Underbody light that comes on when unlocked from keyless entry

[11CamryLE]

I want to install 2 lights, one on each side of my car, that comes on either by switch or when the doors are unlocked from the keyless entry remote.

I know I am pretty sure I will need a diode, a switch, and of course the 2 lights.

How exactly should I go about wiring this up. Any help would be appreciated. I know that if I wired them up to the dome light, then it would come on when I turn my dome lights on and I don't want that.

So here's some states that I want the lights on
- unlocked from keyless entry remote
- unlocked from inside when exiting the car (if possible)
- toggle switch is ON

I would never want the lights on, if the car is moving unless the toggle switch is ON.

This should also always cut off when the door is locked from keyless entry remote.

I apologize if this has already been tackled.

[ebumdude]

Easy. You said you don't want them on with the dome light but only when you press the unlock button...well, the easiest way is to wore them to the dome light. Fortunately, you do not have to run wiring all the way from the dome light to do this. Inside of the a-pillar ion the driverside, you will see a little white junction box with wires coming out of it. I don't know the exact prong number off the top of my head, but you can tap into that. It is the same wiring for the dome light when the door is opened or unlocked. You will need to use a volt meter to see which wire I am talking about. I used the same one for my footwell lighting. If all you are adding is two lights for the underbody you will not necessarily need a relay. If you decide to add more lights to that circuit in the future, I suggest a relay.

If you don't have the skill or patience for this mod, a reputable stereo shop can do it for around $80 or so. Good luck.

[11CamryLE]

Originally Posted by ebumdude

Easy. You said you don't want them on with the dome light but only when you press the unlock button...well, the easiest way is to wore them to the dome light. Fortunately, you do not have to run wiring all the way from the dome light to do this. Inside of the a-pillar ion the driverside, you will see a little white junction box with wires coming out of it. I don't know the exact prong number off the top of my head, but you can tap into that. It is the same wiring for the dome light when the door is opened or unlocked. You will need to use a volt meter to see which wire I am talking about. I used the same one for my footwell lighting. If all you are adding is two lights for the underbody you will not necessarily need a relay. If you decide to add more lights to that circuit in the future, I suggest a relay.

If you don't have the skill or patience for this mod, a reputable stereo shop can do it for around $80 or so. Good luck.

I appreciate the information. Especially about the relay, I have been wondering how I would go about this because it seems there possibly wouldn't be enough current through the dome light wire.

I was really hoping that someone, would tell me which exact wire to use. I knew there had to be a somewhat simple way.

I think it would be similar to the way bleachigo did his LED door handles.
DIY LED door handles

Also I am not to confortable withing wiring up a diode, so if someone could point me to where I could figure this out, or if there is some sort of 2 way relay for this kind of situation.

Once I have some kind of wiring diagram developed for doing this, I am sure I could do it and of course I would want to install a fuse.

Also for reference I have a 2011 Camry LE w/o sunroof.

Also where could I find the exact diodes and relays I would need.

[gdanaher]

If you just want to put some 12 volt bulbs under the car I would do a quick and painless job of wiring through the door lighting switch in the pillar. If you need a higher amperage flow then use the door switch to regulate a relay and run all the power you need through the relay, using good electrical practices. Unless you are talking about light emitting diodes, and they are another animal, why do you need a diode for this?

[ebumdude]

This afternoon or so I will take a quick picture of the junction box and which prong to use that I mentioned above. I used the same one for my footwell lighting. It is also the same circuit for the dome.

[11CamryLE]

Originally Posted by gdanaher

If you just want to put some 12 volt bulbs under the car I would do a quick and painless job of wiring through the door lighting switch in the pillar. If you need a higher amperage flow then use the door switch to regulate a relay and run all the power you need through the relay, using good electrical practices. Unless you are talking about light emitting diodes, and they are another animal, why do you need a diode for this?

I am not sure what door switch you are talking about.

Also remember that I am wanting the lights to come on under 2 conditions a toggle switch is ON or the car is unlocked using the keyless remote. (This is why I thought I needed a diode, I could be wrong I am basing that on something I read in another thread.)

