How to make wheel lights on a car. Do-it-yourself wheel lighting is a fashion accessory
Apparently, it is in human nature to change and transform things that belong to him. That's why car owners so often try to bring something of their own to their design. Thanks to this, tuning specialists will always be in demand.
But competition in this area of business is constantly growing and therefore new ideas are always relevant here. One of them is luminous elements. Car owners order LEDs, buy luminous stickers, but the best option is luminescent paints. Their distinctive feature is that they accumulate light during the day and glow beautifully at night. With their help, you can quickly and inexpensively make original tuning of any car.
Car tuning with glowing colors
Most often, car rims and sills are subjected to such tuning. Therefore, we will consider the work process using the example of their finishing. For tuning you will need the following materials:
- AcmeLight paint.
- Stationery knife.
- Solvents (649,650, 651).
- Spray gun (preferably from Bosch).
- Painting tape.
- Rubber gloves.
Operating procedure
Using this technology, you can paint any other parts of the car (and not only). Except that for most parts, for example the car sills (in the picture), you won’t need masking tape. As a result, without much effort we get luminous elements that look great during the day and highlight the car beautifully at night.
The cost of implementing this idea
Let's consider two options - tuning the wheels of your own car and this service as a business. To tune the rims of your own car, you will need:
- The place to work is a garage or a platform in front of it.
- Spray gun - borrow for a day from friends.
- Discs - your own or buy new ones. It's about $220.
- Glowing paint - from $33.
If you paint your own wheels, then the only thing you have to spend money on is paint, that is, $33 (about $8 for 1 disk).
Glowing paints for cars as a business idea
This business can be started with virtually no investment and with minimal investment. Let's consider both options.
As a result, painting four discs will cost 3,000 rubles (about $100). Approximately 1000 rubles of which are net profit. This means servicing 10 cars will cover all initial costs.
Where to look for clients
- Vkontakte community.
- Advertising on flea markets and virtual bulletin boards.
- Discount for customers for talking about the service on auto forums.
- Contextual advertising.
- Banners on auto-related websites.
- Stands in spare parts stores and interest to their owners for each client.
As soon as glowing cars appear on city streets, the flow of customers will become constant, but competitors will not be long in coming. Therefore, do not delay - to protect yourself from unfair competition, immediately conclude a dealer agreement.
Light tuning looks most impressive on a car. So today on our roads we can see cars with extraordinary illumination of the underbody, wheel rims, radiator grille, etc. The illumination looks especially impressive and contrasting at night, and if it is also capable of changing color, then it is simply a mesmerizing spectacle at the level of light magic. Night city and you in your car, with enchanting lighting on the rims of your car.
But if we put aside the irony and put it to the point, in this article I wanted to talk about the illumination of car wheel rims, how best to install the LED strip, what options for attaching this strip are possible based on your desires and the design features of the cars.
The first thing I would like to say is that this article will give an example of the mechanical fastening of the backlight for disks. The electrical part and the choice of LED strip for illumination are discussed in another related article, “Connecting an LED strip in a car.”
Wheel illumination for the front axles of the car
1. Let's consider the simplest option for attaching an LED strip to illuminate disks. This is a classic case - MacPherson front suspension, with a protective cover for the brake disc installed.
In this version, the LED backlight strip is attached to the edge of the protective casing. Holes are drilled around the perimeter of the casing in increments of 5 - 7 cm (the diameter of the holes must ensure passage for plastic clamps). If the tape has a self-adhesive base, then the protective film is removed and the tape is glued to the clean, grease-free surface of the protective casing. If there is no such base, then the tape is attached only with plastic clamps threaded into the drilled holes on the casing and holding the tape at the edge along the perimeter of the casing.
2. In the second case, the situation of installing a tape for disc illumination is similar, except that on some cars there is no protective mud guard for the brake disc. In this case, you cannot do without additional structures.
The most effective option would be to make a frame simulating the missing casing. So, for its manufacture it is possible to use light metal elements, for example, mounting tape, or a thin rolled bar.
Initially, we mount the rays from the center of the wheel, to which the rim for mounting the backlight will be attached.
To make it more convenient to assemble the structure, you can dismantle the brake disc and brake caliper. When calculating the size of the lengths of the beams of the structure emanating from the center, do not forget to try on the brake disc, ensuring a guaranteed gap between the disc and the outer rim.
We are installing the outer rim, which will serve as a holding structure for our LED disk backlight strip.
We install the lighting using clamps, similar to the option above.
3. This variant of disc illumination is interesting because the lighting does not come directly from behind the spokes, but comes from the center of the disc. This light is reflected several times from the surfaces of the structure and is more uniform. It is worth noting that the design is not so easy to implement.
The first thing you need to design such a rim light is a metal strip and accurately measured geometric dimensions of the parts of your suspension. As a result, a kind of spider is made, which is attached to the protective casing, and the rim for attaching the tape goes to the outer part of the brake disc.
Also for this design it will be necessary to use spacers installed on the brake disc. Such spacers should protrude from behind the rim on which the lighting strip will be attached.
Please note that when using spacers you will change the wheel offset, affecting the properties of your suspension. The design must be made carefully and rigidly to prevent possible bending from minor impacts and to avoid twisting the metal bar into the spokes of the disk.
Wheel illumination for the rear axles of the car
4. If you have brake discs with a protective cover installed on the rear axle. Then the installation option for the disk illumination tape will correspond to case 1 (see above)
If you do not have a protective casing, then this is option number 2.5. A more interesting situation is with the use of brake drums, often installed on the rear axle, especially in domestic cars. The first option for attaching the backlight is to remove the drum, drill holes in it and secure the tape with clamps. In principle, the option is simple, similar to options 1 and 4, but has one drawback. In this case, the light will not come reflected, but directly from the LEDs. A more uniform glow can be obtained if the tire is slightly recessed behind the rear drum. The rim for attaching the backlight can be grabbed for welding or secured with fasteners.
