[DIY] Footwell CCFL - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

icqboy51 · 03-05-2009, 02:29 AM

Most of you probably knows how to do it as there are detail posts by Netforcer (dome to pillar to footwell) and CamrySExxx (moonroof map light to footwell).

I kind of did a 'hybrid' of their DIYs.

Because my Camry have no moonroof thus does not have the center light that CamrySExxx has. Was planning on doing it like Netforcer but found I am not as professional/ able as him, taking apart the whole pillar sides etc..

I was lazy and did it the lazy way and it still worked. I might add a fuse holder like touringcamry's trunk CCFL for added safety.

Just to let the newbies know that this DIY is possible even if you are electrical-illiterate like me. (but do read all information/ ask questions before attempting). Especially understand which wire is (+) and (-) and keep them APART at all times. I blew a fuse because the (+) and (-) touched.

DO NOT buy CCFL kits from Logisys!! One of the tube failed within 5 minutes of hooking up

tapping the speaker wires into the dome light.
(+) touching the side where the power plug goes for the dome light, (-) goes to the other side

driver-side

passenger-side: need to take off this black piece, just unclip it at three spots

wiring under the driver-side carpet

The CCFLs still worked during final testing.

Then after putting them in position the driver-side tube went dim (crappy quality white wires!)

driver-side CCFL is ON (photo without flash)

passenger-side ON (photo without flash)

Final product: Front and Back (photo without flash)

LoudCamry · 03-05-2009, 02:37 AM

nice job

touringcamry · 03-05-2009, 03:34 AM

WTH? There's no circuit you could have tapped into near the foot well or in the fuse panel that would have done the same thing?

Did you use a relay or did you power the light straight off the dome light? What effect does the dimming light have on the CCFL?

icqboy51 · 03-05-2009, 07:48 PM

^ read on Oznium.com that i could tap into the fuse box on the driver-side. but i thought following Netforer/CamrySExxx is an easier way.

I powered the CCFLs straight from domelight, as you can see from the pics. cause like CamrySExxx mentioned, it has that nice dimming effect, which i like also.

CamrySExxx · 03-05-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icqboy51

^ read on Oznium.com that i could tap into the fuse box on the driver-side. but i thought following Netforer/CamrySExxx is an easier way.

I powered the CCFLs straight from domelight, as you can see from the pics. cause like CamrySExxx mentioned, it has that nice dimming effect, which i like also.

It all depends on how you want your lights to turn on and off. I chose the domelight because of the dimming and how it would turn on when the doors open/closed.

You could have went with the courtesy lights if you wanted it to turn on only when opening or closing

You could have went to the fuse box to have them on all the time or you could have put in a switch.

It depends on user preference i guess

icqboy51 · 03-05-2009, 09:25 PM

CamrySExxx - yea i think you are right.

i am just trying to find some nice quality 12" CCFL with longer wires (like 12"-15").

I found Logisys' white wires weren't long enough....

The Vantec CCFL white wires are like 15"-18" long! but too bad they do not make White color.

Oznium's CCFL white wires are 11".

touringcamry · 03-05-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icqboy51

CamrySExxx - yea i think you are right.

i am just trying to find some nice quality 12" CCFL with longer wires (like 12"-15").

I found Logisys' white wires weren't long enough....

The Vantec CCFL white wires are like 15"-18" long! but too bad they do not make White color.

Oznium's CCFL white wires are 11".

You know you can buy spools of wire at most electronic part shops right? Or you could use smaller gauge speaker wire or even Cat5 or Cat3. Just make sure you use stranded rather than solid.

icqboy51 · 03-05-2009, 11:45 PM

But i read on Oznium.com that the white wire should not be extended cause its a high voltage or something??? like not safe to extend it... not sure though.

CamrySExxx · 03-06-2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icqboy51

But i read on Oznium.com that the white wire should not be extended cause its a high voltage or something??? like not safe to extend it... not sure though.

touring i think he is referring to the wire that goes from the inverter to the CCFL. It is true, i tried extended it before and that made it not work properly.

touringcamry · 03-06-2009, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

touring i think he is referring to the wire that goes from the inverter to the CCFL. It is true, i tried extended it before and that made it not work properly.

I haven't tried it, but I find it strange you can't splice the wires. Wonder if they're like those headphone cables that have lacquer on the wires.

icqboy51 · 03-06-2009, 03:09 AM

^ actually you know that crap failing tube i was talking about... i checked it... the white wire going into the tube was loose. so i tried to forcefully push it back in... and while the separate wires touched, it created a little smoke and burning smell.

so then i stopped immediately... LOL.

icqboy51 · 03-06-2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

It all depends on how you want your lights to turn on and off. I chose the domelight because of the dimming and how it would turn on when the doors open/closed.

You could have went with the courtesy lights if you wanted it to turn on only when opening or closing

You could have went to the fuse box to have them on all the time or you could have put in a switch.

It depends on user preference i guess

^ actually my Camry LE only have those two left and right courtesy lights, and no center courtesy lights. you know how the left and right courtesy lights does not turn on like the dome light when opening/ closing doors.. that's why i had to tap into the dome light.

the left and right courtesy lights only turn on if i press it to turn on.

check red arrows (and no center light):

CamrySExxx · 03-06-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringcamry

I haven't tried it, but I find it strange you can't splice the wires. Wonder if they're like those headphone cables that have lacquer on the wires.

nah when i did it to mine it was just normal wires a really small Ga speaker wire.

I read up about it but i forget why now though, it had to do with the change in resistance or something like that. Ebumdude also has this same problem

MrSo0h0o · 03-06-2009, 10:34 AM

resistance= rho(resistivity of mat'l)* length/cross-sectional area

Hence, the longer the wire, the more resistance there is in the wire.
As per Ohm's law, Resistance= Voltage/Current (R=V/I). As a result of greater resistance, we have less current, which causes the light to dim.

touringcamry · 03-06-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

nah when i did it to mine it was just normal wires a really small Ga speaker wire.

I read up about it but i forget why now though, it had to do with the change in resistance or something like that. Ebumdude also has this same problem

So probably you could use the individual wires in stranded Cat5 or Cat3 which is twisted pair 24 AWG.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSo0h0o

resistance= rho(resistivity of mat'l)* length/cross-sectional area

Hence, the longer the wire, the more resistance there is in the wire.
As per Ohm's law, Resistance= Voltage/Current (R=V/I). As a result of greater resistance, we have less current, which causes the light to dim.

Couldn't you just use larger wire then? Resistance is inversely proportional to the cross section.