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Source to tap into for interior LED lighting?

Old Sep 17, 2012 | 11:28 PM
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Default Source to tap into for interior LED lighting?

I am installing like 4 small LED's nothing major. But I need a place to tap into so my LEDs turn on when I turn on the parking lights. Isn't there a wire near the headunit or AC Controls that I can get voltage from? I am NOT using a 12v constant because I am not installing a switch.
I dont want to tap into a fuse box or under the hood. I want all my wiring in one spot.
Thanks.
Old Sep 18, 2012 | 03:33 PM
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i wired mine into my cigarette lighter it only comes on when they car is on so no need for a switch
Old Sep 18, 2012 | 03:40 PM
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If the LEDs are not drawing a lot of power I would think tapping into any instrument light would work and be dimmable with the instrument lighting.
Old Sep 18, 2012 | 04:01 PM
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^^the problem with this is im not sure there are wires to tap into the dimmer is in the instrument panel and thats all that you can dim so im not sure

you could just tap into the parking lights switch so when you turn the lights on it comes on
Old Sep 18, 2012 | 04:08 PM
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You can tap into any light in the panel, you don't have to get to the dimmer wheel control. It is probably pretty easy to find the wire going into the radio/head unit?
Old Sep 18, 2012 | 06:59 PM
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Ok thanks, i'll play with the multi-meter.
Something by the AC controls has to have a switch to it, cause those lights come on when I turn the parking lights on. I'll keep this updated. Oznium just sent out my lights so it will be a while.
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 02:10 AM
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I just used an add-a-circuit to run power to my footwell lights. that way you can just unplug it and there is no splicing into factory wiring. Then from there, I would imagine that you can run a couple more LED's off of that wire without a problem because they draw so little?
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 04:26 AM
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Yea I just didnt want to route even more wire over there. Good Suggestion though.
Old Oct 15, 2012 | 03:44 AM
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Making this too complicated. Run a power wire to your igntion/ parking lamp/ or any other power source you like on your fuse panel. Then ground another wire to the chassis..
Mine is set up as such
Wire into ignition fuse under dash
Ground to metal support bar right near fuse panel under plastic piece near knees.
If you like I'll post pictures.
(I'm using a switch btw, but concept is the same)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Old Oct 15, 2012 | 02:17 PM
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Thanks, I found a wire on the AC controls that provided power when the lights are on. The problem was it was only 6 Volts, and the LEDs were not bright at all.
So I did some probing and found a bunch of wire harnesses above the fuse box, and I found a nice one that gave 12 volts, it is for the tail lights.
For the faint of heart I would also recommend "Add-a-circuit"; but I used one of those plastic wire taps that have the medal inside.
I wanted to find a wire in the center console so all my wires would be in one place, but I ended up needing to run to the fuse box, all well.
Old Oct 15, 2012 | 09:28 PM
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Those plastic wire taps are dangerous and unreliable I've used them before and have never been a fan they cut your wire a bit and can provide a short and possible sever the wire... I'd recommend removing it and just rapping the wire around a spot jn the wire if not going to use a add a fuze
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