There are a growing number of fans of cars and ordinary motorists who resort to decorating the car's interior using LED strip lights.
You may desire to have low-key lights or bright strip lights; LED strip lights are able to meet such requirements pretty well. In this guide, you will learn how to install LED strip lights in car to get that perfect look simply a few steps away.
Gathering the Right Materials
Moving on with the car LED strip light installation, one must note that it is always better to procure as many materials as possible prior to the installation.
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LED Strip Lights Kit: Most importantly, the LED strip lights kit is the key highlight of your project. Make sure such a kit is specially made for cars and contains all necessary parts, such as connectors and controllers.
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Car Manual: Always have the manual of your car within reach. It contains all the information about your car's electrical system, along with potential spaces that you may wish to use in the course of doing the installations.
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Wire Cutters/Strippers: These are the tools that will help you cut the wires and strip them to the right length before installation.
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Soldering Iron (Optional): For those who are inclined towards a more permanent option, wires can be soldered to 'fix' them into position. Nonetheless, most kits come with connectors that do not require soldering.
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Electrical Tape or Connectors: These are applied to prevent any bare wires from being left out and make sure there are no loose ends at any part of the bundle of wires.
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Cleaning Supplies: Cloth, along with rubbing alcohol, is the most important tool for cleaning ablative surfaces since treated surfaces aid in better bonding of the adhesive on the LED strips.
Selecting the Appropriate LED Strip Lights
Below are some of the most important aspects that should be taken into consideration for a useful DIY car LED strip installation:
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LED type: Various types of LEDs are available, such as SMD (Surface-Mounted Device), RGB (Red, Green, Blue), and single-color lights. Choose the type that suits you and the extent of customization that is likely to be needed.
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Size and contortion ability: Take measurements of the areas where you intend to place the lights to know how much length is needed..
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Control Methods: Think about how you would like the lights controlled. It could be done using a remote, phone, or voice support typical to current smart devices.
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Power Source: Check if the voltage rating of the LED strip lights is suitable for your car. Most cars are on a 12V system, and therefore, the voltage ratings of the LED lights installed must conform to this specification.
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Reviews and Recommendations: Check customer reviews and look for recommendations on forums or blogs. This can help determine the effectiveness and durability of the LED strips that are in question.
Best Places to Install LED Strip Lights in Your Car
The right architectural designs of LED strips will go a long way in bringing out the full effect. Some common and extraordinary positions are listed here:
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Under the Dashboard: With the use of LED strips under the dashboard, soft light is produced, which is pleasing to the eye and adds beauty to the car without causing any discomfort.
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Footwells: Having lights close to the footwell is quite attractive. This is most useful when people are driving at night.
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Around the Center Console: With the use of LED in the center console, you can emphasize this section from the rest of the interior.
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Door Panels and Seat Frames: There could be more control in terms of ambient light if LED strips are placed on the door panels and seat frames. This also introduces a modern outlook to the interior design of the car.
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Trunk Lighting: Think about adding LED illumination in the upper section of the trunk to improve its interior dramatically.
Preparing the Surface for LED Installation
Proper preparation is the solution to ensure an error-free car LED strip light installation. Here are the steps that will help you prepare your car:
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Clean the Surfaces: Wipe the dust off the surface with a cloth and alcohol before applying the sticky LED strips.
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Plan the Layout: Try to visualize the positions where you would fix the LED strips. LED strip placement around the chair, footrest, and down the dashboard is very common.
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Disconnect the Battery: Now, as it is dangerous and can result in explosions because of the electrification of dangerous wiring in the car with the fuel source available, always remove the battery whenever doing anything electrical.
Step-by-Step Guide: The Best Way to Install Car LED Lights
Though LED strip lights can be difficult to install in a car for a novice, these steps will help you to do it professionally in no time.
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Placement of the LED Strips
The first step is to place the LED strips where you want them to go as a dry fit. Hold them with masking tape and see how it looks. This can help you make changes without installing them first.
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Connecting the LED Strips
Choose a place to get power for the LED strips; for instance, the car's fuse box or a 12V cigarette lighter.
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Fixing the LED Strips
When you are happy with the positioning, peel off the sticky back of the LED strips and push the LEDs into place. Make sure that the surface is clean before the LED strips are pressed down to prevent them from ripping off.
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Switching the Lights on
Go ahead and connect the battery back to the car so that you can switch on the LED strips and verify that they are working properly. Ensure that every portion lights up and operates with the controller.
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Hiding the Wires
Any visible wires can be properly hidden in cable management or adhesive clips. This is a great way to complete any installation neatly.
Tips For Installation To Avoid Common Errors
In order for installation to be successful and errors to be avoided, the following should be considered:
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Choosing an Inappropriate Power Supply: Check the qualifications of the power supply you apply. Bulbs may be damaged or failed due to inappropriate indexes.
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Moving in Different Directions Or Loose Striping: The LED strips should be in place without any movement. Stops' shifting or peeling off from some combination due to the questionable attachment surfaces.
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Not Checking Connections: Try test-running the wiring system before the final installation is made. In response, this prevents such problems from occurring.
Maintenance Tips for Your LED Strip Lights
In order to maintain the efficiency of your LED strip lights and increase their lifespan, the following procedures need to be adhered to:
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Regular Cleaning: Over time, dust and other particles will settle on the LED strips, which will affect their brightness. Simply wipe them with a clean, soft cloth to preserve their brightness.
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Avoid Overheating: Make sure that the LED strips' surrounds are well-ventilated, especially in cases where the strips are flush mounted inside the walls. Overheating may cause the LEDs to burn out quickly.
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Check Connections: Always check the wiring and connections from time to time. Damaged or loose cables can cause light failure and should be addressed quickly.
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Replace Damaged Sections: When only a section of the LED strip is damaged, an alternative solution is replacing that section only rather than discarding the entire strip.
Final Words
DIY car LED strip light installation is a perfect opportunity to bring your car to a new level, both functionally and visually. The lights can make your driving experience more enjoyable and help convey your personality with proper installation, customization, and care.
Planning on giving your car's interior a fresh update with a stunning look using LED strip lights? Head over to the Yeelight Store now and begin your DIY car upgrade!
FAQs
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Can I install LED strip lights on my own?
Of course, most kits are for use by persons who have no installation experience, as long as the instructions are followed.
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What is the best way to install car LED lights?
Hide the cables with adhesive clips and then attempt to hide the wiring on the light LED strips or where possible so that the adhesive may readily hold at every connection.
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Do LED strip lights use the car battery?
Not really; it consumes very little power. It is advisable, however, not to leave them outdoors while the ignition is off in order to save battery.
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Is it okay to install LED lights underneath the seats?
Certainly, LED light tape strips enhance the aesthetics when installed beneath the seat
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What tools does it take to install a simple LED strip light?
The basic tools would be wire cutters, electrical tape, and cleaning rags. It is common for a number of kits to bring the necessary connectors.
