RGB LED gauge cluster lightstrip

Hey,

My 1st gen is in down time due to some other unrelated repairs and upgrades. While its down, I might take the opportunity to convert the gauge cluster back lights to RGB LED strips.

My plan:

These RGB LED strips: https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-tape-light-ip64-12v24v/5695/#tab/Accessories

This RGB LED controller: https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...odes/3270/6265/?accessory_of=5695-controllers

How do? Like this guy did: https://www.team-integra.net/threads/diy-g3-gauge-cluster-led-strip-lighting.169562/

But there's a difference. He routed the strips behind his gauges and wired it to one of the 194 bulb sockets so its powered by the organic wiring harness and dimmer switch. His is also a static color of white. I plan to do it like that with an extra step. I want to integrate the RGB controller to the circuit so I can change the color to my preference. Red, green, blue, anything in between, or white. The controller has a remote for this. Stow it in the center console.

I figure I can mount the controller module under the kick panel, and run the wiring up and tap into the led circuit behind the gauges between the end of the LED strip and the 194 socket providing the power. I would probably have to cut a hole in the back of the cluster housing to do this, and maybe splice in a quick disconnect...connection to make removal/installation easier.

The end result should be a functioning LED lit gauge cluster powered by the original harness, original dimmer as the master, custom color selected by the RGB controller, changeable with the remote.

Y'all see any problems with this idea? I've read several of the other threads around here talkin about LED bulb replacement in the OEM sockets and all. I'm not interested in that if I can do the above.

 

Things to look out for:

Hotspots. You won’t really know until you try it.

Brightness. This can be solved with a dimmer, but you may get some flickering.

If you want to get fancy:

I guarantee there are extra pins on the stock wiring connectors for the cluster. You will most likely need to buy the pins from Toyota, but you can then wire through those and not have to deal with drilling a hole.

 

The biggest concern I can see is the strip potentially failing in the future and not being easily replaced/fixable. Also agree on hot spots, seems like he had them on the top.

 

So I watched his video on youtube, (I think it was the same guy). He tested it, found the hotspots, made adjustments, eliminated the hotspots, and came out nice in the end.

 

Biggest issue i see is hotspots. You may look into a diffuser cover for them. it will help eliminate hotspots.