Run Power From Radio?

Once the weather warms up, I want to add either cold cathodes or some led's I have, to give some light to the footwells. One concern I had, was how to wire them, so I couldn't accidentally leave them on.

First though, was to wire them to the headlights, after all, I will only be using them when its dark out.

Then it struck me...the RADIO!! The radio stays on for 10 minutes after the car is shut off, so when that turned off, so would the lights. I would of course have a seperate switch to actually turn on the lights, but it would run off the radio lead.

I could park with the headlights off, but the radio on, and have the footwells lit, and if I didnt want to listen to the radio while they were on, just turn the volume knob all the way down.

To me, this seems like the most feasible route, anyone try it yet?

[ImSoBored]

Use the cig/accessory wires.

[Vtolds]

Originally posted by ImSoBored@Mar 8 2005, 07:47 AM
Use the cig/accessory wires.

Somehting like that, I was thinking Cubby hole light since it is only on with your headlights :thumbsup:

[Cyber Knight]

^Yep, that's what I did, the cubby hole light is pretty easy to get at. That way your LEDs/cathodes only come on at night with the rest of the interior lights.

[turtles_ride]

hook them up to the power of your other footwell lights. that way they come on when the doors are open, or when you turn the interiors on, and they're easy to get to.

The only problem with the cubby light, or the present footwell lights, is that the headlights (or interior lights) MUST be on for the cathodes/LEDs to work.

Although, the cubby light would be extremely easy to get at...

The point with using the radio only, you can park with all your lights off but still be able to turn the cathodes/LEDs on. The radio go off automatically, so the additional lights could never be left on all night.

[brsexton]

Yeah but the radio also goes off when you open your door. Also, the radio's power On/off is done by the Class 2 data bus. There is no way to safely tap into that unless you have an aftermarket radio with the Metra VT-GMRC-01 data bus kit.

[ImSoBored]

Wire them to your cig lighter with a switch. Constant power all the time.
Thats how Silentalero had me wire mine up. I've got two red neons(10"-15") on one switch. Strobes on another, and strobes outside on another. All wired into the cig lighter. I've never had a problem with it.

Originally posted by brsexton@Mar 8 2005, 01:18 PM
Yeah but the radio also goes off when you open your door. Also, the radio's power On/off is done by the Class 2 data bus. There is no way to safely tap into that unless you have an aftermarket radio with the Metra VT-GMRC-01 data bus kit.

This is the kind of info I was looking for.

Even though the radio shuts off once the door is opened, you could leave the key in to show it off with the doors open.

The cig lighter would work fine, but again, its always on, so if you leave the cathodes on, they won't shut off (and can drain the battery).

Since the radio option is not feasible, looks like the cubby light is the best route...

[Redog]

I used the parking light wire in the back of the radio for my gauge pod. I want to hook up LED's in the spring and I'll probably use the same wire. or the igntion wire going into the radio

[brsexton]

Originally posted by jiffy@Mar 8 2005, 01:55 PM
Even though the radio shuts off once the door is opened, you could leave the key in to show it off with the doors open.

Well if you are wanting to do it this way, you could just get a fuse tap and tap into a fuse that turns off with ignition switch. That should be easy to do.

[cherrington17]

i personally, have they on their own power, with a switch. so if i don't want them on, i have the option of when and where i want they on. just i'm just controlling like that...

if you want to be creative, check this out...
http://invision.aleromod.com/index.php?sho...6684&hl=project

get creative and do something original with your car. usually ends up nice.

any pic of lights would help.. ive seen a remote for fog lights at kragen
i was thinking of wiring them up to it and just click when i want them on or off

I don't know how u could honestly get out of your car and leave the lights on. I have 2 cold cathodes in mine and all the vents done in leds and its bright as can be. Plus after shutting your door would u not notice the colored lights. I really don't think forgetting to turn them off is that much of a problem, and splicing in the radio sounds like a bad idea IMO, IF your going to splice into anything at least splice into a little cheap light instead of a semi expensive radio who knows what could blow if u screw sumtin up with the power to the radio. just my opnion hope it works out for you

[cherrington17]

i think a small push button or flip switch would work. or do the cubby light, then when its dark enough for your headlights to click on, the lights come on. i've had my cathodes and vent lights on during the day and you can't even see them so it defeats the purpose.