6 The option for installing wheel illumination is also applicable for vehicles with drums on the rear axle. The option is similar to case 3, when the rim is located in front of the brake drum, and a spacer is used to allow the disc to be installed.
For all of the above methods of mounting disk backlights, that is, attaching an LED strip, the following rules apply:
- The tape for disc illumination is positioned in such a way that the light predominantly spreads from the inside to the outside, through the spokes of the disc.
- Wiring must be laid along the body in protected places. It is necessary to select the most optimal location for the backlight wiring directly on the machine. When passing the wiring from the wheel to the power supply, you can also use clamps and a protective plastic tube (visible in option 5).
A convenient solution that provides flexibility for wiring and reliable fastening is flexible brake hoses, which can be attached to using the same clamps.
Tricolor Wheel illumination (wheel illumination), you can change colors and modes with one click of a button. New in the field of automotive light tuning. Wheel illumination, set of 4 pieces. You can install the wheel lighting yourself in 10 minutes, for the best effect it is better on each wheel. To install the disc lighting, you need to remove the disc caps, measure the distance of the inlet hole on each disc, set the same disc lighting and insert it into the disc. The device is powered by a battery; the battery is charged in the sun; it lasts 50 hours on one charge. Charges even when exposed to minimal light and cloudy conditions. Each wheel of the disk has 12 bright light-directional diodes (4 blue, 4 red, 4 green). There are no penalties for using backlighting; lighting on discs is permitted. To turn on the backlight, press the start button for 10 seconds, then the device goes into standby mode and starts working from the movement of the wheels. Before you start driving, you can independently select the color of the disks on each device (red, blue, green, or all at once). You get a great effect and immediately stand out on the road!
Size: 7.5 * 4.1cm
.
The built-in battery is powered by solar energy.
Stops working within 10 seconds after stopping.
Easy installation. Absolute tightness. Operating mode from -50 to +80 degrees. LED lifespan is 50,000 hours.
There are many ways to individualize your car - various designs and stickers on the body, additional body kit, but for the dark time of day the most effective option is the so-called. light tuning. The most common type of such car modification is the illumination of wheel rims.
The modern market offers car owners a huge number of ready-made options that only need proper installation. However, if you want to get a truly unique look without spending a lot of money, it would be best to make your own car rim lights yourself.
Ways to illuminate car rims
The most common and proven options for light tuning of car wheels are the use of LED strips (LED backlighting) and neon lamps. Recently, LEDs have become increasingly popular because they have a number of advantages over neon lamps:
- The ability to direct a beam of light in the desired direction;
- High degree of safety - neon lamps are easier to damage and this can lead to explosion and spontaneous combustion;
- They consume less electricity.
- Easier to install.
What do you need to make your own wheel lights?
In this case, we will look at creating a simple LED wheel illumination that can be done by anyone with basic electrical knowledge.
For this operation you will need:
- LED strips of one or more colors;
- Sealant;
- Wires for supplying electricity to LEDs;
- Voltage stabilizers 12 Volts for LEDs;
- Plastic clamps or wire;
- Glue - if the LED strip does not have an adhesive base.
How to make car rim lights?
Installation of the backlight should only be carried out on a securely fixed vehicle with the wheels removed.
Preparing to install wheel lights
First of all, you need to think about the LED connection diagram. If we discard the various tricky options with separate remote controls and wireless drive backlighting, then there are only two ways to turn it on:
- Together with car headlights;
- Using a separate toggle switch.
The length of wire you will need depends on which option you choose. Of course, for a separate switch, you will need to think about the placement of a separate toggle switch on the car’s dashboard.
An important point affecting the installation of wheel lighting will be the presence of a protective casing, which is designed to protect the brake discs from dirt.
Installing car rim lights on a protective casing
To do this, you will need to clean it well and degrease the surface on which the LEDs will be glued. In addition, holes will need to be made on the edge of the casing at a distance of 5-7 centimeters from each other; they are necessary for additional fixation of the tape.
- Cut the required amount of LED strip according to special marks;
- Solder the power supply wire and voltage stabilizer;
- Apply the tape to the degreased surface of the casing;
- Additionally, secure the LEDs using plastic clamps or wire.
Installing lights on car wheels without a protective cover on the wheel
If there is no protective casing, you need to make a frame on which the LED strip will be attached. It can be made from lightweight and easy-to-work metals, such as mounting strip. In this case, it is extremely important to measure the brake disc and leave the required distance between it and the tire rim.
After making the frame, you need to remove the disc and caliper and install the rays that will go from the center of the wheel to mount the backlight frame. Next, perform the same actions as with a protective casing.
Installing lights on the rear wheels of a car
The main difference in this case is that a brake drum can be installed on the rear wheels. Accordingly, you will have to use a slightly different method of mounting the backlight.
The easiest option is to remove the brake drums, drill mounting holes in them and use them to fix the LED strip. To make the light more uniform, the LEDs can be recessed slightly behind the brake drum.
Illumination using car hoods
Also quite simple to illuminate the wheels is the installation of luminous wheel caps. They are installed in the central holes of the wheel rims. Currently, there are a huge number of ready-made models, with different backlight options, differing in control method and operating modes. Of course, the easiest way is to use caps that fit on the car without additional modifications.
Video: Do-it-yourself illumination of car wheels
