Back-lighting steering wheel buttons

[crazycats]

Whilst waiting for a few bits to arrive in order to attempt the next stage in my clutch saga...I have decided to try and back light the steering wheel buttons.

In principal, the job seems straight forward enough, mounting some small LED's in the buttons won't be too difficult.

However getting some translucent stickers will be the hard part...anyone got any ideas???

Even if I don't manage to get anything, I'll still be swapping the main beam to the left, as I'm fed up beeping at people when I dip the lights, and getting my retinas fused to the back of my head by the oncoming irate driver!!!!

PK

[alinton]

I'd suggest trying some 2 or 3 mm white LEDs; if you can mount them under the button covers they might provide enough light to shine through the white legends anyway.

Are the switch caps removable then?


>> Edited by alinton on Sunday 21st August 21:14

[SXS]

My good man, I was too looking into this, didnt the Carisma cerbera fella achieve this effect? probably drop him an email?

[crazycats]

SXS said:

My good man, I was too looking into this, didnt the Carisma cerbera fella achieve this effect? probably drop him an email?

Good Idea Ash do you have any contact details?

[crazycats]

alinton said:

I'd suggest trying some 2 or 3 mm white LEDs; if you can mount them under the button covers they might provide enough light to shine through the white legends anyway. Are the switch caps removable then?

I'm going to use blue LED's, as I have replaced all the dash ones with blue bulbs, against the white dials the effect is less harsh.

As you'll see from the picture, the button has a suitable aperture already, just a case of drilling straight through and sticking the label in place.

The labels aren't opaque in any way...the legend is printed on, rather than etched. What I'm after an opaque label, with a black covering, which could then be etched to reveal the clear underneath, if you see what I mean.

I'd thought of buying a sheet of Fablon, cutting it to fit my printer, but don't have a clue how to produce the ledgend....if anyone can help, then I could run loads off, for anyone who wants them.



>> Edited by crazycats on Sunday 21st August 22:18

[TT Tim]

I'll have to have a look at the sizes of the graphics, but there is a possibility that I could vinyl cut the symbols and put them on the back of a piece of clear acetate.

I'm off to get my alarm sorted today so I'll have a look later.

Tim

[crazycats]

TT Tim said:

I'll have to have a look at the sizes of the graphics, but there is a possibility that I could vinyl cut the symbols and put them on the back of a piece of clear acetate. I'm off to get my alarm sorted today so I'll have a look later. Tim

Nice one Tim!!!

[crazycats]

Thought I'd struck gold when I found this....they do all the button designs required, and would look nice against my aluminium dash....

The site says that they are 2.5 cm dia...and require a 5cm mounting depth not much use on the steering wheel.

Anyway, bought some LED's today, so will post some progress pictures.



Phoned the suppliers of these swiches today, and sadly the 2.5 cm dia ones are the smallest they produce. Bollocks! :goesoftobangheadonsomethingimoveablesmilie:

>> Edited by crazycats on Tuesday 23 August 15:14

[dean_ratpac]

I've had this in my head to do list for a while. Is it just swapping the bulbs out from behind the dash for blue ones? Or could I replace with some high intensity LED's?

Also around the stereo (next to window buttons the bulbs behind here or LED's

i'm in search of a solution for the steering wheel buttons as well. If you get me more info on sizes and what materials you need them made in, maybe have a few contacts in the sign industry that maybe could try. I fancy some too, as I’ve some smudged buttons, and for some unknown reason when turning always put wipers on instead of flash!!

Deano
www.theRATPAC.com

[crazycats]

dean_ratpac said:

I've had this in my head to do list for a while. Is it just swapping the bulbs out from behind the dash for blue ones? Or could I replace with some high intensity LED's? Also around the stereo (next to window buttons the bulbs behind here or LED's i'm in search of a solution for the steering wheel buttons as well. If you get me more info on sizes and what materials you need them made in, maybe have a few contacts in the sign industry that maybe could try. I fancy some too, as I’ve some smudged buttons, and for some unknown reason when turning always put wipers on instead of flash!! Deano www.theRATPAC.com

The bulbs for the dials is a piece of cake, just a case of swapping clear with blue ones, got 'em from a local motor factors, the tacho and speedo are spade type, and the oil/water, clock and fuel guage are bayonet. The effect is a nice light blue which is easy on the eye, I did think about changing for high int. LED's, however the way they are is fine for now.

The window buttons, are LED's, and I quite like the yellow, so am not going to change those.

As for the stg. wheel buttons, I'm going to attack them later this week, to see if a 3 mm LED can be mounted. I'll take some pics, and post them on here when done.

I've got some Hi-int. LED's, and am going to set them up so that they are on all the time, and dim down when the headlights are on.

The labels is still my sticking point, even if all my ideas don't work, then new ones can be sourced from good dealers...TVR Power/TMS etc.

To be continued.......

[TT Tim]

I'm getting some OHP acetate to see if I can print a 4C black on that's dense enough to be opaque.

Another thought I had was...


... do you know anyone in the print industry? You could (I could do it for you) draw up the button graphics and then run a sheet of film, an A$ sheet could give you say 100 buttons!

All my work is direct to plate, i.e. no film making so I'm not even sure where to ask these days.

Tim

[crazycats]

TT Tim said:

... do you know anyone in the print industry? You could (I could do it for you) draw up the button graphics and then run a sheet of film, an A$ sheet could give you say 100 buttons! Tim

Got some graphics guys at work, plus my best mates girlfiend is a graphics designer.....don't know why I didn't think of them before DUH!

[gazzab]

wonder if this guy could do something?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-wheel-centre-decals-Tuscan-Cerbera-Chimera_W0QQitemZ7995406270QQcategoryZ23025QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[TT Tim]

crazycats said:

TT Tim said: ... do you know anyone in the print industry? You could (I could do it for you) draw up the button graphics and then run a sheet of film, an A$ sheet could give you say 100 buttons! Tim Got some graphics guys at work, plus my best mates girlfiend is a graphics designer.....don't know why I didn't think of them before DUH!

I'm a graphic designer, but what you want is an output bureau, i.e. someone who takes the files that we, graphic designers, produce and runs 'film' for platemaking.

I've got a contact who I'll try to contact today, I guess you'll only need an A5 sheet of film, and that's not going to cost an arm and a leg.

Tim

[crazycats]

TT Tim said:

crazycats said: TT Tim said: ... do you know anyone in the print industry? You could (I could do it for you) draw up the button graphics and then run a sheet of film, an A$ sheet could give you say 100 buttons! Tim Got some graphics guys at work, plus my best mates girlfiend is a graphics designer.....don't know why I didn't think of them before DUH! I'm a graphic designer, but what you want is an output bureau, i.e. someone who takes the files that we, graphic designers, produce and runs 'film' for platemaking. I've got a contact who I'll try to contact today, I guess you'll only need an A5 sheet of film, and that's not going to cost an arm and a leg. Tim

Nice one, Thanks for your help on this Tim, I owe you some

[SXS]

Hey Paul, what about fitting one of these momo style wheels on (the ones with the buttons), could wire up quite a few features into the wheel... one finger thrashing should be a lot simpler too

[spartacus]

Has anyone had any luck on the backlit button front?

[gazzab]

bump?!

[TT Tim]

Cor! Completely forgotten about this.

Is anything moving forward, my contact couldn't help. There must be a printer/repro house people lurking on Pistonheads. Come on - show yourselves.

Tim

[hjb15]

I run my own print/sign co. and can output the image onto acetate/vinyl etc.., and cut them to required dia.