Wiring Help
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Wiring Help
I am attempting to wire two underdash neon lights to a switch and battery.
The switch has two prongs on the back and each neon light has two wires (one +, one -).
How do I go about doing this...I've attached a paint diagram (sorry its bad)
The switch has two prongs on the back and each neon light has two wires (one +, one -).
How do I go about doing this...I've attached a paint diagram (sorry its bad)
How much current do those lights draw?
If it's less than a couple amps, you're okay to just hook them up directly to the switch. Both + wires from the lights to one terminal on the switch. Wire from battery + terminal to other terminal on switch. Both - wires from lights to chassis ground (any bare metal in the car pretty much is grounded). There's already a wire from battery - terminal to chassis. That should do it.
If they draw more than a couple amps, you need a relay. In that case, come back and I'll draw you a picture. It'll make more sense than if I just try to explain in words.
If it's less than a couple amps, you're okay to just hook them up directly to the switch. Both + wires from the lights to one terminal on the switch. Wire from battery + terminal to other terminal on switch. Both - wires from lights to chassis ground (any bare metal in the car pretty much is grounded). There's already a wire from battery - terminal to chassis. That should do it.
If they draw more than a couple amps, you need a relay. In that case, come back and I'll draw you a picture. It'll make more sense than if I just try to explain in words.
nice drawing... but yea i have the same setup except i used an illuminated rocker switch and mounted it in a hidden area under the dash so that you can only see if when the little LED light is on.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 58
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From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Oh...i have one more question...I want to put a neon in my trunk to act like the stock trunk light (ie. off when closed, comes on when trunk opens)
Any ideas on what wires i need to splice into?
Any ideas on what wires i need to splice into?
Hold on. I should be able to pull that up from here...
EDIT: It looks like the trunk light is dimmed by an ECU before it shuts off completely, so you can't power your light from that. If you really wanted to have a neon light in there, it's probably best to run power back to the trunk (if you have an amp back there, just tap some power from that), and cut the Green/Orange wire at the trunk light switch (it's part of the latch). Hook your (-) wire from the neon to the G/O wire on the switch, and the (+) wire from the neon up to power, wherever you get it from. When you open the trunk, the switch will ground the circuit, and the neon will light up.
EDIT: It looks like the trunk light is dimmed by an ECU before it shuts off completely, so you can't power your light from that. If you really wanted to have a neon light in there, it's probably best to run power back to the trunk (if you have an amp back there, just tap some power from that), and cut the Green/Orange wire at the trunk light switch (it's part of the latch). Hook your (-) wire from the neon to the G/O wire on the switch, and the (+) wire from the neon up to power, wherever you get it from. When you open the trunk, the switch will ground the circuit, and the neon will light up.
Last edited by Myszkewicz; Apr 5, 2007 at 09:32 AM.
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i did this and your missing a fuse box i think mine was a 10 and that hooks to the neons wires then you hook it all to the switch it is so easy dont make it hard ther then you have to
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
I'll run the power from my capacitor under my passenger seat (it's where my amp is too)...but the power to the capacitor already has a 30 amp fuse with it...do i still need another fuse?
