I can see this getting a lot of hate....

Looking to get some yellow underglow lights for my polo (I know it's extremely chavvy, but I spent my teenage years watching Fast & Furious and playsing NFS: Underground so sadly I think it looks 'good'), but I don't know much about anything. Looking around I can see you can get some cheapo units on eBay from china, but I'm guessing they are going to be utter bollocks and break within a day. So can anyone point me in the right direction or recommend any products?

Wiring them shouldn't be too hard either should it?

And yes I know they are illegal, but I'm not going to be driving around with them on.

Edited 24 November, 201312 yr by Lucaio

I have a cheap suggestion, buy 5m of led strip (costs about £3-15 per 5m roll depending on type) most have 3m adhesive tape on the back, and just wire that up and it can be cut to length every 5cm.
you would save alot of money and it's very bright in the dark.
Heres a sample of about 1 1/2 - 2 meters worth of white strip, and even that far away it will light the surroundings around the boot of my car very well.

So if you are looking for a cheap easy method i would just do something like that instead of spending big money, or at least do that to try it, if you had nowhere to stick it to just buy some pvc or metal strip and stick it to that.

The law states something like, only white light should be seen from the front of the vehicle and red from the back.

So theres no actual law forbidding them.

Lorries do it all along their truck cabs, how do they get away with it?

Anyway, yes i agree with the above post, i have some like these for under my desk, comes with a wireless remote and as they are RGB leds they can go most colours, however some are a bit sketchy.

I got these;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Waterproof-5M-300-LED-3528-RGB-SMD-Strip-Light-IR-Remote-Controller-Power-/380535311190?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Night_Lights_Fairy_Lights&var=&hash=item5899ac0b56

Additional lengths just clip in with a connector, so maybe solder them together.

To be honest id do this but your very limited when you can use them.

What i thought of doing is wiring them in so when the door is opened they come on.

As for the wiring, you will just need one of these;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WATERPROOF-SPLASH-PROOF-IN-LINE-MINI-FUSE-HOLDER-WITH-FUSE-UP-TO-30-AMP-/231070496002?pt=UK_WSJL_Wholesale_GL&var=&hash=item35ccdff502

Connect either straight from the + on the battery, or tap into a wire in the dash (see half way down, here: http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=308082&page=2 )

Then id use a switch (make sure it can cope with it, the one linked is 2Amp per 5 Meter) And put it anywhere you like, id prob go with on the fuse box trim piece.

Theres a good earth in the drivers footwell, bottom right of the dash, unscrew the bolt, attach a ring connector. Sorted.

You'll probly have to leave the transmitter in the engine bay or somewhere to stop it getting wet, but with mine, they turn onto whatever you left them to last.

Can get pics of mine if your interested.

Thanks for the replies guys!

Looking to go for yellow, so is it any good on the ebay ones you linked Chris?

In that case then, rgb strip is the way to go, you might want waterproof ones to improve the working life, and if you want to run more than 5m then get one of the controllers designed to support 2 strips, as its a better way of wiring it to get its full potential, anyway if you do do this, then post a thread, i am sure alot of people will be interested to see it, you can see the brightness if you see my car's build thread where i have some pics of my interior lights.

With RGB leds, yellow is a mixture of them, ill try to get a pic of under my desk tonight.

The ones linked are waterproof.

The controller can only handle 2A, 5 meters. You could just try running a strip down the middle of underneath the car and see what its like. Or i'd imagine cutting and extending would work.

Heres one iv just found;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4pcs-7-Colors-180-LED-Bulbs-Under-Car-Glow-Neon-Lights-Strip-Kit-Remote-Control-/330932000372?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d0d159674

Little more expensive though.

Other than that, buy some yellow led's and get soldering.

5m, 2.5m each side should be enough unless you want to do the front, if so just buy a 4 amp unit with 2 outputs.
Alot easier than soldering leds, and more reliable.

Cheers lads.

Going to order them tonight, will post results when I have them all fitted.

Ok, look forward to seeing it.

Got all the wiring sorted over the weekend and tested them off the battery, works perfectly. I cut the strips to two 2m pieces for each side of the car. Will get them properly fitted this weekend and get some pictures up if the weather is nice enough.

One quick question though, even if the lights are off will they run the battery down as they are connected directly to the battery?

If the switch feed is off no. But depends in how u have wired it. U may risk a small drain. U switched the earth or the power?

If the switch feed is off no. But depends in how u have wired it. U may risk a small drain. U switched the earth or the power?

Sorry but I have no clue about electrics, probably shouldn't really even be doing this myself.

