Switched 12 V power

[SouthernProperZ]

im trying to put some led's in the dark parts of my car to illuminate it. kinda like the light up cup holders. but i was soundering if there was a wire or anything that only gets power when the headlights are on. or if i can wire it so they come on when i turn on my fogs or somthing. any ideas? i don't want to have to go and buy a switch

[04SilveradoMykk]

How about wiring them into your instrument cluster backlite.

[SouthernProperZ]

sounds like a good idea. i want to put them in the space under the cd play where the 2 12 volt cigarette lighters are. for a little light. but idk if the wire they came with is long enough to go there...

edit: if i wanted them on all the time. i could just wire them to that right? the cigarette lighters? but wouldn't that drain my battery. or does 1 not always get power?

[ikon]

just splice off of the parking light wire thats on the backside of the headlight switch...then whenever u turn your lights on the LEDs come on as well...however you may want to go with the switch anyways because if you get pulled over at night you can get ticketed for them. Illegal Lighting ticket runs about 110$ in MN. At least thats what i paid when i got mine a few years back.

[04GreenZ]

can i just run them off a cigarette lighter? and then they come on when the car starts. and off when it cuts off

[Nick]

can i just run them off a cigarette lighter? and then they come on when the car starts. and off when it cuts off
My cigarette lighter is powered all the time.

[ikon]

Ya same here...cig lighter is constant in myne.

[SouthernProperZ]

well damn. if i do that will it drain the battery or should i just go the switched way? and get the power from the cigarette lighter?

[ikon]

i personally would place them on a switch...if you were able to find a small rocker switch it wouldnt look bad at all...thats what i used for all my switches.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/secsi_ikon/Picture022.jpg

[04SilveradoMykk]

and I've got my nitrous, Halos, flamethrower on LED toggles.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2554000-2554999/2554781_205_full.jpg

[g0dl355]

and I've got my nitrous, Halos, flamethrower on LED toggles.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2554000-2554999/2554781_205_full.jpg

is that dave?

[g0dl355]

well damn. if i do that will it drain the battery or should i just go the switched way? and get the power from the cigarette lighter?

you could run a switch from the cig lighter power
that way you can turn them off and on

[04SilveradoMykk]

is that dave?

Yup, he special guests on a song in a Blue Man Group DVD I picked up.

[g0dl355]

Yup, he special guests on a song in a Blue Man Group DVD I picked up.

Cool, he was on an episode of House too.

My g/f is a huge fan, going to see him next week, twice. :aniteef:

[SouthernProperZ]

alright. yeah i was thinking that. but idk where id have space unless i like idk. cause i have the airbag and stuff there. idk ill think up somthing tomorrow. but i know im going to use it on a switch. thanks for the help fellas. if anyone has any interior led's in their truck please post pics =]

[g0dl355]

alright. yeah i was thinking that. but idk where id have space unless i like idk. cause i have the airbag and stuff there. idk ill think up somthing tomorrow. but i know im going to use it on a switch. thanks for the help fellas. if anyone has any interior led's in their truck please post pics =]


you can put the switch anywhere you want

you said cupholder light right?

you could put the switch on the side or front of the cupholder so it would be hidden.
You could even connect some sort of switch that would trigger when you had a beverage in them.

[SouthernProperZ]

haha that would be so freaking tight. but idk if i want it that fancy. cause it's going in the cup holder. and the delete where a cd changer would be. under my radio and stuff lol. if you know where im talking about. it's a first step to adding led's all in my truck. but im sure some 1 will pick up on the triggering when the cup is in the holder idea

[g0dl355]

Get pictures when you do this.
If you put it in the delete pocket...if you have a mounting method, go for it, but I think it might throw cool light if you drilled a hole at an angle in the pocket in the top facing the back

like |=====/=| <-if you were to look at your pocket sideways?

[04SilveradoMykk]

blue LEDs in the center of the cup holders.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e227/mykk/waterbottle.jpg