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 Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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As promised, here an update and some pics of the first lighting mods. Before fitting the interior roof panel, I removed the courtesy light from the moulded panel. Quite easy ......its only held in place with 2 very small plastic pegs so I just drilled these out using a 1mm drill bit and a hand held Archimedean drill holder. Once removed I lined the panel with thin felt which matched the carpeting colour. Then 2 small holes (1mm) were drilled through the panel at the centre of where the light fitting was going. These were for the contact legs of the LED that was going to be used. (I used a 3.3V 1.8mm white LED obtainable on Ebay very cheap. I chose these LEDs as I plan to drive them from a microcontroller using a 3.7V LiPo battery so no dropper resitors will be necessary.) Then, 2 small slots were cut on the backside of the panel so that the legs of the LED could be folded back and not protrude so that the roof panel would still be flush with the roof. Wires were then soldered to the legs and some heat shrink applied over the joints. A small piece of insulation tape was placed over the area where the legs passed through the panel to prevent any possibility of shorting out. The panel was then refitted making sure that the wires from the LED would be long enough to reach the mounting position of the small pcb board. I am going to replace the kit pcb with an ESP8266 microcontroller board so watch this space over the next period. I have a little engineering to do before this will take place. In the mean time I have run all of the kit wires and connectors ready for the micro. acinsa1 attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Superelite      Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/05/2010 Posts: 2,608 Points: 7,519 Location: Lincolnshire
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 Certainly a 'bright idea' with that curtesy light  Looks good 
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Rank: Beginner Level 1 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/07/2018 Posts: 8 Points: 24 Location: York
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Glad to see this works!
Literally about to do the same thing with mine but with smd amber LED's
To emulate the incandescent bulbs in the real thing
My current challenge is fitting the tiny smds into the dashboard lights
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Nice work and very effective. Mark
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Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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Thanks for the comments guys.
Scradge, I did have a look at smd LEDs but they are really REALLY difficult to fit without specialised surface mount tooling. Also I tried a number of colour LEDs but they just don't give off enough light to have any effect. Using the microcontroller, the output to the LEDs can be varied as it uses PWM so it is possible to use dimmer type controls on a white LED.
The dash lighting could be achieved using the smallest discreet LED and then dimming to the correct effect. The perspex surrounds around the speedo, rev counter and other gauges diffuses the point light of the LED. I'll have a play and post some results.
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Rank: Beginner Level 1 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/07/2018 Posts: 8 Points: 24 Location: York
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That was pretty much what i was thinking of doing
I bought some pre solderd SMD's and am putting them to the sides of the speedo and tachometer.
Ill post some pictures when i get it done.
Which micro controller are you using?
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Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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Hey Scradge, I'm going to use an ESP8266. Can also use an ESP32 but dimming is easier on the 8266 and does not need additional libraries. Footprint of the boards are the same so both will fit in the space vacated by the kit plug board.
I did notice some strange things about the kit plug board - I think the makers wanted to originally have separate indicators as the board has connectors marked "TD1" and "TD2" (connectors 6 and 6 respectively). The same with the front indicators, WD1 and WD2. I am guessing that these were Tail Direction 1 and Tail Direction 2 and Wing Direction 1 and Wing Direction 2. However, all of the indicators flash together now like hazard warning lights.
Using a micro enables each LED lamp to be controlled by its own output so I will be separating the kit wiring accordingly.
