I'm looking to put a couple of CCFL's in the hatch, and have them light up only when the hatch is opened. How would I go about doing this? And if I get a set like this:

http://www.svc.com/12vb2ccflwht.html

How do I tap the car for power (connection wise) and would I be able to just use the power line that feeds the current bulb light in the hatch?

 

I believe if you open your trunk the overhead dome light goes on. Therefore you could wire it up with the dome light.

 

Yeah but then the CCFL's would come on whenever the overhead dome was triggered by the front doors as well. I don't want that.

 

then you have to install a seperate push switch, or disconnect the wiring of the push switch of your hatch and connect the CCFL there.

 

diodes!!!
the hatch can light up the ccl's and the main interior.
then the doors will only light up the main interioir...

cut the hatch trigger wire put the diode in.
tap the ccl wire on the hatch switch side of the diode. (make sure the diode is in the right direction)

 

right...which is what I was trying to figure out how to do. Where to cut and how to splice in the power from the CCFL?

Can you tell me more about diodes? :?:

 

diodes, electricty can only flow in one direction through it.
the come in different sizes (to handle greater amounts of current)
it looks like a little cylinder with a wire coming from the top and bottom.
there is a stripe at one end of the cylinder (meant to denote the direction of current flow, but this is reversed when using on the negative.)

i can lay out some steps for you to follow (they are similar to what i did)

1. find the hatch trigger wire (it will be a negative switched wire. it is common with the doors, so make sure the other doors are closed)
2. the dome light should be on. now cut the wire. the dome light should go off. there is now a switch side and light side.
3. strip the ends of the wire. twist one end of the wire to one end of the diode.
twist the other wire to the other end of the diode. if the light goes back on the diode is in properly (note: there is a stripe at one end of the diode, keep in mind which part of the cut wire it goes to.)
if the light doe not go on, turn thr diode around, note the stripe.
4. with a crimper or solder, connect the light side of the wire to the diode.
5. get a length of wire that will be the negative for the CCL. connect the switch side wire and the CCL negative wire to the other end of the diode.
6. you will need to run a power wire for the CCL (do not connect it yet, just run it)
7. mount CCL
8. connect the power + negative wire to the CCL.
9. connect power wire to its power source.

test the lights.

let me know if this is confusing...

 

Excellent info. My only questions would be:

What diode to get?
Where can I find such things?
Anyone know where to find the hatch trigger wire?

Thanks for the great reply!

 

Or you can look for the Switch on the hatch and wire it from there.

 

I'm a little late to the party, but cant you use the switched light that is in the back under the hatch and wire it off that switch/wiring?

 

I was under the impression that came on like all the other lights when the front two doors were opened....Am I wrong?

 

you are correct. if any door opens the light comes on so you could just hook it up like that. or just hook it to the switch for the hatch

 

diodes, you can get at radio shack.
get a big one (might be the size of an old #2 pencil eraser, it is overkill but it is still small enough)

i don't know where the trunk pin is???
you will have to open it up. or find someone who knows.

 

you do need to wire it from the trunk switch, but you also need to isolate it fromthe other doors.

 

the main idea of this was to have the CCL only come on when the trunk is opened.
so hooking it up to any door trigger is not what he wants to do...
and wiring it to the switch for the hatch is the same as any door trigger (they are all on one circuit) so you still need to isolate it.

 

easy, disconnect the switch from all the other lights. or and this may be too much for some people but add another switch to the hatch that exclusively actuates the CCFL's (that would be the way I would go.)

 

those are two alternatives, the first one is a nicer one. just cutting the factory switch off the main circuit to only run the CCL's. but this would elminate a trunk pin for an alarm (if equiped ar adding one)

the second way, adding a new switch, i personnaly don't care for. but it still would do the trick. it would keep the security ability for alarms.
i don't like this way because it can really screw up your hatch/trunk (depending on what switch you use) if you drill a hole for a stnd pin swithc, it can leak and rust. if the switch is to tall it will dent the hatch when it closes and the weather sealing will leak.

but the method i did keeps all factory functions and security features. and no leaks or rust.

good options if you don't care about the down sides...

 

A lot of great discussion. Thanks for clearing up my question hotlava. My only problem now is finding the trunk switch.

 

sorry, i have the xB, other wise i would jump in and find it.

there is a hard way to find the trunk wire. open up the sides of the car (most likely the pass side) from the door switches you should see one splice together with the trunk wire.
follow it back to the switch...(you need to supply power to the CCL inn the trunk so it needs to be done anyway...)
you could also cut the wire just before the splice at the side door and put in the diode in there.