[_spyder]

Well, soon I would like to add some light to my footwells. Only thing I'm concerned with is where to get my power from. I would also like to do my A/C vents sometime soon too. Where have you guys tapped in to get your power and ground from? I'd like it to be towards the front of the car on the drivers side or somewhere close to. And to be honest, I've never tapped into wires before, so I don't really know how to do it. If you guys could give an explanation that would be great too! Because I'm gonna be lost and I don't want to break anything in my car...

Thanks!
And +Rep will definitely be given out to helpful answers! [ffrocks]

- Spyder

 

[xtremepitbull]

when i did my neons i wired everything by splicing into my stereo remote wire with a wiresplice ... this eliminated my need for a switch cleaning up the interior from holes ... the neons i bought were 9 inch led strips from advance auto parts manufactured by optx which is the same company as streetglow ... i like the look and the low profile cause you can mount it anywhere and it is invisible ... i also have done the led vent lights and have realized that since the vents are dark i lined the insides with silver/chrome duct tape to really reflect the light and give a much better look than just a little glow ... i also tapped these into the remote wire ... it is really easy to tap into the stock wiring harness for the stereo and just wire it into there if you want 24/7 running lights but i prefered to be able to turn em off ... hope this advice is helpful

--XtremePitbull--
2000 ZX3 pitch black with 05 badges

 

[_spyder]

So when you say that you just spliced into your remote wire, does that mean that i would just strip some of the plastic rubber off the remote wire, and then wrap the positive wire from the lights around it and then put some electrical tape over it? And then ground the wire from the lights and they would turn on when my stereo turned on... would that work?

 

[Spinal]

o goodie the little guide i made a while ago will become of service once again. everythings pretty detailed if you have any Qs just ask [wiggle]
and a note on splicing; having the wire wrapped around the other then covered with electrical tape is kinda ghetto IMO, it is a much more solid connection soldering it togeather.

theres pics too!

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155724&page=2

 

[_spyder]

Ohh thanks +Rep!

I checked that out and I might try it. I've also heard talk about some Add-A-Circuit that I might try also. I am going to wire these up to switches and I think I'll play around with some stuff tonite.

But keep postin ideas people :]

 

[xtremepitbull]

yeah i would agree soldier is the best way so u dont lose the connection ... if u want a switch u can just pull your stereo out and splice the red igniton wire so you can only turn em on when ur car is on ... but like i said i like keeping the interior clean so no switch for me ... and btw if u dont have a soldiering iron you can go to autozone or any hardware store and they sell wire splices ... its a plastic piece that you put both wires in and crimp a metal piece down and it connects both together ... just make sure if you are gonna do it that way that you have the right size splice ok? ... any questions im here .... and always willing to help

 

[Dimitri76]

Way 2 go Spinal!

 

[Spinal]

Way 2 go Spinal!

lol ty, hopefully he will have good luck when tackling this project [wiggle] and why are you awake go to bed! LOL you seriously gotta come out to one of the last meets dude!

 

[bluefront]

If you have an automatic, you can tap into the two wires that go to the lighted shifter bezel. Super easy.....only requires the removal of the center consul (5 screws, 3 minutes time). Avoids messing with the radio......and you could use "scotch-lock connectors", since the current draw is so small (no soldering).

 

[age]

hmm im wanting to do something similar. i wanna wire some leds to the headlights so when headlights come on, footwell lights up too. what line would you splice into to get the power?

 

[_spyder]

Thanks xtreme!

I think tonite I'm just going to go out and get a soldering iron from WalMart for like $10. I also got an Add-A-Circuit thing that I might try out. It was only like $5 so I'm going to try that with an empty spot in the fuse box. Then I will solder all the wires and put these on a switch and see how they turn out. Hopefully I can start tonite... and I will see how far I get.

Thanks for the help everyone, and you guys can keep posting up spots that I can tap into because I'm not sure how well this Add-A-Circuit will work. (I have a 5-speed manual)

- Spyder [ffrocks]

 

[bergj1986]

I'd be careful with those "Add-A-Circuit" connectors, they usually just use some sort of knife that cuts into the wire, all the current is now running through the small amount of metal-to-metal contact being made by the knife blade cutting through the insulation and into the copper wiring. IMO just as ghetto as twisting and taping. Do it right, and do it once, solder everything.

I like the idea of tapping into the fuse that runs the headlights so the footwell lights only come on when the headlights are on, def makes more sense than running off the remote wire.

 

[_spyder]

Hmm...
Well when I get home I'll take out the Add-A-Circuit and see how it works. Anyone know which slot I should put it in the fuse box? (I have a 2002 ZX3) Then I will see if I can get that hooked up to a switch and then go from there. But does anyone which slot is always giving power out of the fuse box so I can try this out?

Thanks!

 

[zx360]

grab your owners manual and find a power source with no fuse and is constant power and tap into that... i used an add a fuse, but soldered it off the end not crimped it... they have worked for 3 years now... no problems

 

[_spyder]

grab your owners manual and find a power source with no fuse and is constant power and tap into that... i used an add a fuse, but soldered it off the end not crimped it... they have worked for 3 years now... no problems

Okay, I'll do that. Sounds like I really should get a soldering gun lol.
Hopefully the Add-A-Circuit will work. I got it from AutoZone... and its called something like; Buss Add-A-Line. Something like that, anyone used that?