Illuminate interior

[daffyack]

I did search about this topic, but I couldnt find any, so if it has already been covered, I apologize.

I would like to illuminate a foot of driver's and passenger's seat and possibly under the each seat so that backseat will be illuminated somewhat. I'm thinking about putting cathodes. But I dont know where to get a power from. My friend suggested me that I would get a power from 12V socket that's located at center console.

if anyone has done that, can you tell me step by step how I go about doing all this? maybe post pics to demonstrate, that would be awesome.

thanks

[Martin Roy]

zerothread/264480

[jfanaselle]

zerothread/264480

I don't think this is the same kind of illumination he is asking about. He's asking about installing lights under the seats and tapping into the power outlet near the parking brake handle for power.

Daffyack: I believe the power outlet is definately the best place to draw power from. However, just be cautious that you don't draw too much. I'm not familiar with a cathode, so I'm not sure what kind of current it'll demand, but the power outlet is only fused for 10 amps. If you're drawing anything close to that and you plug something in, you'll likely blow the fuse out. Putting a larger fuse place of the 10 amp one could risk running too much current through the wiring and starting a fire or creating a short. To really do it the correct way, you sould run a new wire up from one of the unused fuse slots in the panel, or run a relay off of an existing circuit. Of course, if they draw virually no current (like an LED) you shouldn't have any problem. Or you also have the option of just not using a high current device on your outlet or disabling it entirely. I'm not familiar with the disassembly of the center console if you decide to tap power from the outlet.

[Clipsed]

tell me exactly what you are trying to do, what you are using, and how you want it to work, and I can draw up a schematic for you on how to wire it up.

[daffyack]

thank you two for answering.

well you see, my friend has cathodes lights installed under the seats and he told me that if i want to do that, he told me to tap them into the power outlet near the parking brake handle for power.

but after i saw this topics zerothread/273641this may be the best way to light up the interior. instead of cathodes, installing LEDs. however, that topic is getting power from dimmer, which isn't the place I was gonna get a power from. I cant determine which ones is better to pull a power from. I prefer the easy way tho.

But I assume getting a power from dimmer may be easier, because i dont have to disassemble a whole alot. getting power from underneath of 12V socket, i have to disassemble the whole center console, which I think is too much work for inexperience person like me.

so to tell you the truth, Im not sure what exactly I want to do. I just like to light up the interior like that topic. and What im trying to do is to find the easiest and best way to do that.

please give me some more advice, please

thank you

[Martin Roy]

Go ahead with the other tutorial ! Taking power from the dimmer has many advantages:

1) You don't have to dissassemble the center console.2) You can acutally dim the light3) Easy access to wires (for future additions)4) Won't interfere with you power socket (amp-wise)

You can put cathodes if you want. Believe me, this mod is very easy to accomplish.

[daffyack]

I will try that then. last thing, mine is 1.8 S, not SL, that wont make any difference, does it in terms of wires and all?

[Martin Roy]

No difference at all ! The dashboard is identical. There is no problem with the wires since you have to run your own and they plug at the same place.