[a4anurag]

After a lot of thinking, I finally decided to install the LED lighting in the footwell of my Swift. It is a pretty easy process once the connections are prepared and known.

Advantages of having the foot-well light is the increase in overall ambience and at emergency situations, does increase visibility inside too. My Swift bearing black-colored interiors, the LED’s lighting is a lift up in overall ambience.

The Foot-well lighting can be connected to work when:

Case 1: Operate when Doors are opened/closed including locking/unlocking.

Case 2: Along with Case 1, have a manual ON/OFF switch to control the lighting irrespective of the door switch interlock.

Case 3: Same as Case 1 but switches OFF in fashion (read "theatre dimming effect" which is how the cabin lamp actually works).

I was more interested in Case 3 over the other two so I started to search on how the wiring must be done via the cabin lamp to get the lighting to function as well as activate the theatre dimming effect.

Q: What are the specifications of the LED have I used?

Ans: As follows,

Manufacturer: Wipro
LED Name: Garnet
Product code: D43540
Wattage: 4.8 W per meter
Colour Temperature: 4000k
Voltage: 12V DC

LED Specification


Q: Where did I buy it from?

Ans: I bought it locally from Wipro Lighting dealership in Hyderabad.

Q: Cost of the LED’s?

Ans: These LED’s are sold in a single SKU. It is a lot of 5 meters roll and costs ₹1,200 for it so the net cost per meter is ₹240.

These LED’s are mainly sold for decorative purpose to be used at Home or Office lighting. It is generally sold with an AC to DC converter that costs ~₹250. So when buying please let the guy at the counter know that you are using it for car so the AC to DC converter isn’t required. I bought it without the converter.

Required Items:

Wipro Garnet 3528 LED Strip


Roll of 5 meters


LED strip and 3M glue on the other side of the strip


LED Strip with pre-marked cut lines (cut ONLY on the line else the strip won't glow)


22 AWG wire that I had with me from previous DIY's (5 meters)


Chocolate Block Connector


Scissors


Screwdriver Set


Soldering Kit


Thanks to BHPian interc00led for doing in his Fiesta and instigating me to do the same in mine and MOD Gannu_1 for the DIY on his Polo. Thanks a lot guys for being the reference.

[a4anurag]

PROCEDURE OF CONNECTION

Step – 1: Disconnect the –ve terminal of the battery so that the circuit is protected in case of a short.

Step – 2: Use an ATM card or a tester to pull out the Cabin light assembly from the roof liner. Once the assembly is out, disconnect the coupler of the cabin lamp.

Step – 3: Using small pieces of insulation tape, club the two wires that are being used to light up the LED’s. I have used Red for + ve terminal connection and Black for – ve terminal connection. Now use the insulation tape at uniform intervals and pass it from the cabin lamp to the passenger side footwell through the roof liner, A-Pillar and behind the glove box to the footwell.

Step – 4: At the base of the cabin lamp, there are three metal plates running around connecting the bulb with the switch. We need to solder the wires on these plates so as to draw power from the cabin lamp to the LED’s.

Step – 5 (a): When the coupler is seen from behind, wire 2 & 3 needs to be connected for the LED’s to work i.e. Blk/Red and White as seen on the coupler.

Step – 5 (b): The + ve terminal of the LED (red wire used) is soldered to the plate that connects to the wire red/blk on the coupler and – ve terminal of the LED (black wire used) is soldered to the plate that connects to the white wire on the coupler.

Step – 6: Use a chocolate block connector to connect the two soldered wires emerging from cabin lamp i.e. Red and Black.

Step – 7: To the open end of the chocolate block connector used in Step – 6, connect the wires that were passed from the cabin lamp to passenger side footwell in Step – 3.

Step – 8: Now moving to connect the LED strips to the wiring prepared. Use another two pin chocolate black connector at the wiring that was passed in Step – 3. Remove the glove box for better reach and work-ability.

Step – 9: Cut the desired length of LED strip from the 5 meters roll and solder the red wire to the + ve terminal of the LED strip and Black wire to the – ve terminal of the LED strip.

Step – 10: Remove the adhesive 3M protective paper from the LED strip base and stick it to the area desired at the respective footwell.

Step – 11: Connect the wires soldered in Step – 9 to the open end of the chocolate block connector that was used in Step – 8.

Step – 12: Reconnect the cabin lamp coupler that was disconnected in Step – 2 and reconnect the battery – ve terminal.

Step – 13: Check all connections and if all LED’s are glowing or not. Check the theatre dimming effect by locking/unlocking the doors and also when key is inserted and removed from the keyhole. If all is good then neat pass the extra wiring behind the glove box and on the roof liner and refit the cabin lamp, A-pillar trim and glove box.

We are good to go!

[a4anurag]

Images of the Install

Cabin lamp with points marked to pry open the light diffuser


Cabin lamp removed


Small pieces of insulation tape used for clubbing wires for a cleaner install


Two pin chocolate block connector used


Wiring that was passed from cabin lamp to the passenger footwell from A-roof liner, pillar and behind glove box


Cabin lamp coupler with numbers marked as referred in Step - 5 (a)


Cabin lamp base coinciding with the wiring marking as seen on the coupler (image above)


Cabin lamp soldered with the wiring to connect to the LED strips


Cabin lamp soldered and connected to the chocolate block


Extra wiring tucked inside the roof liner


Length of LED strip used on either sides


Wires soldered to the LED strip


Wiring from cabin lamp seen dangling on the door sill guard and two LED's passed on their respective sides ready for final fixing and connection


LED strip stuck in place


Drivers side LED glowing - Closeup


Passenger side LED glowing - Closeup


Another view of the Cabin with LED's glowing


View from rear seat with the LED's glowing


Part number of the cabin lamp for the interested


Wiring diagram from the Service manual

************************************

Small video of LED lighting and Theatre Dimming Effect

LED Lighting & Theatre dimming effect

Thanks for reading guys.

