Angel Eyes How-to!!!

[MileHighCougar]

Here you go!! Angel Eyes!! (http://students.washington.edu/ashis/Creating%20Custom%20Angel%20Eyes.htm) I will be trying this How to on the 19th so I will post after I try that!

[Seth]

GL

[99CouGSweetRide]

alright another project for me to try!

Mike

[Babybluz]

let me know how it turns out cuz i think that would look pretty tight.....it'd prolly be easier w/ the 01-up housing seeing as how the newer housings have a bit more room than the 99-00 housings.

[Aries]

I just did this mod on one headlight today. Only one because this was my first time taking the headlights apart, and it took me a while to figure out how to wire it, and have it look it's best.

The white LED's I bought from Radio Shack were Expensive!! $5.00 each! according to the link, you need two per headlight. The sales rep said it's so expensive because white is the hardest LED to power up, and it's not used as much as Red and Green.

I used a 10k ohm resistor, unlike the 220 ohm reccomended on the website. That's what the guy at Radio shack told me to use..

I found that the perfect mold to shape the ring with is a Pepsi Can. It is the perfect size to fit the rim of the headlights.

The other part that seemed tough was cuting (scratching) the ring evenly. It didn't seem evenly spaced, but from far away, it's tough to notice.

I put it on my High Beams since I don't use those that much. I took off that little cowl that is in front of the lens.

I superglued the ring to the headlights in small dots so that the superglue doesn't interfere with the light that is beaming through the ring. I put electrical tape on the LEDs (quite crappily too) so that they don't stick out.

I tapped a ground on one of the headlight wires, and hooked the positive straight up to the battery. I figure with such a low wattage coming from the LED's it won't be very much of a threat to draining my battery. (Think blinking red alarm LED on our dash, except not blinking).

[Seth]

PICS!

[Crispy]

Originally posted by: Aries
I just did this mod on one headlight today. Only one because this was my first time taking the headlights apart, and it took me a while to figure out how to wire it, and have it look it's best.

The white LED's I bought from Radio Shack were Expensive!! $5.00 each! according to the link, you need two per headlight. The sales rep said it's so expensive because white is the hardest LED to power up, and it's not used as much as Red and Green.

I used a 10k ohm resistor, unlike the 220 ohm reccomended on the website. That's what the guy at Radio shack told me to use..

I found that the perfect mold to shape the ring with is a Pepsi Can. It is the perfect size to fit the rim of the headlights.

The other part that seemed tough was cuting (scratching) the ring evenly. It didn't seem evenly spaced, but from far away, it's tough to notice.

I put it on my High Beams since I don't use those that much. I took off that little cowl that is in front of the lens.

I superglued the ring to the headlights in small dots so that the superglue doesn't interfere with the light that is beaming through the ring. I put electrical tape on the LEDs (quite crappily too) so that they don't stick out.

I tapped a ground on one of the headlight wires, and hooked the positive straight up to the battery. I figure with such a low wattage coming from the LED's it won't be very much of a threat to draining my battery. (Think blinking red alarm LED on our dash, except not blinking).

very sweet... thanks for the info... pictures - yes!

[teckn0]

Where did u get the clear plastic to make the ring at? I've tried every store and i cant find a single thing! Actually the place I think its probly at is closed today but any suggestions of what u used would be very helpful being i have today off and want to try them today.

[CATerina]

I used a 10k ohm resistor, unlike the 220 ohm reccomended on the website.

Not to bright are they? I tried alot of resistors before choosing the 220 and all I know is that 10k seems like alot. Also to give others a heads up. I just took the ground to the stock wiring harness plug and the power to the daytime running lights since mine dont work anyway. You can secure the ring by melting 2 pins on the back of the ring and bending them around. That way no one can see them and you dont have to use glue that will melt or burn off. If you want 5mm Hyper White LED's try ebay. I bought a 20 pack for $10 shipped. Anyone else that needs help PM me and ill give you some tips. Also Crispy if you are making a how-to I might beable to help on some pointers seeing that the how-to on the net is basic.

[CATerina]

O and to add one more comment. Make the cuts in the plastic BEFORE you make the bends. That way they are even.

