Ambient Light Modification/Update

[unhappyelf]

Hey all,

My wife and I just got our 2023 Lariet last week. I have already hardwired my radar and front/rear dashcams nad wasnt too bad to be honest.
However since the first night with it I have been disappointed with the ambient light setup. Especially in the footwell and lack of lighting in the cupholders. My fiesta st has brighter lights than the truck sadly. Im interested in trying to modify or create my own LED modules for the LIN bus starting with the footwells. Has anyone played with this idea? I already pulled the drivers footwell light and determined the chips on the board.

It uses a MCP2021-330E LIN transciever and a standard PIC12F1822 microcontroller.

Pictures(best I could get until I get it under my friends microscope)
Transciever

Microcontroller

Front

Back

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...l/MCP2021-330E-SN?qs=87/gv35YuOdw4EN0o33dUA==
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai.../PIC12F1822T-I-SN?qs=bxUt0k7cytL63NI/Rmxyfg==

Looking at the datasheets and a Microchip document for implimenting RGB lighting(HERE) Im pretty sure the the transciever is powering the LED module directly. Said transciever is limited to 50ma of current so just putting on more LEDs is probably out. Im assuming the microcontroller is using PWM on the transistors to control the color on the LED but I dont know if its a common cathode or anode LED yet.

I know this will probably be over the heads of some but I was hoping someone has at least somewhat tackled this or has any info.

My ultimate goal is to build my own board that can read and act on the data transmitted by the master LIN node on the bus or modify and existing board to control more powerful lights.

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[Highlander]

WOW!

Speaking for myself... after reading this, it appears I can only count to potato.

Best of luck. Please share your results.

Frank

 

[OFC Ranger]

Little overboard for ambient lighting and I say that with being (and I could be wrong) probably the most modified Ranger on the forum if we are speaking in regard to extensive auxiliary electrical wiring.

Just buy a simplistic interior kit third party and tap into the existing system channel for the ambient light behind a one way diode blocker and call it a day.

Now if you are doing all this because it because you are into custom circuit boards and all that jazz, then have at it and ignore me.

I'm not sure what you are referencing when you say, " My ultimate goal is to build my own board that can read and act on the data transmitted by the master LIN node on the bus or modify and existing board to control more powerful lights."

What exactly are your future plans besides open door and/or press keyfob and lights come on?

All I can tell you is working with modern control modules is a huge PITA. Using them as a piggyback system has proven vastly better for my health then outright trying to manipulate them directly.

Foul language doesn't even begin to describe it.

 

[unhappyelf]

Just buy a simplistic interior kit third party and tap into the existing system channel for the ambient light behind a one way diode blocker and call it a day.

That would be fine with me, that was one of the options I had considered but haven't been able to probe the board enough to do that. Is there any instructions or documentation already done for this?

Now if you are doing all this because it because you are into custom circuit boards and all that jazz, then have at it and ignore me.

Yep, it's my profession so I probably blew this out of the water.

I'm not sure what you are referencing when you say, " My ultimate goal is to build my own board that can read and act on the data transmitted by the master LIN node on the bus or modify and existing board to control more powerful lights."

I want to create a module that is just plug and play into the existing wiring. LIN bus communication is very limited. Only 16 devices can exist of the same bus at once. That means it should be easy to tap the signal and see what Ford is sending the lights as far as data. After that it would just be the matter of programming a microcontroller to control our own brighter lights.

 

[OFC Ranger]

That would be fine with me, that was one of the options I had considered but haven't been able to probe the board enough to do that. Is there any instructions or documentation already done for this?


Yep, it's my profession so I probably blew this out of the water.


I want to create a module that is just plug and play into the existing wiring. LIN bus communication is very limited. Only 16 devices can exist of the same bus at once. That means it should be easy to tap the signal and see what Ford is sending the lights as far as data. After that it would just be the matter of programming a microcontroller to control our own brighter lights.

Honestly it as simple as tapping any lighting system that is part of the "courtesy" lighting group. So you've got your interior lights and cargo lights as the main two. Give me a sec to see if I can dig up the photos. Others who have used these channels did so right behind the headlight knob/cargo light button area of the dash.

