Wiring Help needed

[JVT007]

What the best place to grab a 12V connection from?? I'm installing neons today.. and i want the switch between the shifter and the cup holder (97 maro). Where is a good 12v source?

[Backfire]

The cigarette lighter is a popular spot to tap in to. But you need to check the amp draw of the lights and check the fuse on the cigarette lighter circuit. If the fuse isn't large enough, then you need to find a different point to tap into. Do not simply up the size of the fuse, as you will be removing protection from the other components on the circuit as well as possibly overloading the wiring. You could always run a new line into the interior from the engine bay junction box, just remember to fuse the line properly.

[MTMike]

Either the junction block if the current draw on the neons is more than 3 amps, or from the cigarette lighter source if it's less than 3 amps.

I'm guessing it is more than 3 amps so I'd recommend wiring it from the junction block on the passenger side fender. Put a circuit protection fuse 6" or less from the source in the new wire, and fuse it for the wire, so if it's 10 guague, put a 30 amp fuse, regardless of what the neons draw. You can fuse smaller at the point the neons come in. Then if it's a really high current draw, you will want to use a relay to switch them on and off.... if it's a lower current draw then you can get away with an inline switch.
What is the current rating for those neons, do you know? If you don't can you find out what size fuse they come with???

Thanks!

-Mike

[ November 10, 2002: Message edited by: MTMike ]</p>

[96firebird311]

I used to have two 20" Lava tubes in my car. I had them fused with a 2.5amp fuse (smallest I could find) and it never blew. I just tapped into the fuse box on the drivers side by the door. Use one that's only hot when the ignition is on.

[MTMike]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 96firebird311:
I used to have two 20" Lava tubes in my car. I had them fused with a 2.5amp fuse (smallest I could find) and it never blew. I just tapped into the fuse box on the drivers side by the door. Use one that's only hot when the ignition is on.<hr></blockquote>

Good plan! That should handle 2.5 amps ok.

Thats the exact spot I plugged my hot lead for my radar dectector...... Works great cuz now my radar detector doesn't set off my car alarm when it's parked cuz I forgot to turn it off. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[JVT007]

ok hot line from the battery is what I am going to go with here...

I have no idea how to wire it though... i'm a newb when it comes to this.. can you guys help me?


Battery --- + ----- fuse -------- Neon ---- Switch ---- Ground?


I dunno i am so confused [img]smile.gif[/img]

[MTMike]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by JVT007:
ok hot line from the battery is what I am going to go with here...

I have no idea how to wire it though... i'm a newb when it comes to this.. can you guys help me?


Battery --- + ----- fuse -------- Neon ---- Switch ---- Ground?

I dunno i am so confused [img]smile.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

You could do it like that, sure.

You could also, if it's easier to wire up, do it like:
Battery --- + ----- fuse ----Switch ---- Neon ---- Ground?

JUST SO LONG as the switch can handle more current than the fuse you put in line..... if the switch is only rated at 10 amps, and you put a 20 amp fuse in the wire, and something happens and it grounds out after the switch you could have a fire. If this is the case, then you have 3 options: A) use a beefier switch. B) Use a fuse small enough to protect the switch yet still allow enough current for the neons. or C) wire in a relay system for your switching.

If you need to do C, let me know. I"m not going to go into depth on how to do that unless you need it [img]smile.gif[/img]

Good luck!

-Mike