[99CouGSweetRide]

O and to add one more comment. Make the cuts in the plastic BEFORE you make the bends. That way they are even.

won't the cuts be affected by the heat when you heat up the rod to bend it though?

Mike

[Aries]

Thanks CATerina, What do you mean by melting pins in the back of the ring? Like Solder it on? And it would go into the holes that the little cowl used, right?

When putting the rods into the oven, they aren't melting, just become flexible.. that's if you don't keep them in there for like 10 minutes. It becomes flexible like a Twizzler... a really hot twizzler. I used a cold can of pop so that it cooled down fast and formed to the can quickly.

The clear plastic is the little rod that are on mini blinds that you turn to open and close them. You can usually go to a home omprovement store and ask for a mini-blind tilt rod.

I'm thinking of doing the one headlight it over again cuz I'm not too happy with the brightness, and the size of the gap used to fit the led's in. The gap is like an inch big.

I kept it on all night and all morning (11 hours) and my car started fine. I don't think it drained the battery that bad.

[Aries]

Oh, I probably won't post pics too soon cuz I don't have a digital camera.

[Crispy]

Originally posted by: CATerina

I used a 10k ohm resistor, unlike the 220 ohm reccomended on the website.

Crispy if you are making a how-to I might beable to help on some pointers seeing that the how-to on the net is basic.
Thanks Cat... I'll get in touch with ya and we can make the TeamNECO how-to together.. :)

[CATerina]

No if you look at mine the cuts are not affected but i will tell you that using an oven is kind of dumb when you can use a heat gun. Heat the pins with a lighter then melt them into the back.

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: CATerina
...is kind of dumb when you can use a head gun.

I just had to bring it up images/smilies/rolf.gif
Sorry CATerina!

[CATerina]

LOL I cant f'n spell.

[CULASLUCAS]

when bending the ring around the soda can do you go around the full girth of the can or the tapered end by the top??

[Aries]

It goes around the thickest part of the can.

[spooki]

man i just put my lights back together yesterday (painted them chrome)

just a thought........
i noticed the further from the light the dimmer the cuts shine
if you made the cut shallower starting at the light and deeper away from the light
do you think it would make it look more even all the way around

[CATerina]

If your talking about my pics its only looks that way because of the angle I took them at.

[Kinger]

Originally posted by: Aries
and hooked the positive straight up to the battery. I figure with such a low wattage coming from the LED's it won't be very much of a threat to draining my battery. (Think blinking red alarm LED on our dash, except not blinking).


Why not just tap into the low beam power so when you lows are on your 'eyes' are on? It won't drain it after a night but if you let it set for a couple weeks it might, its also not good on your battery to have a constant drain on it no matter how small.

[Aries]

I do it cuz I want it on all the time. Even when the high beams are off or it's just sitting in the parking lot. I thought it would be safe because the bliinking red alarm light is an LED too, it's always blinking when the car is off. Same with the odometer and the computer, right?

I took it out of my car for now, cuz I don't have time right now to make another halo for my other headlight, and it looks funky with one "eye". (Hey it only took me 15 minutes this time to take apart and put together the headlights! Compared to an hour last time!)

[Gary]

I don't know how it is in the states, but we have daytime running lights. Don't these demon eyes have to be working with the lights off otherwise you wouldnt see them at all?

[phant0mzero]

from what most people are doing, these lights are going where the highbeams are, having no light behind them to drown them out.

[Gary]

oh......and the other lights beside the high beams run at the same time?

i want to have it so just the demon eyes and the fog lights are on.

[spooki]

gary
wire them up to your fog lights, so you can just have your fog lights, parking lights, and demon (angle) eyes on.
thats how i plan on doing mine, but i dont have fog lights.

[CATerina]

I put mine in the parking lights and they show up fine.

[eurocrisp]

Wouldnt the heat from the high beam housing melt a plastic rod? I'd like to fabricate these there instead of the parking lights in my 99, i think.

[Aries]

I don't think it would be hot enough, besides, you shouldn't be driving with your high beams on all the time anyway:biggrin:

[JScullin]

I noticed people are saying their having a hard time putting the etches in the rod and keeping them even. Since the rod is clear you can lay it on/next to a ruler and use the Centimeters as a guide.

