Hey guys!
I found some great threads earlier, but would like to ask about a LED setup for my car stereo that I have in mind. Sound Quality is of utmost importance to me, and I am not willing to jeperdize it by splicing into any of the signal outputs that will end up at the speakers/sub.
That said, I do not have rear speakers installed. This leaves me with two "clean" outputs that would go to rear speakers... but instead will power my LED lighting system.
I have never worked with LEDs before. I would appreciate any advise you can give me on this install. I was thinking that I could send the rear outputs directly to an amp (or coil?) to first amplify the signal to above the operating power of the LEDs.
I would then splice the amp's output into three seperate, identical, signals. These would pass into a hi-pass (tweeter), band-pass (midrange), and low-pass (base) filters.
Each filtered signal then needs to get to it's respective color of LED. I assume that I need a resistor, which would vary depending on the number of LEDs I end up using.
The overall effect, if it can be pictured, should be quite interesting.
I'm wondering:
-->What should I use to amplify the signal? A car stereo amplifier comes to mind, but I'm thinking there might be a cheaper alternative...
-->The output of an amplifier is in both (+) and (-). I know that not connecting them may cause damage to the amplifier over extended periods of use. Any thoughts as to wheather this setup could damage the amp?
-->I'm used to working with car audio, and adjustible band-pass filters are usually precise and expensive. Is there something else I could use in it's place?
-->I recognize that I will need to install a resistor of sorts, before connecting the (+) amplified output to the LEDs. Do I just multiply the [Volts required by one LED] X [the number LEDs] = [Required Power]. I then take [.33]x[Power of amp]=[Power Availbiale].
[Power avabiale] - [Required Power] = [Resistance required in Amps] (Same for Volts?)
-->Sources for inexpensive LED (flexible) strips that can be stealthily installed? I don't want them to show in the daytime.
--> I know that these LED strips are usually expensive. I am willing to make my own. I am supposed to just wire them in parallel and make sure the (+) leads are insulated right up to the tip? If so, I could just buy 200 of each color and be on my merry way.
Remember, we're on a standard DC car battery here!
**broken link removed**
I found some great threads earlier, but would like to ask about a LED setup for my car stereo that I have in mind. Sound Quality is of utmost importance to me, and I am not willing to jeperdize it by splicing into any of the signal outputs that will end up at the speakers/sub.
That said, I do not have rear speakers installed. This leaves me with two "clean" outputs that would go to rear speakers... but instead will power my LED lighting system.
I have never worked with LEDs before. I would appreciate any advise you can give me on this install. I was thinking that I could send the rear outputs directly to an amp (or coil?) to first amplify the signal to above the operating power of the LEDs.
I would then splice the amp's output into three seperate, identical, signals. These would pass into a hi-pass (tweeter), band-pass (midrange), and low-pass (base) filters.
Each filtered signal then needs to get to it's respective color of LED. I assume that I need a resistor, which would vary depending on the number of LEDs I end up using.
The overall effect, if it can be pictured, should be quite interesting.
I'm wondering:
-->What should I use to amplify the signal? A car stereo amplifier comes to mind, but I'm thinking there might be a cheaper alternative...
-->The output of an amplifier is in both (+) and (-). I know that not connecting them may cause damage to the amplifier over extended periods of use. Any thoughts as to wheather this setup could damage the amp?
-->I'm used to working with car audio, and adjustible band-pass filters are usually precise and expensive. Is there something else I could use in it's place?
-->I recognize that I will need to install a resistor of sorts, before connecting the (+) amplified output to the LEDs. Do I just multiply the [Volts required by one LED] X [the number LEDs] = [Required Power]. I then take [.33]x[Power of amp]=[Power Availbiale].
[Power avabiale] - [Required Power] = [Resistance required in Amps] (Same for Volts?)
-->Sources for inexpensive LED (flexible) strips that can be stealthily installed? I don't want them to show in the daytime.
--> I know that these LED strips are usually expensive. I am willing to make my own. I am supposed to just wire them in parallel and make sure the (+) leads are insulated right up to the tip? If so, I could just buy 200 of each color and be on my merry way.
Remember, we're on a standard DC car battery here!
**broken link removed**
Last edited: