Questions about wiring

jabber · 11-28-2005, 11:32 PM

I'm hoping someone can give me a hand. This is what I want to do: I want to hook up some neons for under my front seats so that there is some light in the back of my sedan. I would like these lights to come on when the doors open. I know that I can go through the dome light for this. I would also like to have two switches. One switch would be a main switch that would turn the power to the neons on and off. The second switch would turn the "door activated" part off, ie. the neons would be on all the time whether the door was open or not if the switch was off and if the switch was on, the neons would only come on when the door opens. I'm sorta new to automotive wiring, and i'm not sure if this will work or not, and am hoping someone can confirm or reject my idea!! Also, what gauge of wire do i need to wire up the neons (i'm actually going to buy cold cathode tubes, but that shouldn't make a difference)!! Thanks to all who read this and to those who were able to offer some insight... many many thanks!!

-Ben

jabber · 11-30-2005, 12:45 AM

Does no one want to help me or what???

PLEASE??

morduin · 11-30-2005, 01:59 PM

I wanted to do the same thing so im curious. For power I would suggest just soldering a 16 gauge power wire directly to an unused fuse, then a 16 gauge ground wire screwed under one of the fusebox corners. You can wire the power directly to a switch or go with your ideas from there. No need to use your own fuse if you just tap off your fusebox also, saves trouble. Cathodes really don't take up much power. If you get them I highly recommend oznium.com

jabber · 11-30-2005, 02:58 PM

Yeah, I've heard oznium is great! That's where I was planning on getting them from. My question is whether having the two switches will work. It's really the only thing I'm not sure of. I really like the idea of having them come on when my door opens, but I also like the idea of having them on all the time with the flick of a switch. Maybe... if I turn on the interior light with that switch... the cathodes will come on too if they are hooked up to the dome light??? Do you know??? Thanks for the help and advice though! Let me know if you end up doing it!!!

-Ben

Foci_Fosho · 11-30-2005, 03:45 PM

I believe, what you need to do... is use a relay and a switch.

edit:
because I have a feeling some people might not be familiar with wiring a relay
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/relay1.htm

jabber · 11-30-2005, 05:05 PM

From what I understand from that link is that using a switch and a relay will only allow me to power the lights on and off, isn't that what is said? I'm not familiar at all with relays, so maybe i'm incorrect. Please advise!!

Thanks

Foci_Fosho · 11-30-2005, 11:01 PM

you have no idea how long this took me to draw, like 1/2 hour... haha

This is what I've come up with for you... Just add a switch to a 2nd power source and you should be set.

Foci_Fosho · 11-30-2005, 11:02 PM

oops, forgot to attach pic

jabber · 11-30-2005, 11:07 PM

Thanks so much!!! I appreciate all your time and effort. So, the switch goes between the battery and the relay, is that correct? Thanks again for the help!

Foci_Fosho · 11-30-2005, 11:32 PM

Well If you put a switch between the battery and relay... then that will just enable/disable the cold cathodes from turning on with the map light.

If you want it to come on/off regardless---
Add a switch from the battery to the power invertor...

You can splice into the wire that goes to the relay from the battery, and add a switch with the other lead going to the (+) on the power-invertor.

jabber · 12-04-2005, 02:07 PM

Alright, I think I have the idea of how to do this now, but I'm not sure how wiring a relay works. How do I buy it (what kind of current and voltage?) And if I put a switch between the battery and the power invertor, I will be able to turn the lights on with that switch, and then when that switch is off, the lights will come on with the door, right?? Thanks so much for all your help!

-Ben

Foci_Fosho · 12-04-2005, 04:10 PM

if I put a switch between the battery and the power invertor, I will be able to turn the lights on with that switch, and then when that switch is off, the lights will come on with the door, right?? Thanks so much for all your help!

----- Yes

I'm not sure how wiring a relay works. How do I buy it (what kind of current and voltage?)

------ Best bet is Radio-Shack. Just tell them you need a 12v relay... I believe relays designed for Automotice uses (like car alarms)... have the relay encased in plastic with colored wires sticking out...That might be the best to use. They cost $5 or less.

If that fails... try autozone.

11-28-2005, 11:32 PM	#1
jabber Focus Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2005 FF Member#: 24679 Location: Winnipeg What I Drive: 2002 Black SE Posts: 224 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (4)	Questions about wiring I'm hoping someone can give me a hand. This is what I want to do: I want to hook up some neons for under my front seats so that there is some light in the back of my sedan. I would like these lights to come on when the doors open. I know that I can go through the dome light for this. I would also like to have two switches. One switch would be a main switch that would turn the power to the neons on and off. The second switch would turn the "door activated" part off, ie. the neons would be on all the time whether the door was open or not if the switch was off and if the switch was on, the neons would only come on when the door opens. I'm sorta new to automotive wiring, and i'm not sure if this will work or not, and am hoping someone can confirm or reject my idea!! Also, what gauge of wire do i need to wire up the neons (i'm actually going to buy cold cathode tubes, but that shouldn't make a difference)!! Thanks to all who read this and to those who were able to offer some insight... many many thanks!! -Ben

11-30-2005, 03:45 PM	#5
Foci_Fosho Focus Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2004 FF Member#: 5736 Location: Fremont, Ca What I Drive: 2003 White zx3 2.3L Posts: 4,982 FF Reputation: 16 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (6)	I believe, what you need to do... is use a relay and a switch. edit: because I have a feeling some people might not be familiar with wiring a relay http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/relay1.htm Last edited by Foci_Fosho; 11-30-2005 at 03:52 PM.

