I like the LED set up so much better... it's so much cleaner!

 

I'll post it at work in the a.m.

Thanks BTW! I've got the bedlights on my mind next!

 

That is excellent, I might have to try it.

 

Great job!

A little twist, couldn't you use the latch and get the momentary switch to work that way so you can't see it?

I like it none-the-less and will be doing this myself eventually!

 

First - I'm an electrical MORON but, having done my other console mod, I'm in the same ballpark as you with this mod (you're just batting a helluva lot better than I am).

That said, can you elaborate on the negative side of the wiring comment?

Three posts on the switch... hot in, hot out, ground. So, from the cig pos to the hot in, wire from hot out to pos on each LED, ground down to the ground on the cig ground, each LED ground to that ground wire.

Correct? Gosh, I'm so awful with circuits -- and I know this one is SIMPLISTIC.

 

That's the way I would do it RP.

You could also install an inline fuse on the wire coming from your 12v source (12v power point in this case)

 

The switches that I have been refering to only have 2 poles on them, not 3. A normal switch (on-off) is a 3 pole. So you all are right for those. The Monentary switched only have 2 poles, so it acts like an interupter rather than a switch.

The fuse idea isn't a bad idea either! With my other experiences though, There has never been the need due to the low draw of power (2-3 volts), in which the actual LED is the fuse (same concept, only a Light emmiting fuse).