Also I think I need a relay because I am looking at using a complete underbody LED kit, in addition I am probably going to do the footwells - dome light mod, perhaps using LEDs because I can get a kit with 4 LED's for that in addition to the underbody kit for like $20 more, and then I won't have to deal with the converter box for cathodes.

So, if you can tell me what relay, diode, or whatever I need to do this, that would be great. A specific part suggestion would be best, and where I could buy it at. I really appreciate the help!

[gdanaher]

You keep tossing the word 'diode' out there, as in you need a diode. And you want someone to draw a schematic for this. I fear you know just enough to burn up your car if you aren't careful. Take it to some shop you have some trust in and ask them to do the work for you because I'd hate to see you file an insurance claim and then attempt to explain to the adjuster just what happened. The wiring for this would be pretty straightforward but I'm going to do you a big favor and not touch it. Find someone locally to do a turnkey job for you. Much better than toasting the car.

[11CamryLE]

I fear that you just don't know enough to be helpful.

I know how to connect the relay and how to make it work only with the dome lights, but the key is that I want a switch also. I am not sure what you are missing.

As said this is a really simple mod, and you are making it far more complicated than it really is.

[gdanaher]

If you want to add a switch and you don't know where to put it, I fear my initial comment was dead on. Get some local assistance. There is more to this than just adding a relay and a diode somewhere. You still haven't provided enough information for anyone to calculate wire gauge needed or anything else. Look at my avitar, my screen name, do 2 minutes of research and figure out that I truly have given you the best advice available.

[jbrnigan]

If you are using LED lighting you won't need a relay or "diodes ???" LED lighting draws 1/10th the amperage of an incandescent lanp and you can use an 18 to 20 ga wire for your install. An inline fuse is probably a good idea. I don't know which wire you need, but it should be easy enough to isolate. LED lighting won't overload your fused domelamp circuit which is powering an incandescent lamp.

[gdanaher]

But he wants to have the lights come on when he remotely unlocks the doors, and he doesn't want the lights on when moving, so it would need to be wired through the solenoid that controls the door lock on the driver's door. When you put the car in gear in most cases the doors lock, and the power to the solenoids to lock and unlock is momentary at best, so he would need to source a dpdt relay that would close upon voltage and remain closed until acted upon by the other circuit that would open it. I'm sure Mouser or Allied can supply the switch, but he has never explained the load or voltage of the led array. Since the typical led operates far below 12 volts, giving it a straight 12v will simply create a lot of popping sounds followed by smoke. As to the 'diode' thing, it just leads me to think he doesn't really understand what's going on here and it is best left to those who do. If he knew enough to do the job competently without risk of fire, the initial question would not have needed asking.

[jbrnigan]

When I remotely unlock my SE, the dome lamp comes on and stays on for aprox 15 secs after entering or leaving the car. If an LED light strip was tied into the dome lamp circuit it would go on and off with the lamp. (Super Brite LED's) You can purchase 12v LED's - replacement lamps, light strips etc - no smoke! Fuse it, no fire.

[11CamryLE]

Originally Posted by jbrnigan

When I remotely unlock my SE, the dome lamp comes on and stays on for aprox 15 secs after entering or leaving the car. If an LED light strip was tied into the dome lamp circuit it would go on and off with the lamp. (Super Brite LED's) You can purchase 12v LED's - replacement lamps, light strips etc - no smoke! Fuse it, no fire.

Thanks! I have figured out how I would connect them to the dome switch.

My only problem is I want to control them using a switch in addition, so that if I am in the car and I want to have them on and stay on I can turn on the switch.

[11CamryLE]

This is where I found the mention of using a diode to doing something similar to this. Footwell light to domelight DIY very last post on this page. So if using a diode is completely wrong, then blame that guy!

[11CamryLE]

I found this here.

Wiring LED's into my Camry

Thanks for those that have helped. It will probably be a while before I get around to doing this.