HELP! Dome light wiring
08-13-2009, 04:03 AM
#1
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oregon
Posts: 122
HELP! Dome light wiring
Hey guys , im sick of not being to see the floorboards at night so I decided to buy some white led strips to put under the dash so I can see better. I want them to work with the overhead dome light so when I open the car door they all light up at the same time and when I close the door they all turn off. I located the necessary wires to tap into on the passenger side A pillar and there are 3 wires. A solid black wire , a another black wire with white tracer, and a light green wire with a purple tracer. Now I know negative is the solid black wire but, what is the correct wire for positive.Or will it matter if it is a constant 12v or switched wire? Any help is greatly appreciated . Thanks in advance.
08-13-2009, 08:06 AM
#2
Retired Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 9,235
You need a voltage tester probe:
You "stab" the point right into the wire while the clamp on the other side is connected to a ground point on your car. When the wire has voltage, a light bulb inside the handle will illuminate. Just open/close the door and if the handle lights up, your golden.
Need to consider the following though, whenever adding demend on a wire. What is the amp draw of the new lights? I doubt that you will overload the fuse/wire with your new set-up, but MUST always consider such things when adding items that consume power. This goes for all wiring, weather in your house or car.
Jazzer
You "stab" the point right into the wire while the clamp on the other side is connected to a ground point on your car. When the wire has voltage, a light bulb inside the handle will illuminate. Just open/close the door and if the handle lights up, your golden.
Need to consider the following though, whenever adding demend on a wire. What is the amp draw of the new lights? I doubt that you will overload the fuse/wire with your new set-up, but MUST always consider such things when adding items that consume power. This goes for all wiring, weather in your house or car.
Jazzer
08-13-2009, 01:58 PM
#3
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
Interior lighting is controlled by the GEM, which switches +12V to turn on the lighting when the doors are opened. This is different from the classic method of supplying a constant +12V to the lighting and switching them to ground via the door switches.
If the black/white wire you have identified is the switched +12V from the GEM, then connecting your new lamps between the black/white wire and ground should do what you want.
If the black/white wire you have identified is the switched +12V from the GEM, then connecting your new lamps between the black/white wire and ground should do what you want.
08-13-2009, 02:58 PM
#4
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oregon
Posts: 122
You need a voltage tester probe:
You "stab" the point right into the wire while the clamp on the other side is connected to a ground point on your car. When the wire has voltage, a light bulb inside the handle will illuminate. Just open/close the door and if the handle lights up, your golden.
Need to consider the following though, whenever adding demend on a wire. What is the amp draw of the new lights? I doubt that you will overload the fuse/wire with your new set-up, but MUST always consider such things when adding items that consume power. This goes for all wiring, weather in your house or car.
Jazzer
You "stab" the point right into the wire while the clamp on the other side is connected to a ground point on your car. When the wire has voltage, a light bulb inside the handle will illuminate. Just open/close the door and if the handle lights up, your golden.
Need to consider the following though, whenever adding demend on a wire. What is the amp draw of the new lights? I doubt that you will overload the fuse/wire with your new set-up, but MUST always consider such things when adding items that consume power. This goes for all wiring, weather in your house or car.
Jazzer
Thanks for the tips guys
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