Just installed glove box illumination :)
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Glad you like it
! It's one of those things I probably won't really use a whole lot since I don't often need to dive into the glove box, especially when dark out, but it's something I'm used to having with other vehicles and so it's nice to have now. Blows the bejeezus out of the OE illumination in my '90 Eclipse !
Thanks dude -- personally, I like it
!
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Trevor, your install looks great! Now, how 'bout some details. What's the angle size,where did you get the switch & light strip, what did you hook it up to,and where did you mount it? Of all the mod's I have done, putting a light in the glove box is still on my list along with lights under the dash for the foot wells.
Thanks
! The aluminum angle is 3/4"x1/16" thick. The pin switch is a generic hood open type bought via Ebay. The LEDs came from SuperBrightLEDs.com and were cut from a 19.7" length of adhesive backed natural white 3526SMD (model NFLS). The power pigtail attaches to the dark green ILL+ wire at the OE radio front-door-speaker connector C1 (pin 10), or if you've an aftermarket radio, you can alternatively use the appropriate wire in the adapter harness. The second photo above shows the mount -- the two steel braces above the glove box, holes closest the passenger seat. The hardware is two each of the shortest standard 7mm bolt, nut, and split ring lock washer (skip washers). The trickiest part is probably installing the hardware since finger access behind the braces is very tight.FWIW -- If I were doing it again, I'd probably move the switch another inch to the right, but no biggie.
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Thanks for the info. I'll be doing this when we get into summer and warmer weather. Instead of the pin switch,I'm thinking about a magnetic switch from house alarms.There is a local electronics store that has those type switches. BTW, while at this store,I found a push type switch that fits the openings in the knee panel on the left. The openings measure .88" wide x1.32" high. The switch measures .88" wide x1.10" high. I'm not sure if the grip is deep enough, but I will get one to find out.
The advantage of the pin switch is that it can be exactly adjusted for when the light activates (plus it simplifies design). Mine is adjusted so that when the door is closed, the contact is just barely broken plus a tad more. This results in any degree of door open causing box illumination -- that's something that just happens to appeal to me. The downside is the pin does steal a little headroom from the top of the opening (I tried to minimize it), which is why I'm currently favoring moving it out another inch.
Still, I guess there are any number of possibilities for switching and I think it would be neat to see what folks come up with. What I built might be useful generally for at least the illumination, the black wire can always be run to some other switching alternative.
Still, I guess there are any number of possibilities for switching and I think it would be neat to see what folks come up with. What I built might be useful generally for at least the illumination, the black wire can always be run to some other switching alternative
.I decided the pin switch would be better located further off to the side, so I moved it out roughly 3" further. Definitely better now, though at first I had clearance issues between the side of the glove box and the aluminum bracket -- guess I went 1/8" too far !
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!
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After seeing your install,I was looking for some other way to attach the angle because you said that getting the nuts up over the mounting holes was a problem. I found what might be a solution "speed nuts". They are flat pieces that snap on to the metal supports with the holes already in them so the bolts can thread into them. They are at Lowes, in the hardware sec. drawers with specialty hardware. You just snap them place before mounting the angle.
What's tricky is getting both the split lock washer and the nut properly installed using feel alone. Installing just a nut is much easier, but a reliable electrical ground is needed in addition to a secure mount. After doing it two or three times I got the hang of it and am much quicker now, but even so, it's hardly a snap
!If the speed nut provides solid grounding and mounting while negligibly lowering the bracket, then should be a good solution. Clearance between the bottom of the bracket and the glove box rear during box removal/install is somewhat limited, but definitely adequate with direct bolting. It's an interesting idea, will have to take a look
!Thanks much
!I expect some might prefer to simplify a bit further by using a single strip of nine LEDs instead of my approach of jumpering two strips of three. It would obviously also provide brighter illumination, but I find the six works well for me.
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Update- The "speed nuts" were found at Home Depot. Description= speed nut #8 plain. They don't snap into place,but they do fit into the "u" shaped channel and will not spin when installing the screws. I ordered the pin switch from ebay for $.99, the shipping cost is more (~$1.99) but I couldn't find it locally. I've got a piece of 1/16x1/4x1/2 alum. angle left over from an other project, so I'll use it for the bracket.
I took quick measurements and looking at Lowes speed nuts, I think either the 1/4" flat (sits in the "U" and would need to be positioned by finger tip) or the #10x3/8" J with a narrow front-to-back join (clipped over the front edge of the center hole) would fit. Either would require smaller bracket holes than mine, so I don't plan to try them. Hopefully, speed nuts will be sufficiently secure for this (as in no sideways shifting), so hopefully Dale will be looking at that !
!
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Trevor, what is the length of the angle? I did a rough tape measuring and it seems to be ~14". The holes measure 6 1/8" center to center. While doing all of this,I decided to do the cabin air filter thing. Got a furnace filter from the local home center,cut it to dim.'s and it is now installed. I got a new length of angle (couldn't find my other piece), is 1/16" tk.x1/2x1/2 and will most likely hold the pin switch better.
You think 1/2" width will hold the pin switch better than 3/4"? Well, I wouldn't be sure of the clearances myself, but whatever works for you
! I don't know how you're measuring, but if you look at my first two photos, you'll see my bracket only extends to the left edge of the left brace. Your measurement suggests you're going further.
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Thanks Trevor, I looked up your pic's again, and saw the length of the angle. The 14" was the distance of the glove box opening, not your angle angle length, my bad. I was wrong on the dim.'s of the angle that I got, it is 3/4x3/4x1/16". I'm glad that I didn't cut anything yesterday,I would've not been happy with the results. I'm thinking about getting the 12v supply from the side mirror on the right. Today, I'm going to take off the kick panel, and take some circuit readings with a multi-meter. I don't really want to get into the upper dash and the right kick panel seems to be the easiest location.You think 1/2" width will hold the pin switch better than 3/4"? Well, I wouldn't be sure of the clearances myself, but whatever works for you
I just measured mine and I suggest a bracket length of 10-3/4" starting at the left edge of the left brace. That should provide the needed clearance from the right edge of the glove box.
The universal standard for glove box lighting is control by the light switch (power active whenever tail lights are on), and so my strong recommendation is to conform to standard. If you're not going to, then I suggest using the "cigar lighter" circuit, however, staying standard is definitely best. Short cuts tend to result in spaghetti wiring where it's harder to track problems, especially for any unfortunate who may happen to later purchase your car.
It's not difficult to remove the radio to access the dark green wire leading to pin 10 of connector C1 (front door speaker connector). The instructions start on page two of the navigation HU install PDF within the accessories folder in the xB2 techfiles download. If you don't have an appropriate plastic pry tool, pick up a set from Harbor Freight (item #95214).
I like it, I think i'll copy it, I also wanna do illumination in the cubby above glove box
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