Porsche Wind Deflector with Edge Lighting [from CAD, prototyping to finish]

[BRAN]

An illuminated Alu Boxster Logo in the little batwing.

I used a key chain Alu logo, which came with the back then brand new Boxster, stuck it into a milky plastic frame, used amber/yellow leds from an illuminated stick shifter to put them behind it and used the ashtray led Powerline to connect them with.

The picture is very roughly photoshoped to give you an idea, how it looks illuminated. I am sure, you could come up with a TOP Quality solution for that...or maybe even better ideas.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by BRAN

An illuminated Alu Boxster Logo in the little batwing.

I used a key chain Alu logo, which came with the back then brand new Boxster, stuck it into a milky plastic frame, used amber/yellow leds from an illuminated stick shifter to put them behind it and used the ashtray led Powerline to connect them with.

The picture is very roughly photoshoped to give you an idea, how it looks illuminated. I am sure, you could come up with a TOP Quality solution for that...or maybe even better ideas.

I have never seen switches mounted on the cd holder
Didi you run out of space on the horseshoe and the ash tray?

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by BRAN

An illuminated Alu Boxster Logo in the little batwing.

I used a key chain Alu logo, which came with the back then brand new Boxster, stuck it into a milky plastic frame, used amber/yellow leds from an illuminated stick shifter to put them behind it and used the ashtray led Powerline to connect them with.

The picture is very roughly photoshoped to give you an idea, how it looks illuminated. I am sure, you could come up with a TOP Quality solution for that...or maybe even better ideas.

Cool idea Bran! Adding or modifying the car's interior lighting is not the easiest task :/ Trying to keep a factory look to the car is by all means the most challenging part

While in the context of interior lighting... here goes some other glow-in-the-dark Top Secret project I've been working on. Simply meant to modernize the look & feel of the Porsche gauges... which in my opinion are a tad boring in their stock format. Design is simple, it's a copy of the common AL gauge bezels concept you find everywhere but custom made to accommodate micro LEDs. Also requires a custom made PCB that sit behind a diffuser made out of PC (frosty finish). All of that hardware squeeze inside the bezel, and sits on top of the gauge's face. All it does is glow on the face of the gauges.

I've put up the idea with the local Pcar community here and got pretty good feedback. Some also recommended adding Sequencial Shift Lights (SSLs) around the tach's bezel (top). Concept: microcomputer taps onto the RPM pins from the OBD harness, interpret that signal, lights up LEDs according to the rpm range!

Perfect useless gadget for the little Ricer in us However I must say the gauge glow thing is phenomenally beautiful... having seen a prototype working already (in red, of course).



Perhaps in 2015 I'll get back to this work - we'll see. I want my WIND DEFLECTOR before

[Nine8Six]

Been a while, sorry. Was off to HQ for our monthly last Friday's meeting and came back late Sat. I do appreciate these meetings as I get to see the team one month older each time lol

Design and Cam work is final on the LED controller box (the dimmer!). I had one spare 40" long 6013 billet aluminum slab so I've cut 15 stock pcs out of it to manufacture those little boxes. Great number because it matches the order the supplier of the PWM module sent me - I've received 15 of those little boards. So one for my boxster, and 14 spares lol

Also did (another) fixture to machine those control boxes. Goes fast... top & bottom machining operations, off to anodize and laser at last. Takes about 20min per box all together (not assembled!).

Great results, very satisfied with the quality. Solid, non-plastics, PWM works flawlessly and it has an audible on/off "click"... how marvelous lol










NEXT: Electric. Cabling, MOLEX connectors!

NEXT, NEXT: INSTALLATIONNE!!!

[batshapedheart]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Cool idea Bran! Adding or modifying the car's interior lighting is not the easiest task :/ Trying to keep a factory look to the car is by all means the most challenging part

While in the context of interior lighting... here goes some other glow-in-the-dark Top Secret project I've been working on. Simply meant to modernize the look & feel of the Porsche gauges... which in my opinion are a tad boring in their stock format. Design is simple, it's a copy of the common AL gauge bezels concept you find everywhere but custom made to accommodate micro LEDs. Also requires a custom made PCB that sit behind a diffuser made out of PC (frosty finish). All of that hardware squeeze inside the bezel, and sits on top of the gauge's face. All it does is glow on the face of the gauges.