[Samurai]

Moving out from Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing - Support Team

[shankarbn]

I had done this on my nano with led boards. If you buy 48led smd boards instead, the whole procedure is a lot simpler with no need for soldering.

[PM - B]

@a4anurag

Really cool and thanks for sharing.

Have a few questions - i am at a complete loss when it comes to electricity - so bear with me please.

The below questions pertain wrt a Linea & Punto

1. I would want to do the above - fitting foot well lights for all 4 seats - front and back.
2. So how do i tap 4 leads out
3. What is the effect on the existing circuit if the above is done - in terms of load and error messages - the fiats i think monitor all parameters.
4. Can a switch be put in somehow that the lights can be disable if need be.

Any other thoughts suggestions pertaining to fiat - that i should keep in mind.

Thank you.

[shankarbn]

Originally Posted by PM - B

@a4anurag

Really cool and thanks for sharing.

Have a few questions - i am at a complete loss when it comes to electricity - so bear with me please.

The below questions pertain wrt a Linea & Punto

1. I would want to do the above - fitting foot well lights for all 4 seats - front and back.
2. So how do i tap 4 leads out
3. What is the effect on the existing circuit if the above is done - in terms of load and error messages - the fiats i think monitor all parameters.
4. Can a switch be put in somehow that the lights can be disable if need be.

Any other thoughts suggestions pertaining to fiat - that i should keep in mind.

Thank you.

Do it with 2 fuse taps from interior light fuse. That way, you can disable it from the fuse box when you do not need it by simply taking out the fuse.

[Sportztourer]

Great job! Always love the way you neatly explain the DIY jobs. I think this would look better on beige colour mats (which we can always change) as black mats gets easily soiled (I have black mats) & LEDs would highlight it.
P.S: loved the dimming effect in the video.

[a4anurag]

Sorry guys totally missed out on uploading the wiring diagram that I did and followed.

Here it is

[PM - B]

@shankarbn

Thank you for the response

So - setting the fuse aside for a moment.

If i wanted to run 4 of these strip lights - one for each foot well - do i just run them in series - with 2 more added to the above diagram

Will this have any impact on the existing cabin light and the battery.

Also any ideas how to incorporate puddle lights for all doors.

[TheStranger]

Really neat DIY, a4anurag.....well documented with pics too.

I have toyed with the idea of aftermarket LED lights as footwell lights in my Manza (it has dark interiors). This relatively simple DIY is very appealing.

Will have to give this a thought soon !!

[kmadhok]

Thanks for sharing. One thing I am missing is how the 2 LED strips (passenger side and driver side) are connected. I get it that you have used the red and black wires to connect them but how did you manage to pass them across from one side to another. Is the wiring ticks behind the dashboard in the foot well?

[shankarbn]

Originally Posted by PM - B

@shankarbn

Thank you for the response

So - setting the fuse aside for a moment.

If i wanted to run 4 of these strip lights - one for each foot well - do i just run them in series - with 2 more added to the above diagram

Will this have any impact on the existing cabin light and the battery.

Also any ideas how to incorporate puddle lights for all doors.

Since you will be using LEDs and especially if you use an LED festoon bulb for the cabin light as well, there should be no impact on the existing cabin light and battery. I wouldn't recommend running it in a series though for the simple reason that if there's a problem, none of the lights would work.

I would use two piggyback fuse taps on top of each other (3 fuses in total - original and two more power sources for your lights).

Use the first fuse tap to power lights in the front and second to power lights in the rear. You can have a common ground, no issues there.

PS : If you're not using fuses with the same amp rating, use the most powerful fuse at the bottom.

Puddle lights will (if you do it right) involve drilling into the door panel and routing wires through the same channel as power window wires etc...

All this said, the simplest way is to wire the footwell and puddle lights directly to the cabin light in series.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by PM - B

1. I would want to do the above - fitting foot well lights for all 4 seats - front and back.
2. So how do i tap 4 leads out

This is what I have prepared to wire in my Alto K10.

I want to light up all 4 footwell's. Hope it works.

Originally Posted by PM - B

4. Can a switch be put in somehow that the lights can be disable if need be.

If I am right then you can install a simple switch after the chocolate block connector. Connect the +ve from cabin light to one end of the switch and the +ve from LED strip. Solder the -ve from cabin light and -ve from LED strip together.

This should help you get an ON/OFF switch in the circuit.

Originally Posted by kmadhok

Is the wiring ticks behind the dashboard in the foot well?

As seen in the picture below, it is shot from the passenger footwell.

How I did it:

1. Measure the length of wire that is required to be soldered between the two LED strips. Once ascertained, solder it as I have shown in the diagram;
   
2. Then pass the wires from behind the lower dashboard area as seen in the image below.
   
3. Stick the driver's side LED strip first and then passenger side. Check if everything is working. If it does, tuck the extra wiring behind the lower part of the dashboard.

[PM - B]

@a4anurag

Thank you for the response

So - following the above diagram (All 4 foot wells) - there should be no load / issues on the existing circuit. Right?