My illuminated door sill idea...
10-19-2004, 09:12 AM
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My illuminated door sill idea...
So guys, after having searched this site along with, acura-tl and acurainspired forums, I haven't been able to find anyone producing illuminated door sills for the CL. One guy @acura-tL modified some Indiglo license plate frames and mounted them in the door sills but I think I've thought of an easier solution which should look pretty good too.
After doing alot of research on different types of bulbs, I came across this electroluminescent tape or EL tape which is pretty thin, can be cut to custom lengths and produces no heat! Here is an example of the tape
So anyway, what I'm going to do is get some "ACURA" vinyl decals and mount them on a semi-translucent thin material, place some EL tape underneath it and double-side tape it to the exisiting door sill. The power would be hooked to each side door panel light. I've been told that the EL tape uses very little power with the use of a 12v inverter. Since, I have the parchment interior, I wanted to get a WHITE light instead of the ricey Indiglo so, I've ordered some pieces to try out the EL technology. THey should be arriving within the week so when I get them, I'll post some pics.
In the meantime, I'm looking for some feedback from you guys. What do you think? My only worry is the clearance from the door and the sill when closed as I've head of some guys having problems with evolution-autodesign sills and double-sided tape? What'd you think?
After doing alot of research on different types of bulbs, I came across this electroluminescent tape or EL tape which is pretty thin, can be cut to custom lengths and produces no heat! Here is an example of the tape
So anyway, what I'm going to do is get some "ACURA" vinyl decals and mount them on a semi-translucent thin material, place some EL tape underneath it and double-side tape it to the exisiting door sill. The power would be hooked to each side door panel light. I've been told that the EL tape uses very little power with the use of a 12v inverter. Since, I have the parchment interior, I wanted to get a WHITE light instead of the ricey Indiglo so, I've ordered some pieces to try out the EL technology. THey should be arriving within the week so when I get them, I'll post some pics.
In the meantime, I'm looking for some feedback from you guys. What do you think? My only worry is the clearance from the door and the sill when closed as I've head of some guys having problems with evolution-autodesign sills and double-sided tape? What'd you think?
10-19-2004, 11:01 AM
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I actually got '04 TL door sills put on my '01 CL-S looks nice, but i seen a CL with lumited "Acura 3.2 CL TypeS" door sills that are luminated, i am try to find it again and keep you guys posted. 
10-19-2004, 06:39 PM
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why not cut the plastic under the sill... put in a piece of clear plexi-glass and attach the glowing tape behind the plexi-glass... slap the sill back on and BAM... seems like a fun project.
10-19-2004, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Smitty
why not cut the plastic under the sill... put in a piece of clear plexi-glass and attach the glowing tape behind the plexi-glass... slap the sill back on and BAM... seems like a fun project.
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10-19-2004, 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by juniorbean
I thought someone did this already a while back. I think it was on the TL forum....
keep us posted! 
10-21-2004, 09:51 AM
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The stock plastic door sills are not very expensive, if you want to buy a set or one to experiment on. I have the aluminum, Type S sills on mine but illuminated ones would be cool. have you seen the ones on the Lexus SC430? they change color from day (amber) to night (red), I think are the colors.
10-21-2004, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 123456SPEED
The stock plastic door sills are not very expensive, if you want to buy a set or one to experiment on. I have the aluminum, Type S sills on mine but illuminated ones would be cool. have you seen the ones on the Lexus SC430? they change color from day (amber) to night (red), I think are the colors.
10-21-2004, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 123456SPEED
The plastic sills just pop up and off, not attached to anything. just go slow with a prying tool, very easy. yea the price there seemed to be around $20?
10-24-2004, 07:12 PM
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Update - 10/24/04
Alright so I've received the EL tape lights and I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. I have the parchment interior so I wanted the door sills to light up with a somewhat matching color, so I chose white. I found out that in order to have a white light, when in the off position the tape light looks pink! See the pic below:
Here's a shot with the el light on. Its not as bright now because I only have it hooked up to a 9v battery but I've read that the car's 12v makes it pretty bright!
So, I have to come up with a way to "hide" that pink color but it shouldn't be too hard. I was thinking about some smoked plexiglass or using some tailight tint spray. I want to get going on this as its starting to get colder outside but the darn vinyls with the "ACURA" type font haven't come in yet. But here is a cheesy picture of what I kinda want to do. Please keep in my its not going to look as ghetto as this pic but I was just trying to get an idea of the look.
Here's a shot with the el light on. Its not as bright now because I only have it hooked up to a 9v battery but I've read that the car's 12v makes it pretty bright!
So, I have to come up with a way to "hide" that pink color but it shouldn't be too hard. I was thinking about some smoked plexiglass or using some tailight tint spray. I want to get going on this as its starting to get colder outside but the darn vinyls with the "ACURA" type font haven't come in yet. But here is a cheesy picture of what I kinda want to do. Please keep in my its not going to look as ghetto as this pic but I was just trying to get an idea of the look.
