Wiring lights up to come on with the over head dome light

[mitchv]

alright im sure this has been asked before but how would i go about wiring extra lights to come on only when the over head dome light is illuminated Im looking at getting some accent lighting to put under the dash from oznium.com but I only want it to come on when I switch the dome light on or it comes on automatically

[Sponsor]

[Sniperx]

You can tap off the fuse that lights them. Or splice into the wire that GOES to the interior lights which is almost as easy. Either way, as long as you don't overload that circuit, (IE: use LEDs, NOT incandescent bulbs so you don't overload it) then you can do either. You can probably put about 1 point 2 Jiggawatts of LED light in there tapping off the fuse or wire for the dome light. Especially if you replace the dome light bulb with an LED too.

[TerryB]

I think some open the A pillar and tap into that wiring. I just tapped into the center bulb contacts and ran wires under the headliner. I've got some red lights to illuminate the hatch area for now. I'll get around to the right color sometime. When I use the fob, the overhead and rear lights illuminate, and also from the switch inside.

[Sniperx]

Originally Posted by TerryB

I think some open the A pillar and tap into that wiring. I just tapped into the center bulb contacts and ran wires under the headliner. I've got some red lights to illuminate the hatch area for now. I'll get around to the right color sometime. When I use the fob, the overhead and rear lights illuminate, and also from the switch inside.

Yep, there ya go! On blade fuses, one can tap in there as well. But tapping into the wiring IN the cabin has it's benefits.

[GreySkorpion]

A-pillar for me but I can't remember the colors. You can take out your dome light and get the right color combos and take off the drivers a-pillar and you will see black tape over the 3 wires that run over to the dome. Tap into those and you are good.

[Sniperx]

Originally Posted by f250lightnin

A-pillar for me but I can't remember the colors. You can take out your dome light and get the right color combos and take off the drivers a-pillar and you will see black tape over the 3 wires that run over to the dome. Tap into those and you are good.

Damn, now I have to get off me arse and do this to mine.

[GreySkorpion]

I added a rear domelight to match the front on my zx5! Works just like factory using the fob and all.

[Sniperx]

Originally Posted by f250lightnin

I added a rear domelight to match the front on my zx5! Works just like factory using the fob and all.

Yep, because that circuit is powered buy a common hot that energizes when the key fob is pressed to unlock or the door is opened. They are triggered by the dome light circuit so anything wired in series with them will work as if wired stock....but remember, use LEDs! Too much current draw on that circuit can cause a fire or at the very least the fuse to keep blowing.

[mitchv]

does anyone know what collor wires I witch I ran a positive from the orange and grey to the positive on my l.e.d's and then my ground wire to the solid black and the lights stayed on the entire time I then tried switiching my power to the blue and grey striped wire and the l.e.d strip never came on Edit. when I have my power going to the black/blue wire and my ground to the black when the switch is in the middle position the cathode glows faintly at the one tip ofi t

[mitchv]

another edit. broke the dmm out and found at the over head light im only seeing 2.7 votls. the over head light is just as bright as it should be but is this normal? im only seeing 2.7 volts at my cold cathode transformer wich is why I think its making it not light up.


Now I know very little about electrical but could I run a relay so that the 2.7 volt would activate a relay switch and send me 12 volts? I could run the 2.7 volts from the turn on wire for the over head dome and a constant 12 volt from the fuse box would this work?