Interior Lighting Help...how?

stratton08 · Post by **stratton08** » Sun May 13, 2007 4:32 pm

hey i plan on putting LED's in the interior of my car but i dont want to go the lazy route and just run a wire straight from the battery...id like to put a new fuse in the fuse block and run it like that but how? and i have a sunroof so i cant use that one

ragek23 · Post by **ragek23** » Sun May 13, 2007 4:59 pm

well the easiest route for you would just be to tap into the illuimation wires (any orange wire in the dash) these power all the interror lights that turn on when you turn on your parking or head lights.

stratton08 · Post by **stratton08** » Sun May 13, 2007 5:40 pm

so that would save me from having to put in a new fuse and everything? and it wont mess up the rest of my lights?

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Sun May 13, 2007 7:17 pm

running a dedicated wire from the battery with an inline fuse is not the "lazy way" its the proper way and the safest way and actually the most convenient way depending how you look at it...
the lazy way is tapping into dash wiring..

you dont want to tap direct into a constant power source like illumination wires.. although if you do, you can tap into the cig lighter wires for power and ground, (i never use my cig lighter) but if u do i doubt that would cause any problems since leds draw hardly any current anyway.. and you wont accidentaly leave them on when the car is off since it cuts off with the car.

if you use illumination you better put a switch.. cuz there WILL be a time when you don't want those leds/neons, glow etc. on at night and having a switch will save your ass from gettin pulled over...

havin a dedicated power source lets you manage all your stuff easily, and lets you know what you can add on, cuz i know it wont stop with just a few leds...
i have 1 wire coming from the battery to power a LED undercar kit, cold cathodes in my floors, leds in my vents, leds in my cupholders and behind in the change slot.. i also had leds in the door pockets (took them out they were annoying) and a radar detector hardwired to a switch.. everything gets there own switch.. all from a single source.. for complete control.

also a 36inch green tube replacing the trunk light..

the trunk pic is old.. been changed since then..

and i got started with just a "few leds" lol.....

whatever u do, at least use a switch for your leds/neons/glow etc......

Demonik · Post by **Demonik** » Sun May 13, 2007 7:58 pm

odd this comes up today, i just got done wiring in some under-the-dash led bars...i have leds in my grill so i just used that circuit that goes into the car with a switch...so that way if my lights are on in the car, i know they are on outside (so i dont forget and kill my battery)

so for sure use a switch!!! radioshack is everyones friend

and the led's in the cupholders...that looks so awesome with the water bottles, i think i might just steal your idea, but instead of water bottles something different, not sure yet though

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:26 pm

found a couple more pics on my pc.. couldnt find one of the vents though...

stratton08 · Post by **stratton08** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:55 pm

thanks guys...maybe i will just run a wire straight from the battery with an inline fuse...i just want it to look proffesional and not dumb with a stray wire coming off the battery...i guess ill just find a trick way to hide it

Demonik · Post by **Demonik** » Sun May 13, 2007 10:52 pm

cant really get "professional" with hiding a wire, theres only so many places you can put it

and heres a pic of my interior now

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Mon May 14, 2007 7:23 am

woooo, pretty, i really like the red.. if i didnt have the green undercar i'd do red inside.. but too much like xmas w/ the green...

as for hiding the wire.. just use black wire loom to hide it.. ziptie down behind the battery, to the grommet that comes through behind your pedals...

there is also a fusible link you can get from radshack etc.. basically a fuse splitter.. plugs into a fuse slot by your drivers door.. then splits it to 2 fuses.. 1 for that accessory.. and another with a power wire lead coming off of it to use.. which should be fine using say in the sunroof slot.. or radio slot etc.. (assuming you dont plan on hooking all kinds of stuff up to it)

leds and cathodes draw very little power, so you could hook alot of em to that before it becomes a problem..