10-26-2004, 01:03 PM
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Thanks guys for all the 
So, I'm asking for your opinions on the actual mounting. I have 2 ideas about mounting which I try to show in the pics below:
#1
#2
For #1, the plan is to just overlay the vinyl onto a very thin piece of plexi or somthing similar, tint the plexi with some tint spray and attach this to the plastic door sill with double-sided tape. Then I was going to cut out a rectangle in the sill where the vinyl "ACURA" is spelled to let the light from the EL tape, mounted to the metal runner of the car, with double sided tape.
For #2, the major diference is the plexi glass used, as far as thickness and shape. I was going to also cut the plexi glass in the shape of the vinyl to make a clean flush mount look. The plexi would "drop" right into place (within the shape cut out of the plast door sill (notice the thickness of the light blue in pic #2)) and do the same with the other pieces above.
I thing is, I like #2 but I don't think I'll be able to make a "professional" cut in the plastic and plexi to the oval shape of the decal I have. I would need to get all of the edges of both the plexi and plast door sill nice and straight and even. So I'm kinda hesitant and plus, I think #1 would be much easier and one would be less likely to tell if I messed up cutting.
So tell me what you think? Again, thanks for all the awesome feedback and hopefully, I can make this thing look good. Maybe post a DIY as it shouldn't be too hard to yourself!
So, I'm asking for your opinions on the actual mounting. I have 2 ideas about mounting which I try to show in the pics below:#1
#2
For #1, the plan is to just overlay the vinyl onto a very thin piece of plexi or somthing similar, tint the plexi with some tint spray and attach this to the plastic door sill with double-sided tape. Then I was going to cut out a rectangle in the sill where the vinyl "ACURA" is spelled to let the light from the EL tape, mounted to the metal runner of the car, with double sided tape.
For #2, the major diference is the plexi glass used, as far as thickness and shape. I was going to also cut the plexi glass in the shape of the vinyl to make a clean flush mount look. The plexi would "drop" right into place (within the shape cut out of the plast door sill (notice the thickness of the light blue in pic #2)) and do the same with the other pieces above.
I thing is, I like #2 but I don't think I'll be able to make a "professional" cut in the plastic and plexi to the oval shape of the decal I have. I would need to get all of the edges of both the plexi and plast door sill nice and straight and even. So I'm kinda hesitant and plus, I think #1 would be much easier and one would be less likely to tell if I messed up cutting.
So tell me what you think? Again, thanks for all the awesome feedback and hopefully, I can make this thing look good. Maybe post a DIY as it shouldn't be too hard to yourself!
10-26-2004, 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by car_lost
it doesnt matter what color the EL tape is when its off because when you open the door, the light turns on and when you shut the door, its out of sight.
10-26-2004, 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by car_lost
it doesnt matter what color the EL tape is when its off because when you open the door, the light turns on and when you shut the door, its out of sight.
pink, green, etc... doesn't matter....
10-29-2004, 07:04 PM
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Update 10/29/04
Ok guys, its starting to come together. I received 1 set of vinyls and am awaiting the 2nd set which I think I'm going to use instead of the ones pictured below. Here's how the finished product will glow at night.....later tonight I'll go out the car and take some more pics of it on the door sill!
I'm pretty excited on the look
..I just have to get alittler better at putting the vinyl on....Stay tuned....
I'm pretty excited on the look
..I just have to get alittler better at putting the vinyl on....Stay tuned....
10-31-2004, 01:44 PM
#34
man those look nice. You guys should start a "business" making those and sell them to us. I know I'll pay some money 
especially if you guys will include directions on how to connect the power supply to the car.
especially if you guys will include directions on how to connect the power supply to the car.
11-03-2004, 03:53 AM
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I am very interested but I remember seeing them sold somewhere, the ones premade for our cars, my question is, with the plexi and everything made ourselves, wouldn't it be a little too thick for our cars? and how do you cut out the words so nice and neat?!
11-03-2004, 07:32 AM
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Originally Posted by nismo
I am very interested but I remember seeing them sold somewhere, the ones premade for our cars, my question is, with the plexi and everything made ourselves, wouldn't it be a little too thick for our cars? and how do you cut out the words so nice and neat?!
If you remember where you saw them for our cars I'd be interested in taking a look at them. To answer your question, I'm not actually going to cut out the letters from the plexi glass but instead have laid down some vinyl with the letters precut so that only the "ACURA" allows the light to shine through. I'm still waiting for some more vinyls and will probably do the total install around Thanksgiving time. Will post pics when its done. Let me know if you have any questions. BTW, this project will be very easy to do yourself and so far, I've spent a total of $80 with just a couple of wire connectors left to buy. So, its pretty inexpensive also. The cool thing is that its totally customizable, if you'd like to put something else on the door sill you can, with the vinyl, i.e. Type-S, CL-S whatever, and in whatever color you want! Just hyping up the idea again, sorry. Thanks for your interest.
11-08-2004, 11:03 AM
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We are talking about where the door closes shut. On the bottom where the piece of plastic is with the lines in it don't have a TL didn't know it had the ACURA symbol there. But is it there you are talking about? 
11-08-2004, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Both Worlds
We are talking about where the door closes shut. On the bottom where the piece of plastic is with the lines in it don't have a TL didn't know it had the ACURA symbol there. But is it there you are talking about?
