Im gonna put some cool cathodes in the back of my trunk in the spealker grilles [ like seen in other posts] for my xB for interior lights. I know how to connect and intsall, but i want to know the best way to go about tapping the power to run them. Go to battery? Cig lighter? anything closer to the trunk? also how do i run the E wires all the way from my trunk to my battery if i chose that route? under carpet or doorsills or under car? Help me out im doing it this weekend. Ill post some install pics afterwards for u the check the mods.

 

I am actually going to do the same this weekend. I am getting my cathodes 2morrow and will be ready to install. The one question I will ask you is whether you want the cathodes to come "on" when the doors/trunk opens, or whether you just want them to light up when you turn your headlights/parking lights on??

I was planning on hooking them up to the spare terminals in my "rando Cathode Lighting" switch so that they come on when I turn my headlights on like the other cathodes I have but I changed my mind and will have them come on when I open my trunk so that I have better lighting. Here is a post you might find interesting:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...t=cold+cathode

Just my 2 cents.... :D

 

You could do both.

Would take some planning, but you could have them come on with the headlights, the key and/or the trunk being opened.

Best way would be to wire in a relay. Run power for the relay from a constant source, then run the door trigger, key trigger and switched source to the activation point on the relay. Anytime that relay has 12 volts to this curcuit, it will activate the lights for you.

This way you don't have 3 different power wires all tied to the lights (in case more then one comes on at a time) but you can have a couple of different switch options.

 

i ran mine from the dome light circut in the wiring harness - i wouldn't recomend this tho - it's very difficult to find, and if you're a noob to soldering then this would not be somthing i'd recomend and it'll void your warranty in a big way.

piston ran his trunk lighting by tapping into the dome light and running the wires back under the headliner - which i think is a much easier and safer way of doing things, even if tapping the circut in the harness might be a little cleaner.

- Brian

 

I don't think the trunk door activates the dome light...

As far as running the wires, I ran mine up under the passenger side trim, just like they do for the Bazooka harness. There's even a little channel...

I would definitely recommend having a separate control, not just running them whenever the headlights are on. Like moths to a light, it draws the PoPo.

 

I have seen Brian's cold cathode mods in the engine compartment and rear hatch area, very clean and well done mod. After seeing his setup I am thinking of doing this to my box as well. Maybe I will have to get Brian a six-pac to help me out

 

There is a switch in the rear door that activates the dome light. The wiring harness is at the right rear behind the tail light. As Brian said it is a little difficult to locate the correct wire but it works great. I have 2-6" CC's in each access vent that come on when the door opens. If you are going to have multiple sources to activate the lights you will need to install diodes to prevent back flow of the power to the other circuits.

BTW I ran a 12v line from the battery (fused) to the back of the box in flex conduit under the car. Now I have a 12v source I can tap from.