11-30-2005, 11:02 PM	#8
Foci_Fosho Focus Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2004 FF Member#: 5736 Location: Fremont, Ca What I Drive: 2003 White zx3 2.3L Posts: 4,982 FF Reputation: 16 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (6)	oops, forgot to attach pic Attached Thumbnails

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-30-2005, 12:45 AM	#2
jabber Focus Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2005 FF Member#: 24679 Location: Winnipeg What I Drive: 2002 Black SE Posts: 224 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (4)	Does no one want to help me or what??? PLEASE??

11-30-2005, 01:59 PM	#3
morduin Focus Jr. Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2004 FF Member#: 5299 Location: Temecula / San Diego What I Drive: '03 Twilight ZX5 PZEV Posts: 38 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	I wanted to do the same thing so im curious. For power I would suggest just soldering a 16 gauge power wire directly to an unused fuse, then a 16 gauge ground wire screwed under one of the fusebox corners. You can wire the power directly to a switch or go with your ideas from there. No need to use your own fuse if you just tap off your fusebox also, saves trouble. Cathodes really don't take up much power. If you get them I highly recommend oznium.com

11-30-2005, 02:58 PM	#4
jabber Focus Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2005 FF Member#: 24679 Location: Winnipeg What I Drive: 2002 Black SE Posts: 224 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (4)	Yeah, I've heard oznium is great! That's where I was planning on getting them from. My question is whether having the two switches will work. It's really the only thing I'm not sure of. I really like the idea of having them come on when my door opens, but I also like the idea of having them on all the time with the flick of a switch. Maybe... if I turn on the interior light with that switch... the cathodes will come on too if they are hooked up to the dome light??? Do you know??? Thanks for the help and advice though! Let me know if you end up doing it!!! -Ben

11-30-2005, 05:05 PM	#6
jabber Focus Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2005 FF Member#: 24679 Location: Winnipeg What I Drive: 2002 Black SE Posts: 224 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (4)	From what I understand from that link is that using a switch and a relay will only allow me to power the lights on and off, isn't that what is said? I'm not familiar at all with relays, so maybe i'm incorrect. Please advise!! Thanks

11-30-2005, 11:01 PM	#7
Foci_Fosho Focus Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2004 FF Member#: 5736 Location: Fremont, Ca What I Drive: 2003 White zx3 2.3L Posts: 4,982 FF Reputation: 16 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (6)	you have no idea how long this took me to draw, like 1/2 hour... haha This is what I've come up with for you... Just add a switch to a 2nd power source and you should be set.

11-30-2005, 11:07 PM	#9
jabber Focus Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2005 FF Member#: 24679 Location: Winnipeg What I Drive: 2002 Black SE Posts: 224 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (4)	Thanks so much!!! I appreciate all your time and effort. So, the switch goes between the battery and the relay, is that correct? Thanks again for the help!

11-30-2005, 11:32 PM	#10
Foci_Fosho Focus Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2004 FF Member#: 5736 Location: Fremont, Ca What I Drive: 2003 White zx3 2.3L Posts: 4,982 FF Reputation: 16 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (6)	Well If you put a switch between the battery and relay... then that will just enable/disable the cold cathodes from turning on with the map light. If you want it to come on/off regardless--- Add a switch from the battery to the power invertor... You can splice into the wire that goes to the relay from the battery, and add a switch with the other lead going to the (+) on the power-invertor.

12-04-2005, 02:07 PM	#11
jabber Focus Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2005 FF Member#: 24679 Location: Winnipeg What I Drive: 2002 Black SE Posts: 224 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (4)	Alright, I think I have the idea of how to do this now, but I'm not sure how wiring a relay works. How do I buy it (what kind of current and voltage?) And if I put a switch between the battery and the power invertor, I will be able to turn the lights on with that switch, and then when that switch is off, the lights will come on with the door, right?? Thanks so much for all your help! -Ben

12-04-2005, 04:10 PM	#12
Foci_Fosho Focus Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2004 FF Member#: 5736 Location: Fremont, Ca What I Drive: 2003 White zx3 2.3L Posts: 4,982 FF Reputation: 16 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (6)	if I put a switch between the battery and the power invertor, I will be able to turn the lights on with that switch, and then when that switch is off, the lights will come on with the door, right?? Thanks so much for all your help! ----- Yes I'm not sure how wiring a relay works. How do I buy it (what kind of current and voltage?) ------ Best bet is Radio-Shack. Just tell them you need a 12v relay... I believe relays designed for Automotice uses (like car alarms)... have the relay encased in plastic with colored wires sticking out...That might be the best to use. They cost $5 or less. If that fails... try autozone.