[blackcat]

Just gotta say that is an awesome how-to. Can't wait to do this

[eurocrisp]

Originally posted by: Aries
besides, you shouldn't be driving with your high beams on all the time anyway:biggrin:

oh yeah! duh


by the way, http://www.mdneco.com/smile/greddy.gif <--- wtf?

[phant0mzero]

well, I just completed mine, they look great. here are some pics

[1aRIDE]

Very nice :bowdown:

[mindtrip1016]

Originally posted by: Aries
I used a 10k ohm resistor, unlike the 220 ohm reccomended on the website.


I am just curious as to how yours is even working at all. Electrically speaking, 10k is a lot of resistance and will only make it dim. What is the voltage of the light emmitting diode that you are using? With a 10k resistor, it would need to be nearly 200volts to be visible on a 12volt power system such as the one your automobile uses.

Here's the equation to know which resistors to get.

delta V (change in voltage)
______ = r (resistance)

i (amperage draw)


Say you were using a 5v LED with .02 amp draw. You will be going from 12v down to 5v. So the change in voltage will be 7v. (12v-5v=7v)

7v
__ = 350 ohm

.02 amps




I think that this mod will look awesome for the owners of '99 and '00 cougars. I, myself have a '01 cougar and think it would nearly impossible to emulate the design of my high beams. That, and it would not look anything like any eyes I have ever seen.

[CATerina]

Those look nice but why did you leave such a big gap in the bottom? Can we see daytime pics?

[JScullin]

Isn't the darkened part supposed to be on top? It gives it more of an aggressive look.

[Aries]

Yeah, I redid the LED's with a 220 ohm. I used the 10k cuz that's what the guy at Radio shack told me to use. I went back to buy the 220 and he's like, "how's the project going" I told him I'm getting a 220 ohm because the 10k was waay to dim. He said, "Well, you better be careful of burning out that LED too quick"

the 220 was much brighter and much better..

[phant0mzero]

I don't have daytime pix yet, I useda bigger gap cuz I wasn't sure how they'd fit exactly so I wanted room to push them together if neededI'm going to redo them in the future to have a smaller gap now that I know what I'm doing.

[Gary]

do you need a resistor for each le or just one for 2 led's???

thanks

[CATerina]

One resistor for each side.

[mindtrip1016]

Originally posted by: Gary
do you need a resistor for each le or just one for 2 led's???

thanks

You can use 1 resistor per angel eye. If you choose to put 2 LEDs per eye, then you need to wire the LEDs in series. It'll look like this. (+)battery-----Resistor-----(+)LED(-)----(+)LED(-)-------(-)battery

[CATerina]

No i wired mine in parallel

[Gary]

Originally posted by: CATerina
No i wired mine in parallel

yeah, thats what i was thinking. But does it really matter because of how little current they run off of? I'll hook it up both ways and see what happens.

[mindtrip1016]

Originally posted by: CATerina
No i wired mine in parallel

Good for you!! I was just recommending the most efficient way to do this. Either way you will get the same results. Wiring them in series is just less work.

[phant0mzero]

I did mine in parrallel also, dont knowwhy I ignored doing them in series,but it works, so I'm happy

[CATerina]

Parallel was actually easier.

[Excelcier]

OK, since a few people have tried this out already, I have two questions before I start;

1) So I can build it before cracking open the lights to take measurments, what's the diameter of the different bulbs that you bent the rods to? ( Inside diameter, not outside diameter )

2) Here's the same old question everyone's asked since I know people have messed it up, I just want to be safe... How did everyone crack open the lights and reseal them safely?

Thanks

[overfiend]

would there be any way to cover up the gap completly? i have another idea on how to use this mod but i would want the gap gone :\

[CATerina]

I have almost no gap. Mine is about 2-3mm wide I cant get them any closer without touching the leds.

[uRiDiAN]

one possible way to get rid of the gap... do it the same way the BMW's angel eyes are done:

Exposed BMW Angel Eye ring (http://www.logun.org/AngelEyes_files/TheRingExposed.jpg)

then wrap the end in a white/clear/foggy tape so the LED's light that up too... that's what i'm going to attempt to do when i do mine.

just an idea... *shrug*
uRiDiAN

[CATerina]

That one doesnt light up all the way either. I origanaly bought BMW ones so that I could come up with a way to make them.