In your case it may be easier, just go to one of your factory ambient lights, I imagine its either a 2 line or 3 line harness, figure out the power and ground and off you go.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Start Here: https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/need-help-with-dome-lighting-wiring.8747/

Second post I believe. Tells you what color is the dome lighting channel, you could use that.

I made a custom roof console and I wanted the lights on it to come on just like the factory dome lights. There is an 8 pin harness behind the factory console up front so I just tapped in there. You don't need to go all the way up there obviously, but just to demonstrate it is easily done.

 

[unhappyelf]

Honestly it as simple as tapping any lighting system that is part of the "courtesy" lighting group. So you've got your interior lights and cargo lights as the main two. Give me a sec to see if I can dig up the photos. Others who have used these channels did so right behind the headlight knob/cargo light button area of the dash.

In your case it may be easier, just go to one of your factory ambient lights, I imagine its either a 2 line or 3 line harness, figure out the power and ground and off you go.

I see, yeah I want to control the colors from sync3 still. I was hoping to maybe tap the RGB signals off the LED modules.

 

[OFC Ranger]

I see, yeah I want to control the colors from sync3 still. I was hoping to maybe tap the RGB signals off the LED modules.

Ok that may be a bit more complicated then, but the power source tapping should be the same. Trying to find a third patry strip with a controll box that is less universal and more compatible with strictly Ford may be iffy. I dunno.

Might be less of a headache to just velcro tape the wireless controller most third party strips come with under the dash out of sight and on occasion you want to change colors do it for the factory lights then the controller.

 

[unhappyelf]

Ok that may be a bit more complicated then, but the power source tapping should be the same. Trying to find a third patry strip with a controll box that is less universal and more compatible with strictly Ford may be iffy. I dunno.

Might be less of a headache to just velcro tape the wireless controller most third party strips come with under the dash out of sight and on occasion you want to change colors do it for the factory lights then the controller.

Agreed and if it was strictly my truck I would probably somewhat settle for that but technically it's my wife's truck and that probably fails the waf(wife approval factor) ?

 

[airline tech]

Curiosity question, as my footwell lighting is always on when driving, as a current setting, IDK if they have always been on or if they time out when driving. What drew my attention to them was the fact that my USB Ports (Blue Light) was staying lit up after exiting the truck and lights timed out, note I did not have anything plugged into them. Now if I remember correctly if something is plugged in they stayed powered for 75 minutes or so.
I fixed the issue by cycling my Ambient Lighting color down and back up, now the USB port light turns off when the rest of the interior lighting times out.

So, my question is, since I have not paid close attention to them (as they are so dim) do the footwell lights always stay lit up (normally) or do I need to play with the settings and see if I can get them to time out with the dome light when driving.
I am thinking that since the cubby stays lit, they are always on and it is normal, so as for the OP, needs to be able to drive the lights dim enough as not to distract while driving.
I do commend you on tackling this issue, as a single match will put off more light than the LED's do

 

[unhappyelf]

I made some progress in mapping the pins.
The LEDs appear to be common power with transistor sinks. That may mean I can use a off the shelf led strip and just solder it to the pins. I might risk the $70 replacement to try.

 

[unhappyelf]

Behold.....My shitty schematic of the circuit. There are some components on the bottom left that have to to with GND referencing for the LIN bus but that shouldnt matter. I really need to look up the specs on the 3 transistors, if they are decent enough we should be able to just solder a light strip to the board and call it a day.

 

[2020FX4]

Interesting Thread... Following.

Since day 1, I have been un-impressed by the Ambient lighting in out trucks. I look forward to your results.

 

[unhappyelf]

Okay, some success to report. I have been able to successfully light a RGB strip using this board.
I bought a set of modular strips on amazon HERE
I cut the end off one of the included cables and soldered the RGB lines to the pads of the original LED

Not my best solder job, you alos have to remove and bridge the resistor on the bottom left of this picture.

But it works

I need to see this at night but it might be good enough. I would love to have under lighting in the back seats but thats another can of worms....that I may open

 

[Fawnbuster]

WOW!

Speaking for myself... after reading this, it appears I can only count to potato.

Best of luck. Please share your results.

Frank
1 puhtata 2 puhtata 3 puh..puhh oh forget it

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