I've put up the idea with the local Pcar community here and got pretty good feedback. Some also recommended adding Sequencial Shift Lights (SSLs) around the tach's bezel (top). Concept: microcomputer taps onto the RPM pins from the OBD harness, interpret that signal, lights up LEDs according to the rpm range!

Perfect useless gadget for the little Ricer in us However I must say the gauge glow thing is phenomenally beautiful... having seen a prototype working already (in red, of course).



Perhaps in 2015 I'll get back to this work - we'll see. I want my WIND DEFLECTOR before

I would love a Boxster "logo" (like the one pictured) in my dashboard that would turn red when redlining it.

[BRAN]

yuppers... (easy task after 14 years of ownership)

Batwing: +2 switches

CD-holder: +2 switches (with re-designed icons; photo is not quite up-to-date)
The original concept (no one uses CD/DVDs anymore) & design (not even illuminated and just too plain in that spot) is old and obsolete now.
Future idea is to install mini Sub+amplifier behind it, but keep the old-school front look & switches.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by BRAN

yuppers... (easy task after 14 years of ownership)

Batwing: +2 switches

CD-holder: +2 switches (with re-designed icons; photo is not quite up-to-date)
The original concept (no one uses CD/DVDs anymore) & design (not even illuminated and just too plain in that spot) is old and obsolete now.
Future idea is to install mini Sub+amplifier behind it, but keep the old-school front look & switches.

What are they all for?
How did you change the icons?

[BRAN]

Originally Posted by JayG

What are they all for?
How did you change the icons?

...catapult seat
...sprint Booster
...night vision display
...foot well light Switch
...spoiler activation / controll lamp
...Garage door opener
...nail release button
...Sport exhaust mode
...rear/front cam switch
...secure sat-phone line to austin "Danger" powers
...microwave on/off
...Disco Ball on/off

...just grind them icons down till the milky-white layer shows, fine black ink pen, clear coating on top, polish, done. Not a biggie.

[BruceH]

Very nice work

[BRAN]

There we go!!!
Awesome concept, I knew you could come up with another cool idea, "project 986 illuminated interior"... :dance:

[BRAN]

hmmm...Speed + Boxster Logo...let's see:

lol...i noticed the time...9:96

[Coaster]

Could i tie it into an empty switch spot on the dash? I'd like to turn it on when I want it.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Coaster

Could i tie it into an empty switch spot on the dash? I'd like to turn it on when I want it.

Absolutely. I'll make sure to provide sufficient cabling lenght to reach to the dash.

Mine will be ON all the time lol Can't wait in all honesty....

(pissing rain, windy & cold here. at the shop cutting those blades as I type!!!!)

[Slate 01]

Just wanted to keep this thread active, so others that didn't see it before would take notice. I think there would be quite a bit of interest in this for their Boxsters.

Any updates to report?

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Slate 01

Just wanted to keep this thread active, so others that didn't see it before would take notice. I think there would be quite a bit of interest in this for their Boxsters.

Any updates to report?

Yikes! Apologies for the late one

Seen your post y'day but was stuck out of town and my mobby's VPN just wouldn't want to connect for some weird reason. That's right, 986forum is blocking conn coming from China.... we also need to buy VPN services to access most networks (youtube, twitter, 986forum, etc lol)

The update is.... I got all the electronics sorted this week so now it's off to testing the kit is harsh environments. 48hrs in the oven @ 120F non-stop and the same going on in the freezer at -4F. What I do is swing the "powered-on" kit back and forth in cold/hot/cold/hot. If it survives then I'll let those kits go out - not before!

I'll get some pics taken tomorrow and update soon.

p.s. slow progress... last weekend was our monthly Porsche car weekend out and this Saturday was my dogs' 3 years old birthday (out of town). Read correct... the dogs birthdays are celebrated. I know... I have pretty weird hobbies I tell ya lol

and tmrw the wife wants me to decorate the house and get it ready for xmas (she is hosting this year, not me lol). Can't believe it... more LEDs

Busy Busy!!!

[Nine8Six]

A quick update on the "Skybreaker" wind deflector.