I just have two wires, coming from the lights, one going to the battery's negative terminal and one going to the positive with the fuse inbetween.

Thanks for the reply though

I probaly wouldn't be wiring them straight to the battery. I would pull the fuse box out well just enough so u can look at the wires behind have a look to see which ones aren't really important something like the interior lamp and splice into that so at least it's fused from the main place obviously take the feed from the exiting wire earth can be placed anywhere unless u choice to switch the earth. It doesn't matter which one u choose to switch but make sure ten switch can with stand the amps needed. Which ever one is easier to route to the switch u use. Of course if u want a permenant live then the interior light will be perfect but if u only wanted them to work say when the key is on ignition stage one then u will need to find a switched live that comes on with the stage 1 igniton. It's all pretty easy once u get your head around it

What you need is;

Battery + ----------------Switch------------------Lights----------------------Battery - / Earth

You can go straight from the battery, but it looks a mess and will be perm live. So as Mattie said, find something inside, you can use http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIY-Mini-Fuse-Tap-Add-on-Circuit-Adapter-Auto-Car-Auto-Terminals-Tool-/331012356798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d11dfbabe, to tap into an existing fuse. I would use something like the interior light, but put a bigger fuse in, such as 5amp for the interior light and 5 amp for the lighting, try a 7.5 amp to start with and turn them both on, if it blows use a 10amp.

This way it will shut off with the ignition anyway.

Putting bigger fuses in is asking for trouble.

You would be much better off finding a blank slot on the fuse box and wiring it in properly IMO.

Yes but he isnt very electrically minded, thats all I'm thinking.

May be best going straight from the battery as its the easiest option.

Yeah don't put a bigger fuse in 5 amp should be fine a normal led will run 2 ampS not sure what he is planning on running light wise. If u can follow my instructions then u will be fine first locate the interior lamp if its fused separate then perfect. U can use a scocth lock they don't look good but for the ampd it will be fine. Or strip the insulation and solder them together. Then run the live to a small switch with a rating of at least 2 amps or what ever amperage they are. Then exit the vehicle to you choosen location. Feel free to pm if u need any more info

Nice one lads, will have a look at it all this weekend and see where I get to.

Finally have had a sober weekend and managed to get them fitted, results can be seen in my build thread:

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=322536

What did u use in the end just the cheap strip? How did u fix them to the car and what wiring method did u use?

What did u use in the end just the cheap strip? How did u fix them to the car and what wiring method did u use?

Yeah just used the cheap strip the Chris linked earlier (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Waterproof-5M-300-LED-3528-RGB-SMD-Strip-Light-IR-Remote-Controller-Power-/380535311190?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Night_Lights_Fairy_Lights&var=&hash=item5899ac0b56).

Gave the underside of the car a good clean and stuck the LED strips on with some super strong outdoor/waterproof doublesided tape (Can't remember the brand name, will try and find out). The strips came with some 3M doublesided tape on them but that was no where near string enough.

Then I just ran the wire from the strips around of the back of the wheel arch and the up through the engine bay then just connected it straight to the battery. I can get photos if required.

Had to buy a few more extension cables to get from the battery to the strips and I had to buy a splitter so I could have two wires (from the strips either side) going into the signal reciever box thing.

The range on the remote is bollocks though, if you are more than one foot away and not pointing it directly at the reciever it won't do anything. Currently have the reciver poking out of the top of the bonnet so can only turn them on/off/change colour when I get out of the car. It's just provisional for now, but I'm looking if there is a way to improve the remote signal and to get it located inside of the car.

EDIT: Here's a video of the super tacky 'Party Mode'

Edited 24 November, 201312 yr by Lucaio

Just extend the wiring either of the IR controller, or the IR reciever to inside the car or wherever, it shouldnt effect anything, if it does just put it back.

Also if i were you i'd try to cable tie the led strips underneath the car somewhere as double sided tape isnt the best, and especially when it gets hot.

Just extend the wiring either of the IR controller, or the IR reciever to inside the car or wherever, it shouldnt effect anything, if it does just put it back.

Also if i were you i'd try to cable tie the led strips underneath the car somewhere as double sided tape isnt the best, and especially when it gets hot.

Cheers mate :)

Good shout with the cable ties, will chuck some on now.

It looks pretty cool to be fair. U should maybe do a small step to step as I can see this question being ask a lot or maybe I'll do one when I do my jetta.

It looks pretty cool to be fair. U should maybe do a small step to step as I can see this question being ask a lot or maybe I'll do one when I do my jetta.

Thanks.

Yeah I might do, gives me something to do until the F1 starts.