Cathode Footwell Lights DIY (pics heavy)

[GrantGrant]

Hey I thought id post a pretty indepth diy for footwell lights for people who might be intrested in doing it or wanna see what it entails. Its really easy skill level required is really low. I know at least one person that wanted this lol.

Please dont tell me this is to ricerish or what not its just a cool fun thing to do that i think adds a nice touch to the interior. It is alittle tacky but it was fun to do.

Some pics are missing mainly because i did this along time ago and i just switched out the lights recently.

Anyways ill start out with the basic tools and parts
I bought the Cathodes at http://svc.com/
Heres the link. Click on your colour preference. Ive already done blue and its waaay to distracting. USE RED.
http://svc.com/logisys-12ccfl.html Get the dual tube ones, They come with a switch and are a better deal.
You can also buy these at any computer accessory store, like frys electronics and so on. SVC is cheap but there shipping is bad. Takes about a week.


Your gonna also need the car antenna and some frosty drinks.

Now i didnt get to many pics of this part but theres a couple options.
1: First your gonna want to find a powersource.
The easiest one to use is the mirror control. Just splice the power cable(last one on the right) or stick your wire in there. Or you can use the battery.

2: Now when you open the cathode box youll find this blue thing. Its the inverter. strip the 2 black and red wires shown. Wire your switch up how you like. (I dont want to go into full detail there are other threads on switches, and i forgot how i wired it)


To mount the switch remove one of your empty buttons and keep using proggessivly larger drills. Once its big enough use a file, and file down the rest

3: I used a bolt behind the brake pedal for a ground. It was a bitch to unscrew but its a good ground. You guys can proly find a better one.

4: Now find a place for the inverter. I put it right below the change purse

5: Now if you only want the driver side lite up find a place to mount the cathode (I zip tied mine to the hood release cable(zip ties are great incase u wanna move the cathode later)



6: This part is optional but will require the most time. If you want the passenger side lite up first thing u need to do is get about 2 lengths 6-8 feet of wire. Tie them both to your car antenna. And gently shove it behind your glove box and radio to get to the driver side. Taking your radio out can make this process alot easier.



7. Once your to the driver side wire the lights to the inverter. Then mount the passenger side cathode ( I zip tied mine to the little spaces below the glove box teeth thing.) Check the polarity of the wires first before u wire it all together.

8: Finished!





9: Chances are your glove box spring loader thingy hook is gonna get flimsy like mine did from taking it off so much. I have a simple fix. Take a hot glue gun, and put some glue in the middle of the 2 teeth. This should stop the teeth from sagging and making the spring loader falling out of place. Pic



Im all open to suggestions. I dont have any problems with the mod. It works fine and now that i have the red it isnt as distracting as the blue, since it matches the gauges.

Lastly Im not responsible if your car catches on fire or is damaged. If you wire something wrong the inverter could get hot and catch on fire. There ment to run hot though they are used for comp lights.

[cam2Xrunner]

Great post man! Thanks.

Added to the DIY sticky

[UCFnate]

Looks great GrantGrant, well done!

[timtsb]

i feel stupid. this is supposed to be easy? way over my head without guidance.

[GrantGrant]

Hmm well you gotta have basic wiring skills. And you gotta know how to wire a switch, and about grounding. Its real easy to learn and imo its fun.

[cj99si]

I might have missed it in the post, but when do they come on? with the switch or when you open the door?

[Marc M]

I did something similiar for a co-worker a while back, but wired the lights to his domelight circuit. They came on when you unlocked the door with the remote, and dimmed out when you closed the door along with the domelight.

Marc M

[timtsb]

Originally Posted by GrantGrant

Hmm well you gotta have basic wiring skills. And you gotta know how to wire a switch, and about grounding.

yeah, i know nothing. i imagine it's pretty simple to learn the basics, i've just never had the opportunity.

[GrantGrant]

There switched( The circular switch), I wanted to do the dome light thing but id just rather be in control.

[kooltaco]

Great write up, this is on my list of mods. Instead of cutting any wires could i just use one of these in an empty fuse location?

[kooltaco]

If I was to find a Toyota Fog light switch from an auto wrecker, would it work with this type of lights or bed lights? I just want to keep the dash factory looking. Yeah I'm anal about the details, ki.nda like a few others on the site

[ThunderStruck1]

Well done Grant!

I wish somebody can do a mod to change the orange glow (to white etc.) in the dash. Anyone?? I haven't seen it yet but i think it's just a set of diodes in there.

[cam2Xrunner]

Originally Posted by ThunderStruck1

I wish somebody can do a mod to change the orange glow (to white etc.) in the dash. Anyone?? I haven't seen it yet but i think it's just a set of diodes in there.

I'm going to try do this in the next few weeks.

Here's a past discussion.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t137652.html

I believe the type of LED's and setup the Tacoma uses is the same as the newer Camry's.

[ThunderStruck1]

thanks cam! as always u

[LiquidClen]

Wow, awesome write up. Wish I would have seen it earlier. I'll definitely put it on my "To-Do" List