I have to admit that I am very surprised nobody flamed me for using that silly product name (yet anyway!). It's like calling your newly established budget Airline company "CloudCrasher". What if the skybreaker break... or what if it that new airline crashes... nah? whatever.... lol

Made a mistake to light ON the prototype (HUD) during our last weekend's Porsche car outing (yes, I had it lit up on my Boxster lol). A curious friend uploaded a few pics of that funny "ironman-style" HUD on the local pcar forum here and I got PM'ed with requests minutes after. How funny. Long story short, I have to plan making 10 additional kits for the guys owning 986s here lol Some facts and figures: there are about twenty-one (21) 986s in China only (that our little community knows of anyway).

Here goes a few shots of the electronic. That PWM box design and assembly is final and being wrapped up this week - nice little kit in all, I have to tell myself lol. Robust!




^ Here is a grab of what the internals looks like. Following recommendations, I've included a micro Molex connector between the controller and the wind deflector. That way if you want to remove your deflector (e.g. for cleaning) then the only thing you need to disconnect is that little micro connector (idea from member rfuerst911sc). The other end, the red + black wires goes to car's 12V. Most likely I'll be using the ashtray's light 12v but also looking at a dash option. Still unsettled on where to tap the 12v lol.... too many places I guess




^ The LED strip and the molex micro connector. The molex conn is 4mm wide X2mm thick. Shouldn't be hard to hide! I've soldered and secured the connection at both end, added a drop of industrial epoxy and wrapped it as far as possible with a quality heat shrinkable tube to prevent any lose up due to vibrations. Feels tight, solid. Works for me.




^ Adding to the inventory of parts required to put this deflector :/ How miniature. This is laser-cut from 1mm thick silicon rubber. Goes where the wires mates on the controller. Prevents damage to the wires when kinked or bent. Act as a shock absorber lolll Seriously, without it and with time, the wires would get damaged by the sharp edge of the aluminum-made controller box. So that's sorted.




^ Two leads of 3meter long each will be provided with the kit. Sufficient cabling for both ways e.g. whether you want to locate your controller behind the driver seat, or in the dash, there should be plenty of wires to play with there. The cabling is 26AWG gauge.... plenty to carry the small 90mA that the LED requires to fire up. Cable size is OD 3MM so again, easy to snake anywhere and hide (small is better, sometimes!).




^ So that's what going on inside the controller box. I use some pretty wicked epoxy and have been since 10 years. I use the same stuff to secure the wires inside that controller. Everything that contact this epoxy is clean using acetone before... or in other words, locked for life. I also use epoxy to secure the contact screws and the board's mounting points. Nothing moves there and again, to prevent any vibrations from losing up things.




^ This box is not serviceable (sealed). Not shown in the picture is a back cover made out of 2mm thick cast acrylic. It is opaque and mate black finish. This will also be epoxy onto the back of the controller box. Can't be opened once sealed. This is prevent the nine8six $7,238 worth high tech from being spied onto.... what if this falls into the wrong hands LOL




^ Shot of those nasty-to-make PWM controller boxes, the 25 boards, some cabling I've prep already, what else... not much really. Needs assembly, any volunteers?!




From the look of things as they are now, all it needs is kit assembly + Porsche Boxster Installation!!! I'll try to document what I'll do inside the car and snap pics of what-goes-where. Those pics above simply serves as spy-pics more than anything else. I'll be showing the real & completed kit shortly.

I'll get done this week, hit the dwtown roads and go for a quick photo shoot

[Nine8Six]

edit.... censured!

[Nine8Six]

I LOVE this wind deflector x1,000. Looks amazing in real life...

I am simply incapable to take great shots in low lighting :/ Hopefully my mate here in Shanghai will be able to hear me scream for his "professional" services. I'll try to get better shots of the car along with its new shiny feature and also want to take pics of all the colors I have here... some are pretty amazing i.e. cold white, blue and amber

ps. kit passed that brutal hot & cold 48hrs runs, looks pretty reliable. In fact the kit that went in the oven is on my car atm lol

I'll get pricing and availability shortly. Those can ship out right after xmas (to avoid being clogged in the mail system due to the holiday rush)

[kjc2050]

Wow. Looks really good, Fred, despite your photography issues!!

[rfuerst911sc]

Damn that looks good ! So does the knob on the box adjust brightness or color ?