Finally installed my footwell lights **PIX**

[thapranksta]

First, let me explain what my initial goal was. My goal was to use the aftermarket switch (since it looks close to OEM and fits) to turn on my cold cathodes. I also wanted the cathodees to come on when a door (the driver's door) is opened.

Now let me clearly explain my problem. My cathodes work with the flick of a switch. So far, no problem whatsover with that. The problem is that the cathodes do not come on when the driver's door opens. It is difficult, at least for me, to figure out how to wire this since the driver's door wire is a variable ground but the switch is essentially a variable power source because of the way that it is wired. Both seem to need each other but that does not work well with my setup. When the driver's door opens, I have no power unless the switch is not turned off. When the switch is pressed, I have no ground unless the driver's door is open.

Therefore, I chose to ground the cathodes to a bolt and use the switch as my power source. There is no illuminated entry like I wanted but the switch works great .

EDITED ^^^^^

[PBM]

Originally Posted by PBM

hey netforcer, do your cathodes turn on when your doors are still closed, and you press the unlock on the remote?
cause that causes the dome light to turn on even though all the doors are closed, wondering if your cathodes do the same.

can you let me know about this netforcer?


pranksta- i rewired my lights and right now here's how i have it

(White w/red stripe always-hot ignition wire under the steering wheel) -> (+ side of the inverter for cathodes) *LIGHTS*
(-side of the inverter, black wire) -> (door trigger wire, it's red-green and right behind the switch in the door jamb)

that's all you need if you want the lights to turn on when door opens.

[Netforcer]

It could. I have it wired to the dome and a three way switch. if I have the switch in the middle setting, then the lights work with the dome. switch it down and the lights are completely turned off. switch it up and it is continuously on. continuous power is drawn from fuse box.

PBM - if you wire it that way, doesn't the light come on only if the driver side door is opened and not any other door?

pranksta - how many prongs are on the switch?

[PBM]

yeah, i'm gonna scrap my current wiring

the wires going to the dome were pretty slim so i didn't think it would be able to handle 4 lights (i give each light its own inverter for more leeway in placement)

what color was the ground wire you used for the dome? i can't see your wires in your pics. if i remember correctly, the 3 wires in the dome light were red(power), red/green(door ground), white/black(constant ground).

my lights have power, it's just a matter of finding the proper ground wire and i'm trying to avoid running wires all the way up to the dome like you did.

[JMSinMD]

Net,
Thanks again. The lights came out great. I can't imagine how much brighter it will be once we add the other 5 lights. You'll be able to see me coming down 95 . I think I can finally say I'm done The red cathodes compliment the radio and dash perfectly. Thanks again and looking forward to hanging out again. Jon.

[Epsilon]

Whoa your interior looks evil.

[Netforcer]

Originally Posted by JMSinMD

Net,
Thanks again. The lights came out great. I can't imagine how much brighter it will be once we add the other 5 lights. You'll be able to see me coming down 95 . I think I can finally say I'm done The red cathodes compliment the radio and dash perfectly. Thanks again and looking forward to hanging out again. Jon.

I told you it'll be bright at night... from the pics it looks nice and bright, and you can see the cutoffs... and no prob, glad to help... as long as you're satisfied

[Netforcer]

Originally Posted by PBM

yeah, i'm gonna scrap my current wiring

the wires going to the dome were pretty slim so i didn't think it would be able to handle 4 lights (i give each light its own inverter for more leeway in placement)

what color was the ground wire you used for the dome? i can't see your wires in your pics. if i remember correctly, the 3 wires in the dome light were red(power), red/green(door ground), white/black(constant ground).

my lights have power, it's just a matter of finding the proper ground wire and i'm trying to avoid running wires all the way up to the dome like you did.

any light can have power... it's just a matter of finding the right wire... and definitely the ground wire to complete the circuit... grounding it to a bolt will give it continous power... if you don't want to run the dome, all the wires from the dome come down the A-pillar, so you might be able to find the wires there... believe me... i tried two different ways until i decided to go with the dome... and i'm happy with it now good luck... also one more thing... the cathodes draw less current, so you don't need to worry about the wires not being able to handle the lights... even 22AWG wires will work

[thapranksta]

Originally Posted by Netforcer

It could. I have it wired to the dome and a three way switch. if I have the switch in the middle setting, then the lights work with the dome. switch it down and the lights are completely turned off. switch it up and it is continuously on. continuous power is drawn from fuse box.

PBM - if you wire it that way, doesn't the light come on only if the driver side door is opened and not any other door?

pranksta - how many prongs are on the switch?

No prongs.........lol. It was one of those ebay fog light switches. It had three wires coming from the back of it. From diddling around with it, I found that one of the wires was a ground, one of them received (+) from any power source you tap into, and the other wire sent (+) because it was originally a (+) trigger for a fog light relay.

If I go with a non-factory looking switch, I could definitely wire it to work as I want. BTW, this wiring stuff is fun. I'm enjoying learning as I progress further. I'm still very wet behind the ears but definitely interesting stuff.

Also, PBM I originally went to the door switch to get a ground. I just eventually decided that I would take the manual on/off over the illuminated open door entry when I discovered it would not all work together. Maybe I'll do another lighting project for illuminated entry.

Edit: By the way, I tested the switch with a DMM to make sure about how it behaved.

[thapranksta]

I got night shots. Not great pics but pics nonetheless. Please excuse the dirty carpet. lol.

Lights off.





Lights on.

[PBM]

you guys are brave for lookin right at the cathode lol
must blind the passengers too when they get in your car

[PBM]

anyway, right now i have driver and passenger courtesy lights, each door gets its own light that goes on when that door is opened. i'm fine with that for now. pics coming soon

[thapranksta]

Yeah, its pretty bright but it looks nice when it's turned on. As expected, there is unmistakably glare when turned on but it is supposed to be mainly for function and not too much for show. I'm not going to ride around a lot with it turned on constantly in my car. I probably will have it on for the first week to see if all is well but after that it will probably barely be turned on. Anyone ever find a white dome light that's just as bright or brighter than stock? I do not like LEDs for that purpose.


PBM, I'll look out for those pics.

[thapranksta]

Originally Posted by PBM

anyway, right now i have driver and passenger courtesy lights, each door gets its own light that goes on when that door is opened. i'm fine with that for now. pics coming soon

PBM, what power source did you tap into for those courtesy lights?

[PBM]

i used the ignition wire (white with red stripe) right under the steering column. it's the thicker wire if not the thickest you'll be able to see.

i'm really indecisive right now on how i want to have my lights. i can either have them
-turn on when the door opens for each door individually or
-turn on exactly as the stock dome light on "door" would, so when i press unlock, the cathodes will turn on all around the car and they'll turn off when the car starts. that would be done by using the red/green wire that comes from the ignition cylinder light for the ground (the ring of light that's around where you put the key in) since that light behaves exactly like the dome light except it's much much easier to get to.