Looking to do illuminated cupholder

jikhead · 07-05-2009, 06:15 PM

I created an illuminated cup holder in my WRX by using a simply LED from Radio Shack. I'd like to the Z one better, by using a very thin LED wire/rope/etc similar to the piping on the doors and dash of the Cadillac CTS that illuminates. If anyone sees some lighting material like this, please let me know.

37Z · 07-13-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jikhead

I created an illuminated cup holder in my WRX by using a simply LED from Radio Shack. I'd like to the Z one better, by using a very thin LED wire/rope/etc similar to the piping on the doors and dash of the Cadillac CTS that illuminates. If anyone sees some lighting material like this, please let me know.

I am not sure of the Cadillac CTS door/dash illumination; however, it sound unique. Could you post pics of what your implying so one can understand what the lighting look like?

jikhead · 07-13-2009, 10:07 PM

I think the way to go with what I want to do is to use neon wire/EL wire. I haven't been able to find any LED's similar to the neon wire stuff. I haven't settled on anything just yet. I'm in the process of tinting my windows, but it's been in the 100's so I haven't finished this task yet. Google neon wire and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Crestwood1001 · 09-05-2009, 09:43 PM

I know that pep boys sells strips of tiny led's that are on like a peice of tape, u could attach that inside the holder, idk just my idea

speedoflife · 09-09-2009, 08:28 PM

Super Bright LEDs - Flexible Light Bars and Strips

DIGItonium · 09-10-2009, 12:09 AM

Maybe you can implement an "angel eye" ring inside the cup holder for more evenly diffused lighting.

-Phuong

Cjanik · 09-10-2009, 12:57 AM

Im willing to try something when I get my 370z, but Its gotta have holes drilled in the cup holder and the LED's behind it because when you slip in a cup, you dont want to damage the LED's. Not something I may approve of, heh.

jikhead · 09-22-2009, 05:57 PM

Regarding last two posts...

This is along the lines of what I´m looking to do. I´ve been in Mexico for 4 weeks, and got another 2 weeks to go before I get home and have some time to start tinkering with this mod.

jikhead · 03-13-2012, 07:01 PM

Reviving this thread, as I'm thinking of tackling this mod. EL wire is in abundance these days....even though I will likely be selling my Z before too long.

jikhead · 03-13-2012, 10:45 PM

Ordered the parts to do this. I'll post up pics when completed. I may also put together build-kits for these, if I can find a cheap enough supplier to put these together. Buying the parts as I have done, doesn't create much profit I could stand to gain on them at a price people would likely pay. Be back in about a week.

DrEvil · 03-15-2012, 05:01 PM

There's another company called Plasma Glow. They have all sorts of lighting stuff at fairly good prices.

KeVoH · 03-16-2012, 10:16 AM

Just in case, there is one OEM 370z Cup holder selling on ebay right now. In case someone wanted to have a spare one to play around.

jikhead · 03-19-2012, 11:25 PM

I'm just about done with this. I'm posting up pics of the EL wire taped in the cup holder; as I purchased a .22mm and a .26mm wire. The .26mm size is newer and supposed to be 20% brighter. However, the .22mm is plenty bright enough and really a better fit. The .26mm protrudes from the lip of the cup holder and could give you problems with larger size cups; like a big size from Taco Bell or say Route 44 from Sonic. Since the .22mm is plenty bright, I'm going with the smaller size. I'll post more pics after it is glued in place but I need to get in bed as I start a new job tomorrow morning.

jikhead · 03-20-2012, 12:32 AM

.22mm EL Wire

.26mm EL Wire

So you'll notice that the orange wire looks yellowish up against the orange interior lighting of the Z. I'm checking with the retailer about whether red would be a closer match.

dare599z · 03-20-2012, 02:48 AM

That's still pretty cool, regardless. How much did it cost?

07-05-2009, 06:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	Looking to do illuminated cupholder (Almost Complete) I created an illuminated cup holder in my WRX by using a simply LED from Radio Shack. I'd like to the Z one better, by using a very thin LED wire/rope/etc similar to the piping on the doors and dash of the Cadillac CTS that illuminates. If anyone sees some lighting material like this, please let me know. Last edited by jikhead; 03-19-2012 at 11:21 PM.

09-10-2009, 12:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Maybe you can implement an "angel eye" ring inside the cup holder for more evenly diffused lighting. -Phuong __________________

03-20-2012, 12:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	.22mm EL Wire .26mm EL Wire So you'll notice that the orange wire looks yellowish up against the orange interior lighting of the Z. I'm checking with the retailer about whether red would be a closer match. Last edited by jikhead; 03-20-2012 at 12:42 AM.

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07-13-2009, 10:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	I think the way to go with what I want to do is to use neon wire/EL wire. I haven't been able to find any LED's similar to the neon wire stuff. I haven't settled on anything just yet. I'm in the process of tinting my windows, but it's been in the 100's so I haven't finished this task yet. Google neon wire and you'll see what I'm talking about.

09-05-2009, 09:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Crestwood1001 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: PA Posts: 3 Drives: Chevy Truck Rep Power: 16	I know that pep boys sells strips of tiny led's that are on like a peice of tape, u could attach that inside the holder, idk just my idea

09-09-2009, 08:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
speedoflife Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MS/TX Posts: 268 Drives: '06 Pontiac G.P. Rep Power: 16	Super Bright LEDs - Flexible Light Bars and Strips

09-10-2009, 12:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Cjanik Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 578 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 17	Im willing to try something when I get my 370z, but Its gotta have holes drilled in the cup holder and the LED's behind it because when you slip in a cup, you dont want to damage the LED's. Not something I may approve of, heh.

09-22-2009, 05:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	Regarding last two posts... This is along the lines of what I´m looking to do. I´ve been in Mexico for 4 weeks, and got another 2 weeks to go before I get home and have some time to start tinkering with this mod.

03-13-2012, 07:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	Reviving this thread, as I'm thinking of tackling this mod. EL wire is in abundance these days....even though I will likely be selling my Z before too long.

03-13-2012, 10:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	Ordered the parts to do this. I'll post up pics when completed. I may also put together build-kits for these, if I can find a cheap enough supplier to put these together. Buying the parts as I have done, doesn't create much profit I could stand to gain on them at a price people would likely pay. Be back in about a week.

03-15-2012, 05:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
DrEvil Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 270 Drives: 09 370z,Blue, auto Rep Power: 14	There's another company called Plasma Glow. They have all sorts of lighting stuff at fairly good prices.

03-16-2012, 10:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
KeVoH Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 239 Drives: 11 Nissan 370Z SP M6 Rep Power: 13	Just in case, there is one OEM 370z Cup holder selling on ebay right now. In case someone wanted to have a spare one to play around.

03-19-2012, 11:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	I'm just about done with this. I'm posting up pics of the EL wire taped in the cup holder; as I purchased a .22mm and a .26mm wire. The .26mm size is newer and supposed to be 20% brighter. However, the .22mm is plenty bright enough and really a better fit. The .26mm protrudes from the lip of the cup holder and could give you problems with larger size cups; like a big size from Taco Bell or say Route 44 from Sonic. Since the .22mm is plenty bright, I'm going with the smaller size. I'll post more pics after it is glued in place but I need to get in bed as I start a new job tomorrow morning.

03-20-2012, 02:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
dare599z Base Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 10 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS RS Rep Power: 13	That's still pretty cool, regardless. How much did it cost?