How to install new lights in an automobile

[Pagedown]

hey everyone, I don't really know about the electrical of a car system. but i intend to need some help an guidance from you all about installing some decoration lights for an automobile.All i know the car uses a 12V lead-acid battery and has an alternator which charges up the battery when the car is moving.

1. Where to tap the power from?

2. How do i measure whether it is not overloaded?

3. How do i make my lights flicker if they were really normal LEDs? using an IC?

[vk6kro]

That is a big project, but there are some ways of making it easier.

Power can be taken from the cigarette lighter in the car and you can put a 5 amp fuse in series with the lights to protect the car's electrical system in case of a short circuit or other overload.

You can get LED lights for cars in standard fittings like the normal tail lights of a car. So, it might be easier to just use these.

See this page for examples:
http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_leds1157.htm#
That is just an example and you may find some near where you live.

And you can get special flashers for use with LEDs.
http://www.ledshoponline.com/electronic_flasher_cans.htm
This would flash like the indicator lights on your car, so it may not be legal because it could distract attention from the real indicator lights.

LED lights are directional, so you need to decide how you would place them to be decorative.

[Pagedown]

1. If I were to pull new cables, is it near the fuse box compartment below the steering?

2. What circuit is the flasher, is it the PWM from a microcontroller? but we need 5V from 12V to power up the uC right?
(anyway in microcontroller, why don't we use the delays to make led flicker, but we use PWM to make it flicker?)

[vk6kro]

1. If I were to pull new cables, is it near the fuse box compartment below the steering?

2. What circuit is the flasher, is it the PWM from a microcontroller? but we need 5V from 12V to power up the uC right?
(anyway in microcontroller, why don't we use the delays to make led flicker, but we use PWM to make it flicker?)

You would have to check the manual for the car to find out where the electrical connections are. You would probably find a suitable connection near the fuse board.

The flasher is unlikely to be a microprocessor. It may use a specially produced IC so that the device can be made cheaply.
You could use a relay like this:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4222062/relay%20driver%202.JPG
and use a microprocessor to switch the transistor on and off.

You can use delays to turn a LED on or off, but if you want to vary brightness to other levels then you can use PWM.