Freelander 1 Not your normal Freelander mods thread.

[rob_bell]

I’ve already posted my favourite interior mod on the forum in another thread, but this seems like a sensible place to repost

It’s a USB charger that replaces one of the unused electric mirror blanks in the centre console - finished article below:

The charger is one of many that are available currently on the bay of fleas - I can post the listing if needed

The idea was inspired by an LRO article. It’s reasonably straightforward to do:
1. Buy a switch with the backlighting colour of your preference. I chose green as all the switch backlighting is that hue and this is not too bad a match.
2. The switch I got (and I think this is true of all the options available, although I may be wrong) was too large for the aperture in the console: the width is perfect, but the length too long. I sanded the switch down to match the switch’s back plate (you can confirm the dimensions by comparing to the blank switch you can remove from the centre console).
This will leave exposed, unpainted plastic. This will illuminate when the ignition is on and I thought looked unsightly anyway. I therefore painted the white sanded ends in satin black paint.
3. The switch aperture in the centre console will need enlarging. Easy to do with a file as the plastic is pretty soft. The hole needs expanding in all directions. I did this a little at a time with multiple test fits.
4. Before fitting the new USB, we need to wire it up. I got some suitable black and purple cable (make sure you use wire of a suitable grade to take the anticipated currents - likely around 3.1A for a smart phone). I put spade connectors on one end to the USB charger and then ran the cable to the back of the rear cigar lighter.
5. I pulled the cigar lighter plug apart and soldered the black wire to the back cigar lighter connector and purple to the purple switched live connector and then reassembled. I’d left the wires long enough to run comfortably around the periphery of the cub by box and clear of the handbrake mechanism. I also heat shrink insulated all the connectors so that it is both neat and tidy and most importantly, safe.
6. Now the USB can be pushed into the console and connected up

The USB charger illuminates green the whole time. I thought that this might be annoying, but it’s location means that it’s out of sight most of the time and easy to find when you’re looking for it. Plus it charges my iPhone 8 perfectly, so I’m a happy bunny

 

[Nodge68]

Brilliant Nodge! As you know I gave an MGF mirror to fit to my FL1. I really like the outside temperature indicator - but I don’t have a FBH to control. Is there a temperature display module available off the shelf?

The W1209 module I used can also be used as a simple temperature gauge. You just don't need the relay or to access the buttons. It'll simply show the current temperature all the time by default. At under £2 you'll be hard pressed to find something else that shows the temperature. The one feature I do like is the ability to adjust the compensation in the sensor. So you can compare the displayed temperature with and accurate thermometer and adjust the compensation to get it spot on accurate. Even if I didn't have the need for FBH control, I'd still have used this cheap and very functional module.

 

[Nodge68]

I’ve already posted my favourite interior mod on the forum in another thread, but this seems like a sensible place to repost

It’s a USB charger that replaces one of the unused electric mirror blanks in the centre console - finished article below:
View attachment 142402

The charger is one of many that are available currently on the bay of fleas - I can post the listing if needed

The idea was inspired by an LRO article. It’s reasonably straightforward to do:
1. Buy a switch with the backlighting colour of your preference. I chose green as all the switch backlighting is that hue and this is not too bad a match.
2. The switch I got (and I think this is true of all the options available, although I may be wrong) was too large for the aperture in the console: the width is perfect, but the length too long. I sanded the switch down to match the switch’s back plate (you can confirm the dimensions by comparing to the blank switch you can remove from the centre console).
This will leave exposed, unpainted plastic. This will illuminate when the ignition is on and I thought looked unsightly anyway. I therefore painted the white sanded ends in satin black paint.
3. The switch aperture in the centre console will need enlarging. Easy to do with a file as the plastic is pretty soft. The hole needs expanding in all directions. I did this a little at a time with multiple test fits.
4. Before fitting the new USB, we need to wire it up. I got some suitable black and purple cable (make sure you use wire of a suitable grade to take the anticipated currents - likely around 3.1A for a smart phone). I put spade connectors on one end to the USB charger and then ran the cable to the back of the rear cigar lighter.
5. I pulled the cigar lighter plug apart and soldered the black wire to the back cigar lighter connector and purple to the purple switched live connector and then reassembled. I’d left the wires long enough to run comfortably around the periphery of the cub by box and clear of the handbrake mechanism. I also heat shrink insulated all the connectors so that it is both neat and tidy and most importantly, safe.
6. Now the USB can be pushed into the console and connected up

The USB charger illuminates green the whole time. I thought that this might be annoying, but it’s location means that it’s out of sight most of the time and easy to find when you’re looking for it. Plus it charges my iPhone 8 perfectly, so I’m a happy bunny

I like that mod. Linky please. Having a face lift, I can fit 3 of those.

 

[rob_bell]

The W1209 module I used can be also be used as a simple temperature gauge. You just don't need the relay or to access the buttons. It'll simply show the current temperature all the time by default. At under £2 you'll be hard pressed to find something else that shows the temperature. The one feature I do like is the ability to adjust the compensation in the sensor. So you can compare the displayed temperature with and accurate thermometer and adjust the compensation to get it spot on accurate. Even if I didn't have the need for FBH control, I'd still have used this cheap and very functional module.

Perfect: I think I’ll do exactly that. Where did you get this unit from?

 

[Nodge68]

Perfect: I think I’ll do exactly that. Where did you get this unit from?

Good old fleabay. You'll need to unsolder the relay and terminal connectors from the board. Or I could get one and prep it for you, if you can't solder yourself.

Here's what you need.
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC12V-50-1...373112?varId=452462786531&txnId=1668120410005

 

[rob_bell]

Great, thanks

Unsolder the buttons too?

 

[Devilish]

That's a friggin cool mirror mod.

