At Delta Tech Industries we found three basic ways to customize a vehicle’s interior using Fina™ LED strips: ambient lighting; utility lighting; safety lighting.The big buzz is about the LED lighting that has swept the country, and anyone who in the past wanted to customize a vehicle but couldn’t afford or simply thought it was too difficult now can.

High-output LEDs, now available in different colors and in high output format, make customizing very easy and affordable. They can be purchased in 12" LED strips, which can be linked together to any length.

Aesthetic, ambient lighting
The most effective way to provide aesthetic ambient light is to use blue LED strips to highlight front and back floorboards activated each time a front or rear door is opened, being synchronized with the courtesy or dome light switch. (Believe me, your date will absolutely fall in love with your car the moment you open the door. Installation is fairly easy.)

Floorboards

	>> 1. Ambient light front floorboard. Front floorboard illumination can best be achieved by sticking the LED strip to the lower portion of the dashboard, allowing light to be seen without showing the actual strip. (Each strip comes with a self-adhesive tape). Each strip should then be spliced into the wire leading to each door courtesy light, or if the vehicle doesn’t come with one they could be spliced into a dome light switch.
	>> 2. Ambient light rear floorboard. The back floorboard illumination works best by sticking the LED strip to the bottom base of the seat bench.
	>> 3. Installation of front (left) and rear (right) LED ambient lights requires very little work. You need to pop open the kick panel and door jamb panel, leading your ambient positive lead wire (red) to the door switch. Then splice into a positive switch wire.

Sunroof

Sunroof light. As a bonus, for those who have a sunroof, we added one blue strip at the front panel of the sunroof, thus making a dramatic entry when you slip into your car seat.  Here, you would splice your LED to your dome light wire lead.

Utility lighting

	>> 1. The utility function of LED strips are most effective when using white, high-output LED strips placed under the hood or in the trunk providing very bright utility light for working under the hood — without fear of draining the battery. In each case, installation is rather easy by sticking the strip to the under-hood or in-trunk compartment and wiring it to the existing incandescent light. If such a light is not available on your vehicle, then a separate momentary switch should be installed which would be activated by opening the hood or trunk.
Hood
>> 2. Under-hood Installation. This requires you to purchase a momentary automotive door switch with a long stem. Find the best point of contact between the hood and the engine-bay panel. The switch should be positioned so the light will be activated the moment the hood latch is released and the hood begins to be lifted. The LED strip can be easily attached under the hood so the light can illuminate the entire engine bay.
Trunk
	>> 3. In-trunk Installation. This is very easy. Just splice the LED strip into a factory trunk light and stick the strip to any metal trunk body behind the trunk hinge.

Safety/Decorative

Door Lighting

	>> 1. Door safety lights. As our safety/decorative concept in using LED lights, we used such items as door safety lights. Each LED strip in the red color can easily be applied to the external area of the metal portion of the door jam facing the street. Each time the door is opened the red warning light will highlight the door and warn passing cars when doors are open. The high output of these LED strips provides a visible warning light even in daytime.
>> 2. Door safety light installation: This is fairly simple. You need to remove door panels in order to reach your courtesy door lights. Splice each LED strip wire into a factory door light or door switch.

Sequential Turn Indicator Mirrors: 

Mirror Sequential Arrows. For our second safety/decorative item, we used  Mirror Sequential Arrows™ by Fina. These LED arrows can be installed behind most adjustable car door mirrors. Installation of Mirror Sequential Arrows needs a little more work, but the effect is worth it.

>> 1. Remove the mirror from the door. Now separate the moving part of the mirror from the mirror body.	>> 2. Using a heat gun, separate the rear layer of the mirror.
>> 3.  Cut out (if necessary) enough plastic behind the mirror to allow the "arrows" enough space to sink in between the back of the mirror and the back panel.		>> 4. Place the "arrows" behind mirror and glue the back panel back in place. Then snap back the rear panel.
>> 5. Rout the lead wires from the "arrows" through the mirror post alongside the factory remote wire harness. Test the "arrows."		>> 6. Complete assembly of the mirror. Attach to the door.

These are just few examples of customizing your vehicle without spending a bundle.  While other manufacturers might offer similar LED applications, for the purpose of this article we used Delta Tech Industries Fina™ Series LED strips. All installations demonstrated in this article we performed on 2010 Suzuki Kizashi. Always follow manufacturers’ directions for best results.

Bogdan Durian is CEO of Delta Tech Industries LLC, Placentia, Calif.