ebeponyan
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- Joined
- Mar 11, 2021
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- Puget Sound
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- 2021 Infinite Blue Mach-E Premium AWD ER
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- #1
This goes out to anyone interested in reviving the old preproduction dream without dismantling or rewiring their car (no disrespect to the brilliant work of @markboris, consider this a lazier alternative). You can build a Bluetooth configurable ambient lighting zone along the rear seats in about 15 minutes on a $30 budget. Fully reversible and non-destructive mod.
Properly unbridled
Not endorsing any particular vendors or products here (particularly the power adapter, you could do better for cheaper), Amazon links are just for example.
Supplies:
5V Bluetooth LED controller: ~$11
USB to 5V DC power adapter: ~$9
LED strip: ~$10
Installation Steps:
Pink ambient light illuminating all of the filth on my cargo mats
The lights will be active whenever Accessory Power is on, including in full daylight if the lights are plugged in. They will also remain on briefly after you exit the vehicle along with the rest of the interior lights. Power draw should be pretty negligible though all around.
Properly unbridled
Not endorsing any particular vendors or products here (particularly the power adapter, you could do better for cheaper), Amazon links are just for example.
Supplies:
5V Bluetooth LED controller: ~$11
- Must support 5V DC power, many are 12-24V.
- Find one with fully customizable colors in a linked app like LEDHue.
- Should support WS2811/WS2812 LED strips.
- I chose Bluetooth + Phone App rather than cheaper IR remote options because those tend to require line of sight as well as generally having poorer customization options. Also I would immediately lose the remote.
USB to 5V DC power adapter: ~$9
- Can be USB-A or C depending on what rear power source you want to use.
- You want at least 3' of cable to reach from the center console under the cargo mats to the far side.
LED strip: ~$10
- 1m/3.3' length works pretty well across the back.
- Must be a 5V strip, not 12-24V.
- Should support WS2811/WS2812 for good pixel density and customisability. You can go crazy with individual pixel programmability if you want to give your passengers epileptic seizures.
- Some degree of waterproofing is probably a good idea. I went with IP67, but IP65 is probably good enough.
- Black PCB is more discreet than white. Less common, but worth looking for.
- I opted not to use an adhesive backing to keep the installation fully reversable and non-destructive. Velcro strips can be used instead.
Installation Steps:
- Run power cable under cargo mats to a side door.
- Tuck power cable under foot well to keep it out of the way as it runs up the side of the seat.
- Plug in Bluetooth LED controller (small white box pictured) and conceal along the side/base of the seat.
- Plug LED strip into controller and run along the underside of the rear seats.
- Attach to seat base fabric with Velcro.
- Pair to controller with linked phone app and set custom colors. Color changes are managed by the app, not via the car's Sync 4A system.
Pink ambient light illuminating all of the filth on my cargo mats
The lights will be active whenever Accessory Power is on, including in full daylight if the lights are plugged in. They will also remain on briefly after you exit the vehicle along with the rest of the interior lights. Power draw should be pretty negligible though all around.