Okay, this is a cheap mod and I know a lot of ppl would just buy LED bulbs but the local CanadianTires don't have the LEDs map light for Mazda 3 in stock. So I decided to make my own. This is really nothing special but since I did it, might as well post it. This would also work with taillights if you can figure out how to solder those LEDs.
This is what I used for tools
Soldering Iron
Swiss Army Knife
Cable cutter
This is what I used for material
Solder
white LEDs x 4 (2 in each bulb)
Resistor x 2 (I used 1/4w 220 ohm)
Silicon
Heat shrink
Tape
Printed Circuit Board
Cost
4 LEDs = $0.80
2 Resistors = $0.07
All the solder, silicon, heat shrink & eletricity used to produce these 2 bulbs are probably less than $1
Total Cost comes to less than $2 for a pair of LED bulbs and of course about 30 minutes of my time
I first used http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz to figure out the numbers for resistors but I didn't quite like it because it wasn't pushing the limit. Map light is something you only turn 'em on once in a while and few minutes at a time. With my setup the LEDs are probably running on 3.5V but I tried 4.5V and they didn't burn.
I first wanted them blue but then my girlfriend was against it. Maybe I should try that somewhere else.
This is how I took the map lights out by pushing the tab in the red circle on one side then just pull real hard. I don't know if this is the "correct way" of removing that sucker but this worked for me.
In the red circles there are two sockets for the bulbs, just turn 'em and they'll come out.
Determine the size of board I need by comparing it to the original bulb. I tried using 3 LEDs but the result isn't the best because it's hard to fit 3 LEDs in the housing.
Make sure that the board fits into the socket.
This is what I had before I started soldering anything.
I soldered one side first, with the LED's positive leg on the side facing the camera. It's hard to keep it aligned so I just tape 'em together first.
Then another, but this time with the LED's negative leg on the side facing the camera.
On the other side of the board, I put a resistor inbetween the 2 LEDs. Again, I taped them first so they align. Once done, cut off the legs that are sticking out.
This is what it looked like on one side.
This is what it looked like on the other side.
Put some silicon & heat shrink on
Tested it and it didn't explode.
Put 'em back into the car
I should try using LEDs with wider angles next time...
This is what I used for tools
Soldering Iron
Swiss Army Knife
Cable cutter
This is what I used for material
Solder
white LEDs x 4 (2 in each bulb)
Resistor x 2 (I used 1/4w 220 ohm)
Silicon
Heat shrink
Tape
Printed Circuit Board
Cost
4 LEDs = $0.80
2 Resistors = $0.07
All the solder, silicon, heat shrink & eletricity used to produce these 2 bulbs are probably less than $1
Total Cost comes to less than $2 for a pair of LED bulbs and of course about 30 minutes of my time
I first used http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz to figure out the numbers for resistors but I didn't quite like it because it wasn't pushing the limit. Map light is something you only turn 'em on once in a while and few minutes at a time. With my setup the LEDs are probably running on 3.5V but I tried 4.5V and they didn't burn.
I first wanted them blue but then my girlfriend was against it. Maybe I should try that somewhere else.
This is how I took the map lights out by pushing the tab in the red circle on one side then just pull real hard. I don't know if this is the "correct way" of removing that sucker but this worked for me.
In the red circles there are two sockets for the bulbs, just turn 'em and they'll come out.
Determine the size of board I need by comparing it to the original bulb. I tried using 3 LEDs but the result isn't the best because it's hard to fit 3 LEDs in the housing.
Make sure that the board fits into the socket.
This is what I had before I started soldering anything.
I soldered one side first, with the LED's positive leg on the side facing the camera. It's hard to keep it aligned so I just tape 'em together first.
Then another, but this time with the LED's negative leg on the side facing the camera.
On the other side of the board, I put a resistor inbetween the 2 LEDs. Again, I taped them first so they align. Once done, cut off the legs that are sticking out.
This is what it looked like on one side.
This is what it looked like on the other side.
Put some silicon & heat shrink on
Tested it and it didn't explode.
Put 'em back into the car
I should try using LEDs with wider angles next time...