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Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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So the next steps in the lighting and control. As previously stated, the plan is to have a micro controller fitted such that the lights can be remotely controlled from a mobile phone, tablet or laptop via a web page. Some wiring modifications were necessary to achieve this and to add additional functionality for a courtesy light, reversing light and maybe number plate lights. The stock model has the front and rear indicators paired and only allows "hazard" type flashing of all 4 indicators. Also the front headlights had only one brightness setting. It was necessary to swap the indicator lights with the head and tail lights so that the headlights work as a pair and the indicators individually. With the micro controller, we now have individual indicators for left and right, dim and bright for the headlights and individual control over a reversing light. The kit connector board was replaced with a prototype veroboard. This board would be connected to a micro controller via a ribbon cable. The veroboard is of similar dimensions to the kit board so would fit into the space vacated by the kit board. The micro controller will have to be located in the spare wheel well. This may require some fettling to get it to fit.......still to be done. I also took the time to dress the led wiring so that it looks a bit more "finished" than the build photos. I will post a Youtube video of the lights in action as photos don't capture all of the detail. The attached pics show some of the finer detail and also a snap of the web interface. acinsa1 attached the following image(s):
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Rank: Super-Elite   Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2013 Posts: 4,588 Points: 13,553 Location: West Yorkshire
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Glad to see your making headway on this, its going to look great once its complete  Al
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Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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So.... the continuation of the lighting mods. After much struggling trying to get the micro controller, battery and redesigned plug board to fit, I decided to dump the plug board and wire directly to the micro pcb. To make this easier, I replaced the kit lighting extension leads with some custom colour coded extension leads with micro ph socket ends. This meant that I only had to mount the micro controller and backup battery. The micro fitted nicely in the space vacated by the plug board. The LiPo battery (1500mAh) would fit nicely in the petrol tank which is quite apt for its location. I only had to file a small recess in the tank top moulding so that the battery wires could exit. On to the lights.....the reversing light fitting was modified by drilling the chrome fitting to fit a 1.8mm hi bright LED. By removing one of the locating spigots, it was possible to route the two led leads through the hole where the spigot would have been. Carefully dressing the led leads around the locating screw, it was possible to mount the fitting perfectly. The wiring in the boot cavity could be easily concealed. Now the other lights.....I noticed a few issues with the kit LEDs. They are all ultra bright white which does not really represent the original car's lights. Also the front indicator fittings only have a small hole for the LED which didn't illuminate the amber fitting properly. So first, I replaced the kit LEDs for the headlamps with a warm white type which looks much more original in its lamp output. Then I replaced the front indicator LEDs with amber diffused type which gives a much more effective indicator flash. I have also noticed that the rear lights should be replaced with red LEDs as opposed to the white. I will do this as a next step. One last small enhancement was to the exhaust pipes. The kit pipes came with the ends blanked off for some reason so I drilled the end pipes out to resemble a more accurate representation. So I have all lights functioning from a web based mobile app.....main headlights dipped and beam, individual left and right indicators, rear lights with brake pedal functionality, courtesy light and reversing light. Still looking at some sub miniature smd number plate lights but need new chrome mouldings......coming soon!!! Currently editing a YouTube video of the lighting in action and will post soon. acinsa1 attached the following image(s):
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Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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Just a short update....whilst waiting for the YouTube video... I changed the headlamp and tail lamp LEDS. For the headlights I used a warm white and for the rear tail lights I replaced the white LEDs for red ones. They look much better particularly around the edges when viewed from an obtuse angle. I also redesigned the web interface for my microcontroller for a neater one. (see pics) The first attempt was a bit basic  to say the least!!! But now it looks really neat especially on an Ipad. I intend adding one more button for hazard flash functionality. As for more lights, I'm looking at the front side lights to see if I can add small (very small) LEDs to those. Also number plate lights. I've found some sub miniature LEDs so looking at modifying the small chrome fitting to add these. If anybody is interested I can supply a list of bits used, some construction instructables and the software programs. File Attachment(s): acinsa1 attached the following image(s):
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Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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Here's the web page image acinsa1 attached the following image(s):
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2013 Posts: 4,588 Points: 13,553 Location: West Yorkshire
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The lights are looking great nicely done. Al
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Rank: Beginner Level 2 Groups: Registered
Joined: 05/12/2017 Posts: 11 Points: 26 Location: Belgium
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Looks like a real fine E-Type, congratulations with your work !!!!!!
Rudy
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Nice work on the lighting.  Mark
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Rank: Beginner Level 3 Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/06/2018 Posts: 20 Points: 50 Location: Uppingham
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Thanks for the good comments guys.....  inspiration to do more!! Still finalising a video but hope to post this week.
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 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 29/05/2017 Posts: 2 Points: 9 Location: Uppingham
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A classic car run held in Uppingham over Easter and I spotted this mint E Type Series 1 so decided to get a perspective shot with my model! acinsa attached the following image(s):
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