DIY Network

Aluminum Floor-Mats: Electro-Luminescent Wire Install, Pt. 1 From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-111

	The aluminum floor-mats, custom-shaped for fit and equipped with EL accent lighting.

In this episode of Tricked Out, host Andrew Totolos performs a few interior mods on a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS. He creates a set of custom cut diamond-plate aluminum floor mats and highlights them with glowing EL wire. To tie it all together, he makes a matching diamond-plate foot rest and installs aluminum pedal covers.

In this segment, Andrew finishes off the new floor mats by adding neon lighting called electro-luminescent – or EL – lighting. The lighting really spices up the new diamond plate floor mats.

Materials used in this episode:

Standard automotive tools
4-by-4 sheet of aluminum (preferably 16-gauge)
Pedal-cover kit
Existing floor mats from car
Cordless drill
Jig saw; metal blades
Hammer
Flat file
Center punch
Drop cloth
Masking tape
Permanent marker
Hook-and-loop tape
Lint-free cotton rags
Rubbing alcohol
Scissors
Clear plastic tubing
Adhesive
Extra wire
Electrical tape
Wire crimpers
Wire connectors
Silver paint marker
Safety glasses; protective gloves

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Figure A

Electro-Luminescent Lighting Installation

• The EL lighting comes as coiled wiring (figure A), and it works in much the same way as luminescent watch-faces that light up. They're more powerful than most fiber-optics, and they're 12-volt powered so they can hook directly in to your car's wiring. Clear plastic tubing (1/4") is used to install the lights on the mats and protect them.
  

  
  

• To begin, the tubing gets split open first. Start at the end of the hose and slowly insert the small end of scissors into the tubing and cut a slit into it (figure B). Cut with the scissors until you get enough tubing in hand to just pull it across the blade.

• The next step is to tuck the EL wire into the tubing. Leave the plug exposed as you slide the wire into the tubing (figure C).

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

  
  

• When all of the wire is tucked into the tubing, slide the slit over the edge of the mat (figure D). Start by attaching the plug end at the edge of the mat nearest to the center console and tape the hose into place around any corners that might slip loose.

• If there is excess EL wire left over, cut it about an inch longer than the hose (figure E), and wrap the end with electrical tape.

  Figure D

  Figure E

  
  

  
  

• Tuck the taped end into the tubing to close the loop, and then trim the excess tubing and slide it into place (figure F).

• Flip the mat over and secure the trim to the bottom of the mat with the adhesive that is included in the EL wire kit (figure G). Be sure to let the adhesive set before putting the mats back into the car.

  Figure F

  Figure G

  
  

  
  

• Once the wiring is installed, it greatly accentuates the look of the mats (figures H and I) and is certain to make an impression at shows.
  

  
  

• The EL wires come with their own transformers and connection plugs. You'll need to get power to both of the transformers from an existing switch near the driver's door. To do that, you'll need to combine the transformer leads from both mats at the driver's side of the center console, and then run a single positive and negative pair from there to the switch. For the passenger side to reach, you'll need to add an extension with about 18 inches of wire to both the positive and the ground wires.

• Tip: You can twist the wires together by inserting the tips in the jaws of a power drill, then starting the drill momentarily to twist the wires (figure J).

• Strip about a quarter-of-an-inch of insulation from the passenger-side transformer ground wire and crimp a butt connector onto the end (figure K).

• Next, strip the black extension wire from your twisted extension and attach it to the other end of the connector. Do the same with the positive side of the passenger transformer wiring and make sure to crimp them tight. Strip and attach spade connectors to the other end of the twisted wire set to complete the extension.

  Figure J

  Figure K

  
  

• If you're using an existing accent light that's already operating LED lights in your car, there's nowhere to plug in your new leads. You can get around this by making Y-adapters that will plug into the switch and give you connection points for both the existing LED and the new mats.

• Twist together a couple of short equal-length wires and crimp a female spade connector on the end (figure L).

• Next, crimp a male spade connector onto each remaining end to make the Y-connector(figure M).

  Figure L

  Figure M

  
  

  
  

RESOURCES :

Sport Compact Bolt-On Performance Guide: Import Cars (Sport Compact Bolt-On Performance Guides)
Author: Joe Pettitt
Order this book from Amazon.com.
Voyageur Press (October 2000)
ISBN: 1884089526

Special Resources for Tricked Out, episode 111

Racing Innovations, Inc.
Website: www.racinginnovations.com

StreetGlow, Inc.
Website: www.streetglow.com

Vibrant Performance
Website: www.vibrantperformance.com