 

[rob_bell]

Just a thought: could solder in an alarm beeper to signify freezing conditions? Mind you, would be annoying if it were going off all the time! Lol

 

[Nodge68]

Great, thanks

Unsolder the buttons too?

The board is designed upside down, which it typically Chinese. It can't really be used as supplied, because all the components are on the same side of the board. So even if you wanted to use it for its intended purpose, it's still not much use without modification, simply because of the component locations.

I have one on my camping cool box which is also modified.

The relay, if used needs soldering on the back of the board (an extra hole needs drilling). The screw terminals also need soldering onto the back of the board as does the thermistor header. All these items would otherwise sit higher off the board than the LED display, which is strange.

However the buttons are flatter than the display so could remain where they are, if they aren't being used. You could calibrate the sensor for perfect accuracy before fitting the board to the glass, so there's no need to touch the buttons again.

 

[Nodge68]

Just a thought: could solder in an alarm beeper to signify freezing conditions? Mind you, would be annoying if it were going off all the time! Lol

The module could indeed drive a sounder when below a set temperature. However it would continue to sound it until the temperature rose above the setting, so would be very annoying. You could have the red light showing through the mirror like me, which would give you a visual warning.
Like this.

 

[rob_bell]

That’d be a better solution!

 

[Colthebrummie]

That temp guage mod is very impressive but well beyond my patience threshold. I'll just have to carry on opening the window to determine how cold it is. I reckon you could go into production on the modded mirrors and flog em on here for a good profit. How much do you think owners would be willing to pay?

Col

 

[htr]

I’ve already posted my favourite interior mod on the forum in another thread, but this seems like a sensible place to repost

It’s a USB charger that replaces one of the unused electric mirror blanks in the centre console - finished article below:
View attachment 142402

The charger is one of many that are available currently on the bay of fleas - I can post the listing if needed

The idea was inspired by an LRO article. It’s reasonably straightforward to do:
1. Buy a switch with the backlighting colour of your preference. I chose green as all the switch backlighting is that hue and this is not too bad a match.
2. The switch I got (and I think this is true of all the options available, although I may be wrong) was too large for the aperture in the console: the width is perfect, but the length too long. I sanded the switch down to match the switch’s back plate (you can confirm the dimensions by comparing to the blank switch you can remove from the centre console).
This will leave exposed, unpainted plastic. This will illuminate when the ignition is on and I thought looked unsightly anyway. I therefore painted the white sanded ends in satin black paint.
3. The switch aperture in the centre console will need enlarging. Easy to do with a file as the plastic is pretty soft. The hole needs expanding in all directions. I did this a little at a time with multiple test fits.
4. Before fitting the new USB, we need to wire it up. I got some suitable black and purple cable (make sure you use wire of a suitable grade to take the anticipated currents - likely around 3.1A for a smart phone). I put spade connectors on one end to the USB charger and then ran the cable to the back of the rear cigar lighter.
5. I pulled the cigar lighter plug apart and soldered the black wire to the back cigar lighter connector and purple to the purple switched live connector and then reassembled. I’d left the wires long enough to run comf[GALLERY=][GALLERY=][/GALLERY][/GALLERY]ortably around the periphery of the cub by box and clear of the handbrake mechanism. I also heat shrink insulated all the connectors so that it is both neat and tidy and most importantly, safe.
6. Now the USB can be pushed into the console and connected up

The USB charger illuminates green the whole time. I thought that this might be annoying, but it’s location means that it’s out of sight most of the time and easy to find when you’re looking for it. Plus it charges my iPhone 8 perfectly, so I’m a happy bunny

Re the replacement cubby box / arm rest.
I really like where you put your USB charger. I removed my original window lift switches and moved the other switches up to their empty holes. My USB charger was quite easy to wire up to the cig' lighter.

 

[htr]

TMPS is another addition I've done.

I moved the mirror remote control to the empty space to the right of the steering column. This came from AliExpress and was aimed at Toyota cars. The lowest pressure it reads is 26lb. I run my tyres @ 28lb cold = 31-32lb when hot. Tyre wear is even across the tread.

 

[Nodge68]

That temp guage mod is very impressive but well beyond my patience threshold. I'll just have to carry on opening the window to determine how cold it is. I reckon you could go into production on the modded mirrors and flog em on here for a good profit. How much do you think owners would be willing to pay?

Col

I don't know how much people would pay, but I know how long it took me to make.

 

[rob_bell]

TMPS is another addition I've done.View attachment 142483I moved the mirror remote control to the empty space to the right of the steering column. This came from AliExpress and was aimed at Toyota cars. The lowest pressure it reads is 26lb. I run my tyres @ 28lb cold = 31-32lb when hot. Tyre wear is even across the tread.

I particularly like the tyre pressure monitor - how easy to fit?

The red usb charger is the same model I used for my centre console mod by the looks of things

 

[htr]

I particularly like the tyre pressure monitor - how easy to fit?

The red usb charger is the same model I used for my centre console mod by the looks of things

Yes pretty easy. Just replace the dust caps with the transmitter caps. Decide where to mount the TPMS unit and it needs a switched 12v supply & and earth.

 

[rob_bell]

Cool: a really sensible mod for an FL1!

Once I’ve fixed mine, I’ll definitely look into this! Not on eBay though?

 

[htr]

It's available on eBay & Ali Express...

 

[rob_bell]

I've had a look (a long wait for the recovery truck yesterday!) - all the tyre pressure systems listed are either the plug-into-cigar-lighter variety or are solar powered. None are as small or as neat as the one you have. Can you recall what it was called on the Ali Express site? I think I may have an Ali Express account, but I don't often use it... (can I remember the username and password I wonder??? LOL)