incandescent light to LED in overhead console

[jheissjr]

The incandescent bulbs in the overhead map console were changed to high output, high CRI, adjustable LED's. One LED is pictured and two were installed. The picture is to pass on the idea for anyone changing to LEDs in the overhead console.

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[G.T.]

This wasnt the typical swap a bulb I was expecting.

Did you make this yourself? What's the rationale behind this design?

 

[jheissjr]

Size 194 LED lights are the size for the overhead console and 194s that manufactures sell operate at 160F. 160F is much too hot for LEDs. The 194s are sold that way because they are brighter at the cost of being overpowered, operating excessively hot, and a shorter live. The second reason is because 194s don't have heatsinks. LED's need heatsinks for heat and operating without a heatsink causes them to operate even hotter. A third reason is to select name brand LEDs like Cree or Osram. The LEDs used in 194s are low cost and have poor CRI. The LED in the picture on the blue surface overcomes the issues because it has an aluminum PCB for heat, Osram LEDs, good color temperature LED's, and operates at the correct power.

When buying 194s and LED lights of any kind like turn signals, brake lights, side markers, fog lights, ask the manufacture which LED is installed in the light. They don't provide the LED model because they change every couple months, are low cost and the specs are poor. But a buyer can try anyway and I like surprises.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

IDK, my Diode Dynamics LEDs are running strong 3.5 years in, and they were a simple swap. Getting rid of the incandescent lights was a priority.

 

[dasrider]

I like it, personally. I appreciate the thought and engineering behind the concept. Kinda overbuild the system and make it more robust. Where are you locating the dimmer knob?

 

[Bob Lob Law]

A dimmer switch would be sweet though!!

 

[G.T.]

Size 194 LED lights are the size for the overhead console and 194s that manufactures sell operate at 160F. 160F is much too hot for LEDs. The 194s are sold that way because they are brighter at the cost of being overpowered, operating excessively hot, and a shorter live. The second reason is because 194s don't have heatsinks. LED's need heatsinks for heat and operating without a heatsink causes them to operate even hotter. A third reason is to select name brand LEDs like Cree or Osram. The LEDs used in 194s are low cost and have poor CRI. The LED in the picture on the blue surface overcomes the issues because it has an aluminum PCB for heat, Osram LEDs, good color temperature LED's, and operates at the correct power.

When buying 194s and LED lights of any kind like turn signals, brake lights, side markers, fog lights, ask the manufacture which LED is installed in the light. They don't provide the LED model because they change every couple months, are low cost and the specs are poor. But a buyer can try anyway and I like surprises.

Thanks for sharing the concept and execution with us, very well thought out!

Same question, how do you plan to integrate the rheostat?

 

[jheissjr]

The console lights are adjustable from 0% to 100% by a dimmer and the lights can be turned off by the dimmers. The lights stay off when the doors are opened by setting the knobs to off. The setting is my preference for the interior lighting. Disabling the lights when the doors are opened is not possible on the S550 as far as I know.

 

[Avaric3]

Disabling the lights when the doors are opened is not possible on the S550 as far as I know.

You should be able to enable “Police dark mode” in Forscan which cuts the interior lights upon entry and exit of the vehicle

 

[jheissjr]

I'll check the setting in Forscan. Good suggestion.

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