Battery Powered Cold Cathodes

[Sean89]

Been thinking about installing cold cathodes in the foot area of my car. My plan is to rig it up to 8 AA batteries and have 2 on each side. From what I am reading from various websites 8 AA's should give enough juice for it for 8 hours. Does anyone know how I can install a molex on off switch to it?

I dont know too much about wiring etc, been triyng to read up as much as possible. Right now from what I have read this will work:

Cathode to convertor to battery set

I am hoping for it to be like this

Cathode to convertor to SWITCH to battery set

Is there anyone with enough wiring/electrical knowledge to shed some light on this?

Thanks.

[desentrix]

I got my front cathodes hooked up to the courtesy light sensor, and the rears spliced into the front.

This way, when the door opens, the lights turn on.

Or, you could always lead it to a separate switch.

There ought to be a DIY on this subject.

[Netforcer]

actually his project is different, since the unit itself is self-powered by batteries...

IMO, it would be better to just draw power from the car rather than batteries so you won't have to change batteries often

[Sean89]

Thanks for the replies. There are DIY's on this subject but they do not help achieve what I am hoping to do.

Where are the wires for the courtesy light sensor that you tapped into? My main concern is that I will do something retarded and screw up the electrical system in my car.

Plus I dont think I will use up 8 hours of light even after a whole month. Would be nice also to just flip a switch mounted somewhere on the dash to get a bit of light down there when you need it.

Even if I were to draw the power from the car how would I be able to hookup a switch to it?

Thanks

[gdanaher]

I just can't understand someone who wants to install a 12 volt battery operated light when he has 12 volts within inches if he wants to use it.

Honest to goodness guys----there has got to be a short course somewhere on this great internet that would walk you through understanding how electricity works, both ac and dc, and how to use a multimeter. This just isn't hard at all, but people just aren't educated any more in the most basic of things.

[Sean89]

Originally Posted by gdanaher

I just can't understand someone who wants to install a 12 volt battery operated light when he has 12 volts within inches if he wants to use it.

Honest to goodness guys----there has got to be a short course somewhere on this great internet that would walk you through understanding how electricity works, both ac and dc, and how to use a multimeter. This just isn't hard at all, but people just aren't educated any more in the most basic of things.

I guess so, care to enlighten?

[MrSo0h0o]

Originally Posted by Sean89

I guess so, care to enlighten?

http://bcae1.com/

^ great place to start to learn about electricity and electronics in your vehicle

[Sean89]

Originally Posted by MrSo0h0o

http://bcae1.com/

^ great place to start to learn about electricity and electronics in your vehicle

Thank you,

Any ideas on the switch situation?

[jayrguidaben]

go to a hobby shops. they do have lots of switches and battery holder.

[darksparkz]

Even a local eletronics shop or a radio shack would have an on/off switch with a simple positive and ground.

But it should be just as easy to wire into the courtesy lights though.

[CamrySExxx]

in your foot area? your fuse box is only a few inches away.