Preventive lights for door edge

This project consists in a simple lights system on the edge of the vehicle's doors that helps preventing accidents with cyclists or even other vehicles.
Many cars have a reflective or a not very noticeable courtesy light on the inner side of the door, but they're not always very effective for this purpose.
With this instructable we're trying to promote the use of these lights.
We’ll explain step by step the process to install the preventive lights for the door edge.
We used a Nissan Tsuru 2004, you have to adapt the system to your vehicle, but there's not a big difference between them.

You can check the full manual in the attached PDF.

This is a school project made by:
Carlos Peña Michel
Eduardo Altamirano Castro
Daniel Alfonso Caballero Cruz

Step 1: Get the materials

Materials:
• 12 Volts RGB LED Set 
• Cable /Wire (6m)
• Welder wire & Solder Paste
• Soldering iron.
• Scissors / Tweezers

Comments

[profquatermass]

Maplin electronics and CPC sell these LEDs in the UK.

Or 4 flashing LEDs wired in series will work.


I would also coat the LED strips with clear varnish so they can be easily cleaned.

[Hattellifun]

Very great idea, specially for cyclist. It's a shame that most of modern cars doesn't have those lights included

[Kasm279]

It amazes me how stupid auto makers are getting. My grandmother had a 1992 or so Ford Explorer with lights on the door, similar to this but on the door panel inside. I've rarely seen newer vehicles with them.

[Dudewithspudgun]

Auto makers aren't really stupid, they're just being cheap and cutting costs by sacrificing safety and quality to save that extra dollar while charging you out the butt ,and making ridiculous profit, for a low quality vehicle while trying to convince you that you're getting a good deal. Remember, it took a law just for auto makers to start putting airbags and seat belts in their cars.

[agis68]

i agree...my Dad has a Lancia Fulvia 2GT (1965) and all the doors have this pretending light

Also my Audi 80 fox 1975 has it

and my new renault scenic has it,,,,(as a reflective)

[acaballero2]

Well this instructable is to the cars without leds in the doors...i think.

[agis68]

yeap...its awsome!

[Wroger-Wroger]

I'd be sticking them both OUTSIDE and INSIDE the door, at the top, and set them to switch on, the moment the door starts to move away from the frame..... or when the door handle is pulled.

Unless you could set the door switch, to just switch on, as the door just starts to open.....

[northcalgreens]

Very good idea, it is one that the auto industry should adopt for themselves. Very simple cheep and a great safty feature. I like the idea of the puddle lights also. I just wanted to say that i am finding it very easy to find LED lights these days.
It seems that they are being used in everything! I have been buying stuff from yard sales, second hand stores or ive even found stuff ive found in my dumpster that have had LED bulbs or even whole circuits that are easily incorporated into projects like this. I just bought two lights from the dollar store that have a single light-five lights-and a red snd blue light that flashes. Looks like the perfect fit for my car door and puddle light project. Good luck to everyone with thier projects and again- great instructable!

[mtnredhed]

I wonder if making them blinky would improve their viz? Great idea. I'm making this happen (at least on the driver's side here in the USA).

[carlos-]

Hmm (: ..that was the original idea, but we decided to simplify it.
If you want you can add a flasher to the positive lines circuit, it's the same device used in the turn signals of the vehicle.
Thanks for your input, and for making this happen.

[riff raff]

If you wired another set of LEDs under the door, you'd also have a puddle light.

But why use RGB LEDs instead of single-color LEDs for this project?

[carlos-]

The puddle light is a good idea.
Single-color LEDs would work the same way as RGB LEDs. You can pick the ones you prefer, the connection is made with the same principle.

[mntbkrguy]

This is a great project, I could have used this the other night. Do you have sources for the LED's?

[carlos-]

We got them in a random electronics store... but if you want to make sure, you can look for them in a store specializing in LEDs. I'm glad you think it's a great project (:

[Spokehedz]

I get mine from DX.com

[ventifact]

Red to the rear.

[lalunette]

Nice instructable.

What's hilarious is that Russians automobile engineers had the same thought over 20 years ago and installed similar lights on Lada cars.

Mine are red and turn on when I open the driver or the front passenger door of my '91 Lada Signet wagon.

Unfortunately they are not on the rear passenger doors so this instructable could still be handy if I wanted to make that mod.

Well done overall !!

[General Lee Stupid]

My car already had warning and puddle lights on it, but because it was built in the 90s it used dim, inefficient incandescent bulbs, so I upgraded to cleaner, brighter LEDs a few months ago. I think this is a great idea for cars, and am very surprised more don't already have them

[denewf]

Agree 100%

And the young shall lead the way -----
Or something to that effect.
Well done lads

[cgarlo]

check http://www.superbrightleds.com for leds they have a good selection and good prices.

[black-light-studio]

I've heard Volvo has been a few steps ahead it's competitors when it comes to safety.
I wounder why so many companies lag behind

[dfc849]

I hope you guys got a good grade for this project!!