[uRiDiAN]

Aaahh.... perhaps it's because part of it's hidden, so it gives that illusion...

uRiDiAN

[Bayeri]

here are my questions...

1) what do you mean melt a pin? i still don't get what you mean when you say that

2.) could somebody more vividly explain the wiring aspect? i'm not a genious when it comes ot wiring things and i have been known to blow many a fuse and many a product.

thats all i can think of for now.

[Alan]

if anyone has done it on the 01-02 headlights can you post pics of how it looks...i just don't see it working too well

[RyanVerbeek]

CATerina has them on his 2001 headlights. He might have some close up pics, not sure though.

[MasterD]

:bowdown: Well, I did the angel eye install on my 2002 cougar, and it came out fine. I put them where the brights are also, because I never use them. In the how to they say to use pliers to bend the plastic around the jar/can but I just put on some work gloves and bent it by hand, it works much better. Also, with the cuts if you use the dremel, and hold it steady using your chest the cuts are very easy to make and they come out very even. I searched all over for some freakin plastic for the eyes, and finally found some at a plastic store. I got a 6 ft. piece for $1.45. Now, what kind of sealant do I use if my light doesn't seal all the way??? Keep it real!!!

[spooki]

i used liquide nails on mine, when i painted them . havent foged up yet.

[mindtrip1016]

Originally posted by: spooki
i used liquide nails on mine, when i painted them . havent foged up yet.


Liquid nails!?!?! Isn't that the same as contractor grade 'permanent' glue?

[denn]

Ill pay somone $30 to make me a set............I just need the rings nothing else!!!

[Excelcier]

Come on Denn.. it takes about $5 in material and about a half hour to make them.

Here's another good use for the angel eye concept that I built! (http://excelcier.cougarfest.com/BlueInt)

[denn]

Im lazy :biggrin:............and I dont have a dremel..........I'd have to drive around and borrow or buy one......besides isnt there anyone of you fantastic customizers :bowdown: out there willing to help a needy NECO member?:cry::biggrin:

[Zalec]

that is a dead link at the top of this thread. could someone link me to another how to. thanks

-Zac

[Pyro81]

There's a how to on cougardb.com (http://www.cougardb.com/howtoshow.php?howtoid=1)

[Zalec]

Originally posted by: Pyro81
There's a how to on cougardb.com (http://www.cougardb.com/howtoshow.php?howtoid=1)

thank you

[gregrego]

Im not sure if this was the original demo that was posted in teh first place, but here it is again, and i think its a LOT more detailed than the cougardb one, and this one will give u the science behind what your doing, to all the people scared of this project check it out, makes the job easier!
HONDA CIVIC CRX ANGEL EYE DEMO (http://www.geocities.com/jvxdriver/angel_eyes.htm)

[gregrego]

What is the easiest way to drill the holes in the plastic, i keep on breaking it.... AHHHH or should i drill with the dremil and not with my big cordless drill ? just a thought.... and one other thing, the leds im using are 5mm what about u guys?

[ILCat99]

I used 5 mm when I made mine. It takes a very steady hand when it comes to the drilling. By the time you get the hole right, there isn't much of the plastic rod left.

TIP: Drill a little, let it cool. Drill a little, let it cool. Drill a little, let it cool. Drill a little, let it cool. I think you got it!

3mm would be easier, but you would probably lose some of the brightness.

Another TIP: DON'T drive with your high beams on for an extended period of time in the warm weather. The heat buildup inside the headlight compartment is enough to melt the rings (mine did).

When I made mine I made them to look like these:

http://www.geocities.com/crx_auto/angel_eye_61.jpg

The ring light starting at 1 o'clock and ending at 9 o'clock. It gives the effect of a "pissed off" cougar!!

I have since changed to the actual neon bulb eyes

[gregrego]

Where can i purchase the neon bulb eyes? or customcougar? those "demon eyes" seem extremely pricey for what they are>